BY ISRAEL GUTIERREZ
Dwyane Wade isn't ready to call it a season just yet.
The Heat guard said Monday that he will complete about two to three weeks of rehabilitation on his injured left shoulder and then decide whether he can return to the court this season.
Wade, who dislocated his left shoulder and tore his labrum Feb. 21 in Houston and has seen two doctors since, said he is making no guarantees on a return but will attempt it rather than undergo season-ending surgery.
''Both doctors thought it would be a great thing to do because of my youth, because of my history of injuries and normally coming back quicker than most,'' Wade said. ``That's my decision, to rehab for the next two or three weeks, and see if I have the strength and the confidence in my shoulder to play at a high level, especially at the end of the year going toward the playoffs. And if not, then possibly surgery.''
Wade said he will almost definitely have to undergo surgery in the offseason even if he does return, which will likely keep him out at least four months.
If he does feel strong enough after the rehab, Wade said he would like to get back into basketball shape and onto the court before the end of the regular season. Should Wade return soon after the rehabilitation period, that could leave as many as 12 games in the regular season for him to play before a potential playoff run.
CAN'T GET WORSE
Although there is a possibility Wade's shoulder can come out of the socket again, which is a painful experience, he said there is ''no further damage I can do'' to the joint itself.
''The main thing that I can do is feel that same pain again,'' Wade said. ``That's one thing they stressed to me, that's one thing I don't want to feel.''
Wade said he spoke with Eddie Jones about his experience after sustaining a similar injury. Jones missed 15 games after dislocating his left shoulder and tearing his labrum in March 2001. Jones played the final weeks of the regular season and three playoff games that season without reinjuring himself.
He did dislocate the shoulder in his sleep following the season, but it was not a stressful event.
''He was very confident that, with the rehab, I could do it,'' Wade said of his conversation with Jones.
Wade also spoke with Jones about the rehabilitation process, with which Jones is quite familiar.
''You're going to get a workout, a big-time workout,'' Jones said. ``There's going to be days when you don't want to do it. But you've got to stay on top of it. . . . I think he can get through it.''
Wade said the team's current performance without him, winning three of four games against playoff-quality competition entering Monday's game against the Hawks, didn't necessarily factor into his thinking. He said he will attempt to return and play his normal, aggressive game despite the injury should he return this season.
''I'm not even thinking that I won't come back 100 percent,'' Wade said. ``If I come back, then I would be able to play the way I normally play.
``You don't want to think about anything when you're playing the game of basketball.''
Heat coach Pat Riley said he's confident Wade will make any necessary adjustments to his game to remain effective should he return.
''He's a warrior,'' Riley said. ``He's a soldier. And these are his guys. I think all great players make the adjustment -- whatever adjustment they have to make.''
NO PROTECTION
Team physician Harlan Selesnick told Wade there was really no protective gear he could wear that would help him avoid another dislocation.
''I think there's a harness that guys wear,'' Wade said.
``He said that's really not for this kind of injury.''
Though most assumed Wade would choose this route, the guard said the decision wasn't an easy one, despite his competitive nature.
''It could have been easy for me, especially playing all year last year and plus the summer, just to shut it down,'' Wade said. ``I talked with a lot of people that had the injury and I heard a lot of different things. But my body is my body and I guess I'll find out after therapy, after rehab, how my body responds to things.''
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