One of the delights of the Olympics was watching Dwyane Wade operate off the ball, running baseline cuts, sneaking in for second-chance opportunities.
Of course, that was made possible by the ample presence of ballhandlers elsewhere on the U.S. roster.
And that's something -- like starting-quality centers and proven point guards -- that's in short supply on the Heat roster.
In fact, for a roster so loaded with perimeter players at shooting guard and small forward, it is remarkable how few Heat players at those positions possess passable ballhandling skills.
James Jones is a spot-up shooter, rarely asked to handle. The strength of Shawn Marion's game is playing off the ball. Yakhouba Diawara is a liability against pressure. Dorell Wright continually appears ill at ease when asked to handle. Utilizing Stephane Lasme at small forward would further expose the issue. Daequan Cook was cast at point guard a bit last season and could provide at least some hope of multiple ballhandlers on the court when Wade occasionally plays in a three-guard front.
But against pressure, this team could be in trouble. And the notion of Wade playing off the ball likely will remain an abstract.
Yes, the Heat did plenty to upgrade its perimeter depth this offseason. But its ballhandling remains an issue that again could prove fatiguing to its franchise player.
