Chris Bosh: The Evolution of the Miami Heat Star’s 3-Pointer
Back when Chris Bosh was a Toronto Raptor, he was known for his ability to score in the post, but over the past five years in Miami, Bosh has evolved into very serious long-range threat.
In only five years, Bosh went from attempting 22 3s in 2009 (70 games), to 168 in 2015 (44 games) at a clip of 37.5 percent.
In 2010, 1.9 percent of Bosh’s shots were attempts from long range, and 35.1 percent of his shots were from within three feet of the basket. Fast-forward to 2015, and 22.6 percent of his shots were from beyond the arc, and only 16.6 percent of his attempts were from within three feet.
Chris Bosh has done what very few aging stars are willing to do: Adapt.
Dan Le Batard of the Miami Herald once wrote, “You are vastly more invested in a plan when it is yours than when it is someone else’s. The Van Gundy brothers say the toughest thing to coach in sports is an aging superstar — because confidence is the last thing to go and the mirror is the last thing to know.”
Bosh went from being the number one option in Toronto to being the third in Miami, but instead of showing frustration and refusing to fit in, he evolved. With LeBron and Wade crashing the paint, Bosh needed to extend his game in order to create space. Over his Miami tenure, Bosh has become a lethal catch-and-shoot option.
Last season, Bosh shot 40.1 percent on catch-and-shoot opportunities from long range, which was better than Dirk Nowitzki (38.2 percent) and Kevin Love (37.3 percent). Bosh actually came in second among all players in the league in catch-and-shoot field goals made per game (3.2).
With Hassan Whiteside owning the paint, Bosh will most likely have a very similar role next year as a stretch 4. Not to mention, this Heat team is severely lacking 3-point shooters. Last season, the Heat ranked 24 in three point percentage (33.5 percent), and tied for 20 in 3-pointers made per game (6.8). Miami did add Gerald Green, who shot 40 percent from 3 back in 2014, but I’m not sure if one shooter off the bench is enough to fill their void.
We’ve also yet to see Bosh play with a point guard of Goran Dragic’s caliber. It may take some time to gain chemistry, but the idea of Dragic’s ability to penetrate and Bosh’s ability to catch-and-shoot sounds like a match made in heaven. Dragic can drive to the basket, and once the defenders crash, he can whip the ball to an open Bosh in the corner.
Bosh may not have come to Miami as a 3-point shooter, but he certainly is now. And more. His ability to evolve and adapt gives the Heat a consistent shooter from beyond the arc, and a legitimate chance at an NBA title.