Chicago Bulls Need Dwyane Wade to Step Up in the Playoffs

As the Chicago Bulls get set for their first-round playoff matchup against the Boston Celtics, they need Dwyane Wade to play his very best. Otherwise, it’ll be a short postseason run for the Bulls.

This is why the Chicago Bulls signed shooting guard Dwyane Wade last summer. To help lead the team to playoff victories.

Everyone knows Dwyane Wade wants to win another championship. It’s why he often let out his frustration on his younger teammates’ play throughout the Bulls’ roller-coaster season. He wants to win now, while he’s still playing at a respectable level.

For a player now years removed from his prime, Wade ended up posting solid statistical numbers for the Bulls this season. He played in 60 regular-season games, averaging 18.3 points-per-game while shooting .434 percent. Averaging just under 30 minutes per game, Wade proved he can still play at a high-level when called upon to do so.

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Well, now’s the time for Wade’s number to be called upon. He has the most post-season experience on the entire Bulls’ roster. He’s won multiple championships. Even though he’s not getting any younger at 35, Wade has all the motivation needed to play his very best.

An Improbable Run?

Winning a championship in his hometown city, Chicago, would be as improbable as it gets. Given the Bulls’ soap-opera season, this would be the ultimate storybook ending that no one saw coming.

Of course, being the eighth-seed, no one’s expecting the Bulls to make a serious championship run this postseason. They’ve played inconsistently all season long. Losing more frequently to bad teams, while somehow, someway, beating the best-of-the-best.

Since that’s been the case all season, the casual, die-hard Bulls’ fan is probably upset that this team isn’t playing the Cleveland Cavaliers in the first round of post-season play. The Bulls, after all, won all four games against Cleveland this season.

Instead, the Bulls are playing the Boston Celtics.

Is this a David vs. Goliath scenario? On paper, it would appear so. The Celtics, being the one-seed, are clear favorites to advance past the Bulls in the first-round. But, what looks good on paper doesn’t always translate to real-life success.

Jimmy Butler can’t will the Bulls past the Celtics alone. The talent-level on the Bulls’ roster won’t allow that to happen. Instead, Butler will need Wade to help carry the shoulder-load.

If Wade performs like he did last postseason, when he averaged 21.4 points in 14 games played, the Bulls have a fighter’s chance to win this first-round playoff series.

Only time will tell.

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