Miami’s Triple Threat -- LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh
MIAMI—Dwyane Wade rekindled memories of his effort in the 2006 finals by finishing with 22 points and 10 rebounds Tuesday in his first finals game since winning the MVP trophy five years ago.
And while Wade was doing his magic, LeBron James and Chris Bosh worked as the perfect complements down the stretch as Miami defeated Dallas 92-84 Tuesday to take a 1-0 lead in the best of seven series.
Combining Wade with James and Bosh as a triple threat in Miami is paying big dividends in their first post-season together.
“(Before) I was the guy here in Miami that at the end of games I always had the ball in my hand,” Wade said during Wednesday’s practice at the AmericanAirlines arena.
“So it took me time to get comfortable with that and get comfortable with saying ‘All right LeBron you take it’.
“And that’s a part of wanting to win and wanting to do whatever it takes to win. That’s another part of putting pride and ego aside, figuring out what’s best for the team.”
Game two is Thursday at AmericanAirlines Arena before the series shifts to Dallas for the middle three games.
Game one winners have gone on to win 11 of the last 14 NBA finals.
With James and Wade struggling to get their shots off early in game one, the Heat called upon Bosh to pick up the slack on offense. He made nine-of-12 free throws and finished with 19 points.
“We’re just trying to stay a step ahead (of Dallas) right now,” Bosh said Wednesday. “We’re trying to make sure we see the zone coming and that we’re well prepared, and we get into our offence a little bit quicker.”
Bosh, who spent seven seasons in Toronto with the Raptors, delivered on offense and defense.
Bosh is in his first finals appearance after his only two previous postseasons ended in first round exits.
James made several plays in the second half that showed why he is the NBA’s most dominant player right now. He made an emphatic dunk with 2:48 to go that gave Miami a 84-75 lead.
James also drained a buzzer beating three pointer at in the third quarter to give Miami a four point lead heading into the fourth.
“Am I going to make every shot or close every game out from now on? I hope so, but I don’t know,” James said. “But I do put myself in the position and I do have the confidence that if I have the ball in my hands that I can make a play.
“I’m an attack guy first that is what I am best at.
“If a defense is going to allow me to sit and measure up a three-pointer, I’m going to take it. But I don’t care how many threes I make, I understand that my game is in the paint.”
Wade said everyone on the team is comfortable with James’ new closer role.
“It’s at the point now that LeBron is having a ball at the end of games,” Wade said. “He makes the decisions for our team. Whether he wants to shoot or whether he wants to pass, et cetera.
“I think early in the year he was maybe thinking too much about the other guys on the floor.
“We put the ball in his hands a lot at the end because obviously he’s a great player. He’s 6-foot-8 so he can see over the defense and he’s a great passer and enjoys the moment. He wants it. He wants to be in that winning circle. So he’s going to do whatever it takes.”