Wade likely will come off bench, Riley says
Heat's reigning NBA MVP could return from injured shoulder next week
 Mark Duncan / AP Miami Heat's Dwyane Wade has been sidelined since Feb. 21. |
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Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade probably will come off the bench when he returns from his left shoulder injury, coach Pat Riley said Thursday, according to the Miami Herald.
''Probably. That's a good possibility to see how he's doing,'' Riley said Thursday. "The starting thing doesn't shock the team, but it creates a bit of urgency with them. He could start. He could come off the bench. We'll just see how he feels.''
Wade traveled Thursday with the team for the first time since being injured and practiced for the the fourth straight day, the Herald said.
He told the Herald he probably won't play a lot in games when he comes back.
''I don't want to do that anyway,'' Wade said. "Me and Coach have an understanding my first game or so with how many minutes I'll play. It won't matter if I come off the bench or not. I just want to get into a flow a little bit so I can hit my stride when we get into the playoffs.''
The reigning MVP returned to practice Monday for the first time nearly six weeks after suffering the dislocation that threatened to end his season. He worked out on-court for 90 minutes, absorbing some contact for the first time, and followed that with weights and physical therapy.
Most importantly, he was pain-free, another sign he’ll be able to start playing games before the playoffs.
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Miami's season undoubtedly will be remembered for a plethora of injury woes. Heat players have missed 171 games this year with injuries, 66 of those by their best two weapons, Wade and Shaquille O’Neal, who’ve been together for only 13 starts all year.
Wade was averaging 28.8 points when he was hurt in a collision with Houston’s Shane Battier on Feb. 21.
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