2003-2004 Miami Heat: Wade’s Rookie Year

2003-2004 Miami Heat: Wade’s Rookie Year

2003-2004 Miami Heat: Wade

In the early 2000s the Miami Heat were in need of going in a direction where they could achieve more success in the playoffs, and while they did have some talent on their roster, they were still looking for missing pieces that could take them over the hump. The days of Alonzo Mourning carrying the team on his shoulders were long gone because of his multiple health issues, so the Heat were in need of developing a new superstar player.

A Season of Growth

The 2003-2004 Miami Heat went 42-40, finishing 5 games behind the New Jersey Nets in the Atlantic Division. The Heat went 29-12 on their home court of the American Airlines Arena while they went only 13-28 on the road. The Heat went 15-10 in divisional play. While they had a shaky start to their regular season, the Heat would pick it up as they went 8-7 in December, 8-8 in January, 12-3 in March and 5-2 in April.

Shooting guard Eddie Jones was the veteran player the Heat turned to as a scoring threat. Jones had 1,401 points, 258 assists and 92 steals, making 177 of 479 3-point shots and 278 of 333 free throws. Acquired in a trade with the Los Angeles Clippers, power forward Lamar Odom was originally seen as a key piece to Miami’s puzzle. Odom had 1,371 points, 776 rebounds, 327 assists, 85 steals and 71 blocks, making 61 of 205 3-point shots and 340 of 458 free throws.

The Draft That Changed Everything

The Heat would successfully find their new superstar player in the 2003 NBA Draft: an energetic point guard from the University of Marquette who was tough as nails. With the 5th overall pick in the 1st round, the Heat chose Dwyane Wade, and this would prove to be one of the best draft choices in Heat history. Wade had 991 points, 275 assists and 86 steals, making 16 of 53 3-point shots and 233 of 312 free throws. Wade would make the NBA All-Rookie First Team.

Center Brian Grant had 664 points and 524 rebounds, making 86 of 110 free throws. Small forward Caron Butler had 623 points, 126 assists and 75 steals, making 10 of 42 3-point shots and 132 of 176 free throws. Power forward Udonis Haslem had 550 points and 473 rebounds, making 140 of 183 free throws. Small forward Rasual Butler made 50 of 108 3-point shots.

It wasn’t always cheerful sunshine in South Beach, as the Heat stumbled out of the gate. The Heat had an 0-7 start to their regular season. However, as the season progressed the Heat began to develop as a team and gain their footing. Towards the end of the season, the Heat went on a 7-game winning streak which began with an 82-74 win over the Seattle SuperSonics on March 12, and the streak would end with an extremely close 119-118 overtime victory over the Dallas Mavericks on March 26.

First Round: Heat vs. Hornets

In the First Round of the Eastern Conference playoffs, the 2003-2004 Miami Heat found themselves an interesting first test as they squared off against the New Orleans Hornets. This series would go the full 7-game distance. In Game 1 on April 18 at the American Airlines Arena, the Heat beat the Hornets 81-79. Dwyane Wade did well in his first game on the NBA’s big stage as he had 21 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists while making 1 of 2 3-point shots. Lamar Odom had 17 points, 11 rebounds and 5 assists.

In Game 2 on April 21, the Heat obliterated the Hornets 93-63. Eddie Jones had 19 points, 8 rebounds and 3 assists. Caron Butler had 18 points, 9 rebounds and 3 steals. However, the Hornets would wake up and hand the Heat two startling losses. The Hornets won Game 3 on April 24 at the New Orleans Arena by the score of 77-71, and then they won Game 4 on April 27 by the score of 96-85.

In Game 5 on April 30 at the American Airlines Arena, the Heat would hold on to beat the Hornets 87-83. The combination of experience and youth elevated the Heat to victory. Jones had 25 points and made 3 of 8 3-point shots. Wade had 21 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists. In Game 6 on May 2 at the New Orleans Arena, the Hornets evened the series at 3 games apiece with an 89-83 win.

Miami would have the final word in the deciding Game 7 on May 4 at the American Airlines Arena, as the Heat eliminated the Hornets with an 85-77 victory. Caron Butler had 23 points and 9 rebounds. Odom had 16 points, 9 rebounds, 3 assists and 4 steals.

Second Round: Heat vs. Pacers

Passing their first test with flying colors, the Miami Heat appeared to be ready to take another step forward in the Eastern Conference Semifinals. However, the Indiana Pacers had other ideas. The Pacers ended up eliminating the Heat from the playoffs 4 games to 2. In Game 3 on May 10 at the American Airlines Arena, the Heat beat the Pacers 94-87. Dwyane Wade had 25 points, 5 rebounds and 6 assists. Lamar Odom had 16 points, 9 rebounds and 3 assists. In Game 4 on May 12, the Heat defeated the Pacers 100-88. Odom had 22 points and 7 rebounds while making 2 of 2 3-point shots. Caron Butler had 21 points, 10 rebounds and 3 assists. Wade had 20 points, 3 rebounds and 7 assists.

The Trade That Set Up a Title Run Lamar Odom’s stint in Miami would be short-lived, as it only lasted one season. The Heat decided to involve Odom as part of a trade to the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for one of the most dominant centers in NBA history, Shaquille O’Neal. It was changes like this that improved the Heat right away, and within a few years the Heat would contend for an NBA Championship.