No. Look at what at happened to Grant Hill. He had a really bad injury, but he kept playing that one season. He was more concerned with his teams playoff success instead of his own health. His career has never been the same. It would be a shame if the same thing happened to D-Wade.
BINGO We have a winner If he gets by with not long term effects . . good for him but he jeopardizing his whole career. . . . . If he plays and gets injured worse and never plays another game again . . those that say how great he is now will not remember his name in 3 yrs Rocket River
It is his shoulder of his off shooting hand. He can get offseason surgery if need be. As defedending champs and with Shaq looking fresh and ready to go, I would give it a try. They could very easily still be the East representative while using Wade light for most of the playoffs and only need him close to 100% for the last two series of the season (late May/early)--basically 3 months away. I think wait and see is fine.
To be fair, Bagwell's condition is genetic. Wade's deal is more akin to Chris Burke. Once you injure your shoulder in this fashion once, it's 100x more likely and easier to happen again and again until you have the surgery. Yes, he should actually be able to play out the season once he is pain free, especially since it is his non-shooting shoulder. He will not be able to go at the basket with reckless abandon. He can probably have the surgery in the offseason and be ready to go for next season. However, he is a bit delusional about this season. They aren't going to repeat, let alone get back to the Finals.
It depends on what Wade wants. If he wants to win another ring, this season provide by far the best shot as he'll get for a quite a while. Shaq is on the books for $20+ mil for another 3 years. And Antoine Walker also had a new long term deal when traded from the Celtics. The Heat are going to be in salary cap Hell the next few years and Wade will have NO supporting cast. At least this year, Shaq and Zo can still play a bit. When they can't, Miami's a lottery team.
A dislocated shoulder in basketball isn't the same as an arthritic shoulder in baseball or a bum shoulder for an NFL lineman. It's not the same as playing on a stress fractured ankle, either. Wade's being a little young and brash thinking he can will his way through this, and he does have an outside shot of pulling a Terrell Owens. He will need surgery eventually though - it's nearly certain that he's going to need ligaments shortened to restore stability. With his game dependant on throwing himself into traffic, he will hurt that shoulder again if he comes back. Though it should be said, he's unlikely to cause much more damage than is already present. A dislocated shoulder doesn't take on cumulative damage like a knee or back problem would. Evan
Yes, it's his left shoulder and he will be fine in the long run. In addition he is the best player in the nba and with a healthy wade and shaq the Heat can get back to the finals in the east
it depends on how he's going to play when he gets back. If he's going to keep driving and dunking like before then i don't think so. That elbow is prob only going to hold up for 1 series at most.
I think he's making the right decision from a franchise standpoint. Heat's window is very slim with a bunch of overpaid downhill vets. They have little to zero young talent and diminshing trade pieces (expiring contracts will be it). If they drop to the lottery, it might be another 3-5 years before the Heat will be at contending status. Maybe never if Wade drops out of popularity (losing team) to a new player (Durant?) and has to actually play 5on5.
I was going to say NO but you guys make a good argument. Even though I think most observers would believe the Heat's chances of winning a championship this year are slim to none, it's still their best chance of going to the finals in the near future. And Wade is a fierce competitor so I don't blame him for thinking he can bring them another championship.
The Heat won't be repeating this year, so I think he should have shut it down. They're basically the same team, except with a 75% Wade instead of a 100% Wade.
Whether or not it's his off-shooting shoulder seems irrelevant to me. If Wade were the type of player to get most of his points off jump shots where no one is touching him, that would be one thing. But he's not... he drives to the lane, takes a ton of punishment, and gets a crap-load of his points at the free-throw line. I can see one of two things happening: 1) he drives to the basket less and protect his body... shooting more jump shots = end result, Miami is probably a less successful team for the playoffs; or 2) he continues playing with reckless abandon and gets seriously hurt = end result could be considerably worse for the Heat than just missing out on the playoffs on year. Opposing players aren't going to go easy on him when he drives just because they know his shoulder is hurt. They'll foul him just as hard as they would if he were healthy.
those of you who voted no dont know what you are talking about......i actually have this injury and know about it.....the damage is done, he cant hurt it any further by trying to go.....he might pop it out again but it dsnt really matter....the recovery time for this injury is 4 months or so after surgery so why not try.....i dont like his constant flopping but i give him propps for gutting it up and giving it a go.....
I don't think Shaq believed in himself at all before this happened. Wade's injury forcing Diesel to be the man again might be a blessing in disguise if Wade comes back and is even 80% of himself. 20/10 Shaq plus a 22/5/5 Wade would be pretty tough to beat in a 7 game series for any team. I think Wade is doing the smart thing. The window for Championships is officially closed for the Miami Heat after this season.
hes just hungry to win another championship because he knows his days with shaq are numbered, shaq is not gettin younger...
The emotional, romantic, rah rah thing to do, but a bad decision. I love D.Wade, but this is a mistake. His style of play is not compatible with a shoulder that can pop out any minute. I doubt he will make a game or two before he is out again. I often wonder how really smart some doctors are. It is actually kind of scary.
he'll be fine long-term. He'll have surgery in the offseason. Everyone saying it's scary and all...yeah it might pop out..yeah it'll hurt (pain-wise).. but he'll be ok. Esp. with it being his left shoulder. I think any superstar would do this. If TMac opted for surgery when we were supposedly in our title defense and were likely going to make the playoffs (based on what Shaq has done for them recently)...I'd be pretty pissed. I'd understand.. but when you're a superstar, you make the superstar moves. That's why Willis hobbled out, Isiah gutted it out on that ankle, Jordan played through the hobbling flu, etc.
