Dwyane Wade: Steering the Bulls in the Right Direction

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While there will likely be ups-and-downs throughout this long season, Dwyane Wade’s play on the court and leadership skills will pay great dividends towards helping the Chicago Bulls remain focused on their task of becoming once again: a playoff team.

While it was only the first regular season game for the Chicago Bulls, their 105-99 victory over the Boston Celtics was still very impressive. The team, thanks in large part to Dwyane Wade, was playing with great energy on both sides of the court, something that wasn’t evident a whole lot last season.

Sure, the game was a nail-bitter til’ the very end, but that was expected given how well Brad Stevens coaches his young Celtics’ team. Still, with the game very much on the line, leave it to a future Hall-of Famer to come through for his new team in the clutch.

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Dwyane Wade, making his debut with the Bulls, played like a player who was motivated to prove doubters wrong. While he’s no “spring chicken” anymore at age 34, Wade played like “vintage Wade” at times when it mattered most. No moment mattered more, then when the Bulls were barely clinging on to a slim, two-point lead with just under 30 seconds left in the game.

Wade’s clutch-sinking, step-back three-pointer with 26.3 seconds remaining gave the Bulls a five-point lead over the Celtics, a lead that would never vanquish.

Speaking with reporters after the win, Wade, describing his new teammates, exclaimed: “We’re not the team that everyone is analytically putting together.” “But we’re a team of guys who can compete. We’re a team of guys who have pride. We’re a team of guys with talent. Once you make it all work together, it doesn’t matter about analytics or the game. It’s about players. And it’s about going out there and competing. And we were able to do that tonight.”

For at least one night, what Wade said to reporters held true. The Bulls as a collective unit competed with great intensity throughout the entire game. Wade’s presence both on-and-off the court has no doubt lit a spark under his team’s play.

Taj Gibson, who displayed an impressive season debut as well for the Bulls, said of Wade: “He means a lot to this team.” “We need him to be the Wade he’s always been. The guy who’s not afraid to attack. The guy’s who’s not afraid to take big shots like you see late in the game.”

Leading by example, is something Wade hopes to pass along to his new teammates as the season rolls along. Jimmy Butler, a center-piece to this Bulls’ team, said of Wade’s play following their win: “He’s so much smarter than a lot of guys, using his body and his athleticism to his advantage, so I’m taking note.”

Butler would be wise to continue taking notes from one of the greatest guards of all-time. Who wouldn’t? Jimmy, who led the team with 24 points, certainly took notes on Wade’s lights-out three-point shooting night. While Wade silenced critics by draining four out of six 3’s, Butler, doing his best “Wade impression”, shot the same “four for six” from downtown. Overall, the trio of Wade, Butler, and Rajon Rondo combined to hit 9 of 13 three’s. Pretty impressive, for players normally not praised for their long-distance shooting range.

A promising start for the Bulls none-the-less. One that will carry over from game-to-game…yet to be determined. What has been evident, at least for one game, is that Dwyane Wade can still make big-time shots when the game is on the line. The Bulls, in order to be a successful team this season, will not only be relying on Wade’s shot-making skills, but others to bail them out as well during pivotal moments. Only time will tell, if Bulls’ players follow Wade’s leadership on a day-to-day basis. If so, this season, unlike last year’s, will be an exciting one to watch.

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