NBA Miami Heat

Dwyane Wade’s Absence Could Plummet Miami Heat Out of Playoff Race

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By @outofboundsjay

January 28, 2015; Sam Sharpe; Dwyane Wade

Sam Sharpe- USA Today Sports

The Miami Heat have been well below the .500 mark for a good majority of the season, but momentum was starting to be gained as the Heat had won five of their last eight games. Last night’s game against the Milwaukee Bucks seemed to be going in a positive direction until something disastrous happened – Dwyane Wade pulled his hamstring in the third quarter. The Heat had a slight lead up until that point, but once Wade was out, the Heat ultimately fell to the Bucks, 109-102.

Reports are coming in that Wade could miss multiple weeks with this newest hamstring injury, and that is something the Heat absolutely do not want to hear. The Heat were already teetering with mediocrity, sitting just a game ahead of the Charlotte Hornets at the seventh seed, but this loss could have them plummeting out of the playoff race altogether.

Wade ranks No. 1 in the entire league in points scored in the fourth quarter out of all positions, not just shooting guards. Take that away from a team that already struggles in close fourth quarter situations, and you are looking at a team that could potentially bottom out. The one x-factor in all of this is how much offensive slack Chris Bosh can pick up in Wade’s absence, but considering how mediocre Bosh has been this season, its hard to imagine him making such a huge turnaround.

The Heat need Wade back as soon as possible. The team’s playoff hopes rest solely on his shoulders, and an extended absence could kill those dreams.

Jared Doyle is a Miami Heat writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @outofboundsjay, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google

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