NBA Miami Heat

Dwyane Wade Sacrifices All-Star Spot For Good of Miami Heat

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By @blackirishpr

Miami Heat

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When it comes to proving people wrong, pride often gets in the way of what is most prudent. Which would explain why most people predicted that Dwyane Wade would be back for NBA All-Star weekend instead of taking a step back.

The consensus, however, was that pundit doubt would force him to rush back before the normal three to four weeks of injury time that a serious hamstring strain would usually do to a player. Especially once word came out that he returned to practice this week.

In many minds, it was an obvious precursor to Wade getting ready for Sunday night in Madison Square Garden by warming up for part two of his LeBron James reunion on Wednesday. It would have been the one game he needed to make it look like he cared about the team and was not just coming back to get tuned up to metaphorically slap people like Charles Barkley for preaching to the world that he did not deserve to make it.

And this was at a time when Wade was leading the league in fourth quarter scoring, averaging 21 points, five assists and shooting 49 percent.

The fact that people sounded so disgusted that he received a spot — that he clearly deserved — would have made his return seem selfish to some. But people would have gotten over it once they had a few minutes to cherish seeing him on the court with Chris Bosh and James.

Yet, he said, “it would not be the smart thing to do.”

Instead, Wade is putting ego and pride to the side for the better of himself and the team by making the smart move of simply relaxing so that he can be ready for the second half of the Miami Heat’s season. After all, they’ll need him to get themselves out of the eighth spot in the Eastern Conference. And he knows it.

“It’s not cocky of me saying at all, but I don’t think this team is going anywhere if myself and Chris are not healthy for the second half of the season. That doesn’t guarantee anything but it gives you a little more security,” said Wade, according to the sun-sentinel.com.

This can only be described as a smart move by the 11-time All-Star.

Richard Nurse is a writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @blackirishpr or add him to your network on Google.

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