After LeBron James wrote he was going back to the Cleveland Cavaliers and Chris Bosh re-signed with the Miami Heat on a five-year $118 million deal, the line was that Bosh would be the “number one option.”
I’ve taken issue with this many times, writing time and time again that Bosh isn’t the No. 1 option, but rather “the offense will run through him.” Those are two different things, and something coach Erik Spoelstra clarified to Bleacher Report’s Ethan Skolnick.
"“I always kind of laugh when people say he has to be the C.B. from Toronto,” Spoelstra said. “He’s so much more of a dynamic player now than he was then. …He will touch the ball everywhere on the court, and then be a decision-maker from there.”"
Bosh further illustrated his role.
"“I get a lot of touches,” Bosh said, laughing. “That’s not necessarily to score every time. It’s on me to decide what I want to do with it.”"
Bosh scored 26 points on 9-of-18 shooting. He made it a double-double by adding 15 rebounds. Being closer to the basket helped him get more boards. Unlike last season, he was free to drive to the rim whenever he pleased. He was good at it, too.
Also unlike last season, when Bosh would receive the ball on the three-point line where he was often relegated to a catch-and-shoot, he got the ball at the elbow. This is similar to the way the Indiana Pacers used David West in years past. Like the Heat, the Pacers don’t have a strong facilitator at point guard and often run plays through a big man. Bosh often got the ball at the elbow, at which point he would “decide what I want to do with it.”
Specifically, we are talking about the horns approach to the offense. Horns is a set that places two bigs on the elbows in order to space the floor.
That’s why Josh McRoberts‘ return is so important for the Heat. His passing and mid-range game will mirror that of Bosh’s on the opposite elbow and create a unique symmetry unlike anything else in the NBA. It should allow the Heat to run the same play to the left or to the right.
It’s similar to how the Phoenix Suns don’t have one point guard, but two. Both handle the ball and can run the same plays from either side of the court.
Because Bosh is the more dynamic and effective of the two, the offense will primarily run through him. The Heat don’t need Bosh to be the Raptor. They need him to evolve. Just as he has been doing his entire career.