Central Notes: Wade, Bulls, Pistons, Smith

Following the Bulls‘ home opener last week, a 105-99 win over the Celtics, Dwyane Wade told Shams Charania of The Vertical that he “closed the Miami chapter” of his basketball career. The veteran guard admitted, with a smile, that he still hadn’t received the email that Pat Riley claimed to write to him in the wake of his departure, but added that he isn’t thinking much about the Heat anymore anyway.

“I can’t focus over there anymore,” Wade said after the Bulls’ opener. “I want those guys in Miami to be successful, but I’m motivated by greatness here. I’m motivated by doing what people think I can’t do, for sure. I had to make a decision, and I feel good about the decision I made. … I’m not here because I’m angry at [Riley] or the Heat. There’s no anger. I’m happy because I got the freedom to look elsewhere. I got to look at home.”

Here’s more from around the Central division:

  • Much has been made over the last few months about the Bulls‘ unusual roster construction, and Wade admits that it’s “not the ‘new traditional’ team” that features several three-point shooters. However, Wade suggests to Steve Aschburner of NBA.com that he expects the club to have success if it plays to its strengths.
  • With Reggie Jackson ailing, the Pistons have asked Ish Smith and Beno Udrih to carry the load at point guard early, and those players are delivering, writes Aaron McMann of MLive.com. Smith signed with the team this summer and Udrih was just claimed off waivers last week, but the duo has held its own early in the season for Detroit, as McMann details.
  • Due to a contract stand-off between J.R. Smith and the Cavaliers, the veteran shooting guard missed most of the training camp and preseason. As Jason Lloyd of The Akron Beacon Journal observes, it has taken some time for Smith to get his legs under him, but he’s starting to round into form.
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