Miami Heat star Dwyane Wade likened the team's early season struggles to having a girlfriend. Wade admitted the Heat, which had dropped two games before bouncing back on Sunday, had "minor" chemistry issues, ESPN reports.
The Heat followed a surprising loss to the Philadelphia 76ers with a loss to the Brooklyn Nets. Prior to Miami's win on Sunday against the Washington Wizards, Wade alluded to chemistry issues as the cause for their subpar start.
"Let me give you an example," Wade said, via ESPN. "If you're in a relationship with a woman for a long time, you start getting comfortable. You stop doing the little things that you should do, that you did in the beginning. It's just like a relationship. We got a little comfortable. Now we have to get back on that edge a little bit."
While nobody suggested there was major discord in the locker room, LeBron James did seem to agree with Wade and said they all need to do a better job communicating.
"It's just getting back into it - not taking what we have for granted," James said shortly after being told of Wade's remarks. "We've been together so long, you start to think we can go out and make it happen instead of talking through it. We lacked that the last few games. We got a handle on it today, and we know what the issue."
Heat coach Erik Spoelstra didn't clarify what the issue was, other than the team needing to play better together on the court.
"The (previous) two games have been like filling holes in a damn," said Spoelstra. "There have been so many things we have not done well in the beginning of the game. Connected basketball is doing it where all five guys are on the same page. Defensively, we know that we are talking about it.
"There are times in the last two games where we have played as well as we possibly can. Then there are other possessions where we are running into each other."
Miami looked more in sync on Sunday against Washington, which the Heat won 103-93. Wade and James combined for 45 points, 10 assists and eight rebounds.
The Heat (2-2) travel to Toronto on Tuesday to play the Raptors.
