Oh Raptor, My Raptor: Bosh Comes Up Big in Game 2
By JCook
This is the face of triumph, the face of achieving a goal.
Jun 8, 2014; San Antonio, TX, USA; Miami Heat forward Chris Bosh (1) reacts in the second half against the San Antonio Spurs in game two of the 2014 NBA Finals at AT&T Center. The Heat beat the Spurs 98-96. Mandatory Credit: Brendan Maloney-USA TODAY Sports
I refer to him as The Raptor, not to insult, but rather because he looks like a dinosaur.
Personally, I find him the most lovable of the Big 3.
Don’t get me wrong, LeBron remains my favorite player of all-time, but people always seem to find ways to dislike Wade and James.
Not Bosh though.
Sure people make fun of him sometimes, but in the end I’d never understand how somebody could hate Chris.
All this being said, while he is always the forgotten member of the Big 3, he’s poured just as much heart into this as the rest of them.
I’ll never forget the image of him collapsing in the Heat hallway after the Game 6 loss to the Mavericks in the 2011 NBA Finals.
Being at the doorstep of an NBA Championship and then coming up short devastated him, but it also motivated him to get better.
Fast-forward to Game 2 of the 2014 NBA Finals, and while the main headline is another incredible performance by LeBron, the tale that cannot be forgotten is that of the play of The Raptor.
His final stat line reads 18pts-3reb-2ast-1stl-1blk.
In addition, he had an incredible slam-dunk for an And-1 in the 2nd Qtr.
However, the most important plays by Chris occurred in the 4th quarter.
To preface this, let’s flashback to last round in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Finals at Indiana.
With time winding down, LeBron prepared to drive down the lane and Bosh sat in the corner.
Blowing by Paul George, Roy Hibbert decide to collapse to the paint and apply a double.
Noticing this, LeBron used his high basketball IQ to spot Bosh and kicked the rock out to him.
George Hill, however, had the play scouted out and closed out Bosh as he released the shot, causing it to miss.
Fast-forward back to last night, as the Heat trailed the Spurs 93-92 with 1:24 to play in the 4th.
LeBron starts on the wing guarded by Kawhi Leonard while Bosh sits in the corner heavily stalked by Tim Duncan.
As LeBron goes to work, Mario Chalmers comes around and sets a screen for him. This move traps Chalmers’ man (Tony Parker) and LeBron’s man (Leonard) in a human sandwich.
This chain of events gives the greatest in the world a wide open lane to the basket and opens up multiple options for LeBron.
All of that draws the respect of Tim Duncan, who abandons Bosh to apply help at the bucket for the James drive. Instantly Duncan and the rest of the Spurs are like a deer in the headlights, frozen helplessly as LeBron kicks to a now wide open Bosh.
Unlike George Hill last series, by the time Kawhi realized what was happening his close out was too little too late.
The end result? KABOSH!
When he missed it, LeBron and Bosh were criticized for the play, but make it and everybody calls it the smartest thing since the creation of Air Conditioning(ironically that’s pretty critical too).
Yes, Big Shot Bosh stepped up once again and hit that signature corner three that has become a staple in these playoffs.
But, The Raptor wasn’t done yet. Not by a long shot.
Guarded by Duncan in the closing seconds of the game, and the Spurs content on letting the clock play out rather than fouling…
and drew a double from Boris Diaw.
This left Dwyane Wade wide-open on the block and turned Big Shot Bosh into Big Play Bosh.
Wade collected the past, and put the nail in the coffin as the Heat took Game 2.
Here’s the outstanding play from start to finish.
Night in and night out, it’s hard not to give the game ball to LeBron James.
However, when all the chips were on the table, Bosh stepped up when the Heat needed him most and sealed the deal.
After Game 2, the Raptor can head home (by plane or from a pterodactyl…sorry Chris, had too) with a bounce of triumph in his step, knowing regardless of what anybody says he’s a crucial piece to the Miami Heat puzzle and a rightful member of the Big 3.
KABOSH!
Jun 8, 2014; San Antonio, TX, USA; Miami Heat forward Chris Bosh (1) celebrates in the second half against the San Antonio Spurs in game two of the 2014 NBA Finals at AT&T Center. The Heat beat the Spurs 98-96. Mandatory Credit: Brendan Maloney-USA TODAY Sports