By Warren Blatt, Sports Network NBA Editor

MIAMI (Sports Network) -- All-Star Dwyane Wade has Miami four games away from advancing to the NBA Finals for the first time in franchise history. The Heat will appear in the Eastern Conference finals for the third time.

The second-seeded Heat lost in seven games to the Detroit Pistons in last year's conference finals and were ousted in five by Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls in 1997.

Wade scored 21 points, grabbed six boards and dished out a team-best six assists, as the Heat defeated No. 3 New Jersey, 106-105, at AmericanAirlines Arena and knocked out the Nets in five games in the conference semifinals. He played 43-plus minutes and finished 7-for-19 from the field in the clinching victory.

"It feels great to be going back to the Eastern Conference finals," said Wade after Game 5's win over New Jersey. "Last year we went to Game 7 and lost on our own floor and I don't think it has left any of us. Even though we have some new guys on this team, the guys that were here still feel it, so we will be looking forward to our next opponent.

Originally selected out of Marquette by Miami in the first round (fifth overall) of the 2003 NBA Draft, Wade averaged 27.6 points, 6.0 rebounds and 6.6 assists in the five contests against New Jersey. He leads Miami in scoring (26.0 ppg) and assists (6.9 apg) in the postseason.

Game 5's performance was not one of Wade's best, but when the Heat needed him he was there to make a big play on both ends of the court. Wade, who committed seven turnovers in the final game versus the Nets, averaged 42 minutes of action per game in the semis and did make 48.9 percent of his attempts from the field.

In the series-clinching victory against the Nets, veteran forward Antoine Walker scored 23 points and pulled down seven boards, while All-Star center Shaquille O'Neal was 8-of-10 from the floor and finished with 17 points.

"Anytime a team tries to stop me the other guys have to step up and they did and they have been doing it all of the playoffs," said Wade. "Chicago did the same thing and we responded to it."

Shaq and Walker have been solid throughout the playoffs. O'Neal is averaging 19.3 points and a team-high 9.2 rebounds per game, while Walker has contributed 14.3 points, 5.7 boards and has knocked down over 35 percent of his attempts from beyond the arc

"We knew that we could get here if we did everything right," said O'Neal after the Heat eliminated the Nets. "So far, we have been playing at a high level. We have been playing pretty good. I am going to keep talking to the guys. Pat (Riley) is going to keep encouraging the guys. It is not over yet. We still have a long way to go. We need to keep playing hard, and keep playing smart. We need to keep playing with a lot of energy. The fans have been a big help. The people of Miami, we love you and we appreciate you."

During his career, Shaq has won three championships as a member of the Lakers, and has appeared in a total of five NBA Finals. He and Wade will take another shot at getting the Heat over the hump.

The 24-year-old Wade has participated in 38 playoff contests in his career, and has accumulated averages 23.8 points, 5.0 boards and 6.4 assists. He has hit game-winning shots and made big defensive stops that have meant the difference between winning and losing for Miami.

Even though Shaq is still a dominant force down low for Miami, Wade is the go- to guy for the Heat. Wade loves this time of year and his performances in the playoffs have proved that he is a prime time player.