1st year in the NBA - continued

And grow he did. Wade averaged 21 points in six games against the Pacers, who posted the NBA's best regular-season record at 61-21. His thunderous dunk over 7-foot All-Star Jermaine O'Neal in a 94-87 win in Game 3 ignited a game-clinching run that gave the HEAT new hope after falling into a 0-2 hole. Wade scored 14 of his team-high 25 points in the fourth quarter.

"He's a great player," said Pacers coach Rick Carlisle after that game. "He's stepping his game up at an important time of the year. At this point, I don't think he feels like he's a rookie, and we certainly don't consider him to be one either."

"Last game wasn't really any different than any other night," said HEAT center Brian Grant. "He's ferocious. As (HEAT assistant coach) Bob McAdoo would put it, an alpha male. One of those guys that's just gonna attack, attack, attack."

The attack continued in a 100-88 win in Game 4, as Wade scored 20 points and handed out seven assists to help tie the series 2-2. His 16-point, 10-assist effort stood out in a lopsided 94-83 Game 5 loss. And his sensational 10-point fourth-quarter explosion nearly brought the HEAT back from the brink of elimination in a 73-70 Game 6 loss that saw him close with a team-high 24 points. "I just told myself that we were down, so it was time for me to step up," said Wade, who scored eight consecutive points in the final quarter to give the HEAT a 62-61 lead. "If we were going out, we were going out fighting."

In the end, it was the Pacers who advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals. But not before learning what Grant and his teammates had known all season long.

"There wasn't anybody else that was drafting that saw that," said Carlisle of Wade's dominance. "Now they got themselves a guy similar to a LeBron James or a Magic Johnson because he has size, great athletic ability and he's a winner." The HEAT were especially thrilled with what they witnessed in Wade.

"You just watched an outstanding talent start to really grow up," said HEAT head coach Stan Van Gundy a day after the season had ended. "I think what was really remarkable during the Indiana series was his consistency throughout the series. Some players had their great nights and bad nights while Dwyane's worst night was 16 points and 10 assists. That's incredible for a rookie." "The fact that he developed so quickly in his confidence level and maturity, it sort of blew my mind," said HEAT President Pat Riley. "I've never had a player I've drafted that was as good as Dwyane is, other than when Earvin (Magic Johnson) came in the first year."

Ask Wade what he thought he proved during his commanding playoff performance, and his answer is, well, predictable. "I guess we'll find out once next season starts whether I built any kind of rep," said Wade. "Hopefully, I've shown my style of play as an attacker."

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