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Updated: June 6, 2005, 1:29 PM ET
Van Gundy would be 'shocked' if Wade didn't playAssociated Press
MIAMI -- Dwyane Wade should be ready to play in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference finals.
Wade missed Saturday's sixth game of the series against the Detroit Pistons because of a strained right rib muscle but participated in Monday's walkthrough with the Miami Heat -- a strong indicator that the star guard will be on the floor in the winner-take-all game for a spot in the NBA Finals.
"I'd be shocked if he didn't give it a shot tonight, and then we'll just have to see what happens," Heat coach Stan Van Gundy said Monday. "It's Game 7 and he's a great competitor."
Said Heat guard Damon Jones: "He's ready to go."
Injury problems are commonplace these days for Miami, which has all five of its starters battling some sort of painful malady. Wade sustained the muscle strain in the Heat's Game 5 win, and has received multiple treatments in an effort to alleviate some of his discomfort.
Van Gundy, however, doesn't want to use injuries as any sort of excuse.
"It's Game 7. The heck with all of that," Van Gundy said. "You're out there, you've got to play and you've got to play well. There's no excuses that anybody cares about at this point, nor should they care about. It's two teams playing for a chance to go to the NBA Finals. That's all that matters."
Wade missed five regular-season games, four because of injury, and Miami went 3-2 in those contests. He's been the Heat's leading scorer this postseason, with averages of 28 points, 6.8 assists and 6.1 rebounds.
"If we lose, we go home. He's going to give it everything he's got," Miami forward Udonis Haslem said.
Preparation-wise, Detroit is drawing upon its experience from Game 1 -- when there was some speculation that Shaquille O'Neal wouldn't be able to play because of the bruised right thigh that has dogged him for nearly two months. O'Neal played, and the Pistons won anyway, taking the opener 90-81.
Pistons guard Richard Hamilton said his team is prepping to see Wade, and they'll try to attack him.
"You've got to make him work on both ends of the floor," Hamilton said. "If he handles the ball, you've got to pressure him. If he's guarding whoever, you've got to see how healthy he is."
And while the Pistons would clearly glean an advantage from Wade not being in the lineup, they also hope the series isn't decided by an injury.
"I hope he can play," Detroit coach Larry Brown said. "I hope he's healthy enough, because he's been such a big part of their team. He's had such a phenomenal year and you don't want to see anybody short-handed in meaningful games like this."
Van Gundy would be 'shocked' if Wade didn't playAssociated Press
MIAMI -- Dwyane Wade should be ready to play in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference finals.
Wade missed Saturday's sixth game of the series against the Detroit Pistons because of a strained right rib muscle but participated in Monday's walkthrough with the Miami Heat -- a strong indicator that the star guard will be on the floor in the winner-take-all game for a spot in the NBA Finals.
"I'd be shocked if he didn't give it a shot tonight, and then we'll just have to see what happens," Heat coach Stan Van Gundy said Monday. "It's Game 7 and he's a great competitor."
Said Heat guard Damon Jones: "He's ready to go."
Injury problems are commonplace these days for Miami, which has all five of its starters battling some sort of painful malady. Wade sustained the muscle strain in the Heat's Game 5 win, and has received multiple treatments in an effort to alleviate some of his discomfort.
Van Gundy, however, doesn't want to use injuries as any sort of excuse.
"It's Game 7. The heck with all of that," Van Gundy said. "You're out there, you've got to play and you've got to play well. There's no excuses that anybody cares about at this point, nor should they care about. It's two teams playing for a chance to go to the NBA Finals. That's all that matters."
Wade missed five regular-season games, four because of injury, and Miami went 3-2 in those contests. He's been the Heat's leading scorer this postseason, with averages of 28 points, 6.8 assists and 6.1 rebounds.
"If we lose, we go home. He's going to give it everything he's got," Miami forward Udonis Haslem said.
Preparation-wise, Detroit is drawing upon its experience from Game 1 -- when there was some speculation that Shaquille O'Neal wouldn't be able to play because of the bruised right thigh that has dogged him for nearly two months. O'Neal played, and the Pistons won anyway, taking the opener 90-81.
Pistons guard Richard Hamilton said his team is prepping to see Wade, and they'll try to attack him.
"You've got to make him work on both ends of the floor," Hamilton said. "If he handles the ball, you've got to pressure him. If he's guarding whoever, you've got to see how healthy he is."
And while the Pistons would clearly glean an advantage from Wade not being in the lineup, they also hope the series isn't decided by an injury.
"I hope he can play," Detroit coach Larry Brown said. "I hope he's healthy enough, because he's been such a big part of their team. He's had such a phenomenal year and you don't want to see anybody short-handed in meaningful games like this."
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