Heat Just a Wade Away from Turning Things Around

0-5 is not time to panic. Unless of course it is a playoff series in which case it would be beyond the time to panic. The Heat have not had an easy schedule but they have been competitive. There are reasons to be encouraged:

1) Ricky Davis is adjusting. The guy is an exciting, athletic player that can be a difference maker on both ends of the floor for Miami. He could easily be that 3rd scoring option the Heat desperately need and he is showing signs of that - getting 20+ points against the Suns most recently.

2) Jason Williams looks better. He also dropped 20+ on the Suns and looks terrific moving the ball in traffic and pushing the offense. Getting used to playing with different personnel will help and with Wade set to return soon JWill's play will only get better. Will he stay healthy? This is his final contract year...

3) Shaq is starting to look good again. His first two games he was virtually non-existent offensively - as far as scoring is concerned. Of late, he too is starting to score more. Looking less sluggish, he is also showing that he can still take over a game for stretches.

4) Anfernee Hardaway is as good as advertised. Coming off the bench he has played excellent defense, provided timely and efficient scoring, and showing heady play. He could be Posey's replacement. Penny is worth much more - somewhere Abraham Lincoln is smiling.

5) Wade is coming back. Sooner rather than later.

See the difference in the margin of win or loss in the Heat's first five games has been a play or two. Even against a team like San Antonio on the road, the Heat played them tight throughout but couldn't hang in the whole game trying to adjust as a team to new personnel and a strong opponent. If Wade, healthy and ready to go, was in that game there would have been a big difference on the offensive side of the floor. That could have resulted in a win.

Put a healthy Wade in the lineup against the Pistons, the Suns, the Bobcats and you might see a win in those games as well.

What we are seeing is a microcosm of last season - the Heat without Wade is a good team, not a great team. They have to find a way to compete and win - but with Wade they could make up the difference and turn things around.

Heat fans, keep this in perspective. It is still early. A healthy Wade, set to return, could be the difference.