[FastAndFuriousParticipant]

 Yes he averaged 22.1 PPG 4.6 APG and 4.8 RPG, but that’s the lowest his numbers have been since his rookie year.

He doesn’t blow by people the way he used to, his change of direction isn’t as quick as it used to, he still can finish above the rim at times, but he’s not explosive as he used to be…..

Dwyane Wade has lost a step, I didn’t really pay much attention until the Boston series.

Am I the only one who has noticed this?

[Chilbert arenasParticipant]

 I think the entire country has noticed this, but it rather put all the pressure on LeBron instead of recognizing that Wade isn’t what he used to be.

[FUNKYBUNCHParticipant]

I think it’s mostly mental. I think he can get it back, but father time is racing him too. Once he loses a lot of that athletic ability, he better improve his range- or he will lose 2-3 steps in a hurry. 

[Moon RiverParticipant]

I heard on ESPN this morning that he has had to have his knee drained of fluid, at least twice, during this year’s playoffs.  So while I think part of it is mental, it is also physical.

[sheltwon3Participant]

Wade is dealing with injuries so it is not fair to say he has lost a step when he is playing with injuries and can still do some pretty solid stuff.  I think it is one of his knees that is acting up.  Also playing against Westbrooks makes him look extra slow.  I don’t think Wade was ever that quick or explosive.  Westbrook has an extra gear.

[Jlv2012]

They get more injury prone, lose speed, agility, and sometimes mental focus.  Wade is 30, he will be losing his step gradually.

[mosdefParticipant]

do didnt think Wade was quick or explosive? That dude was ultra explosive. He was the only dude I could remember where they dared him with space to  shoot the jumper and he still beat you to the rim

[Sotos14Participant]

 I love how everybody says it’s because of injuries, and they expect him to play much better next season while resting in off season. That won’t happen, he is on the decline and will have to adjust his game because he will not be able reach 100% health especially when he has the olympics to play in this summer. Wade just isn’t on the same level as Kobe Bryant as a basketball player, even though some people like to say he is better. I just don’t see it. All you ever hear about is all the injuries Kobe has, and you never see it in games. 15 years in the league and he is still a top 5 player. Wade has not been able to make the adjustments Kobe has to maintain excellence. Although Wade is still a great talent, people should expect his play to continue to decline. The way I see it, I would not be at all surprised to see him have occur the same fate as T-Mac, maybe to a lesser extent.

[FastAndFuriousParticipant]

 It’s not just against Westbrook, as I stated in the OP he struggled against Boston when guys like Pietrus would be on him, 2-3 years ago Pietrus would have never man’d up on D Wade he would have gave Wade his space to try and beat him with the jumper.

[Lebron’s HairlineParticipant]

Injuries and his playing style are starting to take its toll on him, he’d better work on his jumpshot soon or he won’t last another 3-4 years

[sheltwon3Participant]

I said I don’t belive he was ever as quick and explosive as Westbrook.  I never said he wasn’t quick or explosive.  Please read.  I remember Wade from his younger days and Westbrook has a an extra gear.  I they had a  race or how fast a person can accerate, Westbrook would win, It would probably not be as much but he would still win.  Even Wade knows this.  Wade was a more rounded offensive player though.

[sheltwon3Participant]

Fast and Furious I know that and I have heard he has an injured knee but the thing is he still was able to explode from time to time.  I remember Kobe did similiar kinds of stuff when he knees were really shot but he had that procedure and now he is good.  Maybe Wade will have the same procedure when the season ends.

[NickWayne87Participant]

 yeah i’ve noticed……i didn’t even want to believe it because i hate to see players decline and miss what they once were…..everyone blaming it solely on injuries in denial…..like when a.i. went to philly that second time everyone was HOPING that he’d go back to being a 20ppg scorer but it just wasn’t in the cards and deep down you knew.  Deep down you know we’ve seen the last of the dwayne wade from 2 to 3 years ago….he was every bit of what Derrick Rose is today when Derrick came in the league i always preached he wasn’t realllly a pg but a 2 guard with exception passing ability that reminded me of Dwayne Wade they were so similar to me….he just not as effective getting by his man anymore, he still can but it was automatic as in there was no way you could stay in front of him.

[IndianaBasketballParticipant]

Of course he’s lost a step.

People seem to think he’s the same age as LeBron and Bosh… He’s not. He’s three years older.

He’s had a lot of injuries too. He’s style of play has caught up with him and he’s slowing down.

I’m not expecting him to play for Team USA this summer, which opens up spots for Gordon and Harden.

[NickWayne87Participant]

 he was born in 82 he’s an 80’s baby i can’t believe 80s babies are turning 30….i was born in 87 i dont wanna get old!!!!!!!! lol

[JoeWolf1]

 ^ HEY! I’m turning 30 tomorrow! haha.  Age is a factor, I have just as much athleticism as I did when I was younger, but just not on a day to day basis.  Some days I feel like I’m 21 again and some days I just don’t have that extra 1 or 2” on my jump.  

D-Wade was such a great athlete to begin with, most days you can’t tell he’s dropped off a little bit, but during an off game you can tell.  I’m surprised he never developed more of a post game or strengthened his mid range game to the level Lebron has, to be honest, he still plays the same way he did at 23 or 24.

[NickWayne87Participant]

 lol…..and you’re right he does play the same way he did when he was 23 and 24 but that’s part of the problem, it’s still effective but not as effective and if he doesn’t work on a reliable post and midrange game as kobe has when he’s kobe’s age 3 years from now he wont be much effective at all……

[JoeWolf1]

 ^No doubt there, that’s why it’s surprising, to me, that he hasn’t worked on that game.  With MJ paving the way and Kobe following suit, showing this generation of young wings by showing an elite wing athlete can take his game to the post and have great success later in his career.

Lebron seems to have started to add those skills and prepare for when his athletic ability starts to trail off and he’s a couple years younger than Wade.  

[Winning_TimeParticipant]

 Well someone needs to find it for him! :O

[Author]

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