MIAMI -- Nobody needed to tell Dwyane Wade what people were saying about his game this past offseason.
Entering his 11th NBA season after suffering from knee injuries the past two seasons, just how much did the 31-year-old Miami Heat guard have left?
"I'm not concerned, I know I can play basketball," Wade said. "When I'm healthy, I know what I can do. I'm just trying to get better and better, and trying to help this team getting back to where we were when we were winning."
Right now, Wade is as healthy as he has been in a while, perhaps several years. That was clear Thursday night, when he scored 29 points to lead the Heat past the Los Angeles Clippers 102-97.
Wade now has scored 20 or more points in four consecutive games for the first time since a 13-game streak Feb. 23-March 17.
"He's coming off his most efficient year ever and he played injured through the playoffs and everybody said that he was done," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. "Go figure."
Wade's Thursday night production -- which included 13-of-22 shooting and 7 assists -- was especially needed against L.A. because LeBron James was hampered by a sore lower back and Chris Bosh sat after picking up his fourth foul with 5:18 left in the third quarter.
"Most of the time it's different guys stepping up and taking the challenge and just really making it easy for us," Bosh said. "That guy tonight was Dwyane. He was in a very good rhythm. He took some great shots and he made a lot."
James had 8 of his 18 points in the first quarter, then didn't score again until 4:56 remained in the third quarter. He used a heat pad on his back when he sat out.
"I felt great to start the game. I don't know if it happened on that dive, when I turned my back over," James said. "It kind of locked up on me. From the first quarter on, it was pretty sore."
When James and Bosh sat, Wade led a second unit consisting of a mixture of reserves Ray Allen, Rashard Lewis, Shane Battier, Chris Andersen and Norris Cole.
James was not surprised at his Big Three mate's effort.
"Like I told you in training camp, it's the best he's been in years," James said of Wade.
While being healthy obviously helps Wade in all areas, is shooting might benefit the most.
"You have more confidence in your shot knowing you have the strength to get up and shoot it," said Wade, whose three-point play with 8:53 left in the fourth quarter gave Miami an 88-80 lead. He buried a jumper from the left corner -- initially it appeared to be a trey -- and was fouled by J.J. Redick.
"I think I shot a 3 right before that, or something like that, so you know I was feeling pretty good," he said. "My shot was feeling good tonight. It's been feeling good the last couple of days.
"Like I said, just getting my legs into it and not holding it when I lift up. They're giving it to me a little bit. I was able to get into a groove early in the game. I just have to keep knocking those down."
Wade was 1 of 2 from behind the arc, a place from where he hasn't really tried to thrive. He has averaged less than two 3-point attempts per game the past three seasons.
"He said he's going to make an effort to shoot more 3s, and it was a good heat check -- I'd probably shoot the same shoot, too, if I hit a bunch of mid-range jumpers in a row," Chris Bosh said.
Wade scored 11 points in the fourth quarter, including 9 of Miami's first 12 points in the period as the Heat opened an eight-point lead.
The only blip on Wade's overall score sheet was 7 turnovers.
"I'm a turnover machine right now, and LeBron's right with me," Wade said. "I didn't even know I had 7 turnovers tonight. I was just trying to be aggressive and look for my guys.
"You can eliminate turnovers if you just shoot the ball, but I'm a playmaker."
Something that doesn't go unnoticed.
"It's a very difficult thing to play very aggressive but be unselfish at the same time," Bosh said. "It's a very fine line you have to walk, and he did a great job at doing that tonight."
Charlie McCarthy can be reached at mac1763@bellsouth.net
or on Twitter @mccarthy_chas
