Limited Offensive Menu Has Heat 'Wade'-ing Into Dangerous Territory

November 30, 2009 5:40 a.m. EST

Miami, FL (AHN) - Dwyane Wade, the Miami Heat's All-Star guard, is running out of time to get his teammates on board with the plan.

What's the plan, you ask?

It involves Miami not turning into a one-man team.

It involves having someone aside from Wade - perhaps forward Michael Beasley, maybe center Jermaine O'Neal, possibly guard Mario Chalmers - generate some meaningful and timely offense.

It didn't happen in Miami's 92-85 loss to Boston on Sunday.

And if doesn't happen on the Heat's four-game road swing that starts in Portland and continues at the Los Angeles Lakers, Denver Nuggets and Sacramento Kings, well, the Heat (9-7) could return to South Florida a sub-.500 team.

"People are trying to put multiple defenders in front of him, and when we play slow it's easier to do that," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. "We need to get to our actions quicker create more separation on our screens, and then also Dwyane has to be more aggressive and look for opportunities he can turn the corner and not only settle for the pull-up jump shot."

Wade led the league in scoring last season at 30.2 points per game.

And Miami went 43-39, losing to Atlanta in the first round of the playoffs. This year, Wade is averaging 27.1 points per game, and Miami is still barely above .500 with a 9-7 record.

Somehow, the Heat has to find offense aside from Wade.

"There are a lot of teams that are trapping me when I have the ball," Wade said. "Then you look on film and there are a lot of screens not being set."

In other words, Wade's teammates have to do their job, and that goes beyond trying to score.

Wade, the five-time All-Star and two-time Olympian, is virtually unstoppable. Everyone knows that.

"Him and (Cleveland forward) LeBron (James), I would guess those two are the most difficult players to keep out of the paint," Boston coach Doc Rivers said. "It's amazing. Every game you talk about keeping them out of the paint, and then in the middle of the game you see them standing in the paint. That's because they're great. If it was easy to defend he wouldn't be great."

In recent games, however, Wade has had problems getting his shot where and when he wants. And it's not just top-level NBA defenders causing complications.

Atlanta's Joe Johnson, an All-Star and U.S. Olympian, gave Wade problems. But he's 6-foot-7 and solid, so It's understandable.

But New Jersey's Trenton Hassell, Oklahoma City's Devin Brown, and Washington's Nick Young have all had their moments against Wade recently.

In games against Atlanta and Washington, Wade didn't even attempt a free throw in the first half.

In Sunday's loss to Boston, Wade only attempted eight freebies (making five).

It's a troubling trend, and a trend that can't continue if Miami, which has lost six of its last nine games, wants to have success on this road trip.

"I think there's nothing better right now for this team (than a road trip)," Spoelstra said. "Out there there's not going to be anybody else but ourselves. We're going to have to lean on each other and trust each other."

And find someone to take some of the 'Heat' off their superstar.