Wade is the new Magic

[HeinekenMan]

This guy is absolutely stunning to watch. He puts up 40 with 11 assists, five blocks and some steals today. I didn't see the game, but I did watch a Tivoed best of 2006 off the NBA network. Wade was in on several of the year's top plays, mostly for acrobatic stuff. I say he's nearing Magic status. Of course, he's not the passer that Magic was. Who compares best to Wade? I can't put him in Jordan territory. But he's definitely proving to be among the greatest of the past 25 years. I say he'll be right there with Magic, Michael and Larry before he's done.

And, yes, I know that the Mailman is up there along with a host of other players, but none of those guys had the ability to cause jaws to drop the way Wade does.

[Chi City 81]

I'd say Wade is a taller, stronger Isiah Thomas. Only without the evil.

[shotglass]

I think the only person who can guard Dwyane Wade is ... Dwyane Wade.

But then if he guarded himself, neither team would get beyond the top of the key. Unless one of the Dwyane Wades went out for a blow ... then the non-Wade team would score at a rate of 16 points per minute until Wade No. 2 returned.

Next week on Shot-talk: Dwyane Wade tries to hit Cole Hamels' fastball.

[Xanadu]

I grew up in L.A. Magic was my hero. He's my favorite athlete of all time. He made me happy for so many years. I cried when he retired ...

... Wade is a very, very good player. One of the best of this generation. He's no Magic Johnson. He's no Michael Jordan. Or Bird. He's not close to any of the 3. But he's very good, and I'd pay to watch him.

[HeinekenMan]

I'd say Wade is a taller, stronger Isiah Thomas. Only without the evil.

Of course, Wade is a much better scorer. Isiah averaged less than 20 points per game over his career. Wade, I imagine, will average better than 25, and that's with Shaq around to carry part of the load. The more that I consider it, I can't see why we can't just call Wade the new Jordan. I mean, the only thing holding me back from such a statement is that it's sort of a tired refrain, comparing a guy to the best of the past. We all know that each generation's greats aren't really comparable to anybody from other generations. Thus, arguments about Jerry West and Nate Archibald are inevitable. But, really, Wade is a scorer, a defensive stud, a rebounder and a playmaker. And, of course, a champion.

[Chi City 81]

I'd say Wade is a taller, stronger Isiah Thomas. Only without the evil.

Of course, Wade is a much better scorer. Isiah averaged less than 20 points per game over his career. Wade, I imagine, will average better than 25, and that's with Shaq around to carry part of the load. The more that I consider it, I can't see why we can't just call Wade the new Jordan. I mean, the only thing holding me back from such a statement is that it's sort of a tired refrain, comparing a guy to the best of the past. We all know that each generation's greats aren't really comparable to anybody from other generations. Thus, arguments about Jerry West and Nate Archibald are inevitable. But, really, Wade is a scorer, a defensive stud, a rebounder and a playmaker. And, of course, a champion.

MJ scored 28.2 ppg -- as a rookie. Wade has yet to average that much in a season. MJ averaged more than two steals per game his entire career. Wade has yet to average two steals per game in any season.

Calling him the next Jordan is ludicrous. There will NEVER be another Jordan. Why can't he just be the first Dwyane Wade?

[HeinekenMan]

Calling him the next Jordan is ludicrous. There will NEVER be another Jordan. Why can't he just be the first Dwyane Wade?

Exactly.

Yes, despite whatever I wrote, that's exactly what I meant, that he's a new entity that really can't be compared to anyone else in the same way that you can't compare Larry Bird to Michael Jordan.

In any case, we all seem to be in agreement that this guy has something special, perhaps something that no player had had in a few years. I see more in him than I saw in Kobe or anyone else. I mean, he's no Will Perdue, but he's not bad.

[Xanadu]

The one thing I love about Wade is when he goes hard to the rack and dunks on the giants, and I think "who the fuck does this punk think he is?!" That's what most impresses me about him, his intrepid personality. Only one other small player made me think that way, Kevin Johnson -- whose baseline dunk on Hakeem is one of the great dunks, ever.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=9EGMSETJUks&mode=related&search=

[HeinekenMan]

The one thing I love about Wade is when he goes hard to the rack and dunks on the giants, and I think "who the fuck does this punk think he is?!" That's what most impresses me about him, his intrepid personality. Only one other small player made me think that way, Kevin Johnson -- whose baseline dunk on Hakeem is one of the great dunks, ever.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=9EGMSETJUks&mode=related&search=

Wow. Kevin Johnson. How soon we forget.

[DyePack]

I thought we were past the time of trying to ID the next Jordan.

[Chuck~Taylor]

Wade is great, but I'm not impressed with the Heat's record this season. After watching the finals, I thought he was the MVP of that team. But with Shaq being out, the Heat are looking terrible this season.

[Breakyoself]

i thought lebron was the next magic.

[DyePack]

I thought Gary Payton was the next Magic.

[Chuck~Taylor]

A question to everyone over here:
If Gilbert Arenas was on last year's Heat team instead of DWade, would they still win the Championship?

[Breakyoself]

gilbert is a beast, but is he the all-around player that wade is?

[subhead]

Wade is very overrated.

Very, very good, great even, but overrated.

He's not a god, but many seem to forget that.

[Chuck~Taylor]

Wade is very overrated.

Very, very good, great even, but overrated.

He's not a god, but many seem to forget that.

Exactly. When you're arguably the best in the league, you're not the next Magic Johnson.

[Breakyoself]

everyone loves to crown someone who is very good " the next (inset start's name here)"

Look at adam morrison, who is supposed to be the next bird. labeling these guys is not fair to them, and it takes away from the accomplishments they have achieved.

wade is damn good. we should let him be his own player, which is one of the best in the NBA at the moment.

[RAMBO]

I grew up in L.A. Magic was my hero. He's my favorite athlete of all time. He made me happy for so many years. I cried when he retired ...

... Wade is a very, very good player. One of the best of this generation. He's no Magic Johnson. He's no Michael Jordan. Or Bird. He's not close to any of the 3. But he's very good, and I'd pay to watch him.

Thank you so much for saying that cause those are players are legends and you can't even start to compare them to Wade at leats not yet.

[heyabbott]

A question to everyone over here:
If Gilbert Arenas was on last year's Heat team instead of DWade, would they still win the Championship?

Abso-FUCKING-lutely

[HeinekenMan]

Okay, I'm heading back to the Everything Else thread.

[Chuck~Taylor]

Ok, who are the top 5 players in the league? Think about it:
1. Dylan
2. Dylan
3. Dylan
4. Dylan
5. Dylan

You know why? Because he spits hot fire. 

[Armchair_QB]

Dwyane Wade expected the Spanish Inquisition.