Dwyane Wade for MVP

I know this is a football town.  After living in South Florida for most of my life, I know that will never change.   Still, let’s take a moment to praise the Miami Heat.  Very quietly, as the Dolphins have stormed into first place, the Heat are three games over .500.  That doesn’t sound like much, but remember, this is a team that won only 15 games all of last year, and was NEVER over .500 at any point of the season.   This season, they already have 12 wins in their first 21 games.   You have to credit new coach Erik Spoelstra, but the real credit goes to one man:  Dwyane Wade. 

Wade has Heat Rising!

Simply put, Wade is the NBA MVP at the quarter point of the season.  He is currently leading the league in scoring, but more than that, he is leading the Heat in every game.  Miami is far from being a complete team, but the Heat are always in games because of Wade.  The formula is simple for the Heat.  Keep the game as close as possible and then put the ball in Wade’s hands in the 4th quarter.  It’s not an exaggeration to say that he’s playing at the same level of his performance in the 2006 Finals.  A healthy Wade makes Miami a playoff team in a top heavy Eastern Conference.  After the Celtics, Cavs, Magic and Pistons, nobody scares me.  

The only scary thought right now for Heat fans is the potential of Wade leaving as a free agent in 2010.  Internally within the Heat, it is a major long term concern.  For now though, Wade will carry this team.  If he can get some help from struggling rookie Michael Beasley, I have no doubt Wade will lead the Heat into the postseason.  Right now he has them as the most surprising team in the East.  All those factors make an MVP season a real possibility.  I know they don’t give awards for the first quarter MVP, but if they did, Wade has my vote!