Appreciating what Chris Bosh means to the Miami Heat
Although Chris Bosh is gone, his presence (or lack thereof) continues to be felt for the Miami Heat.
“They say they never really miss you ’til you’re dead or you’re gone…”
The lyrics above are a line that has been spoken time and time again, most notably for me by Jay Z. That statement holds true indeed for Chris Bosh as well. Although, he’s not dead, he’s spent a lot of time gone from the Miami Heat for the past two seasons, and they’ve missed his presence deeply. At the moment, the Heat are currently preparing to travel to Charlotte for a Game 6 with their season on the line, having lost three straight games after winning the first two pretty convincingly.
The Heat have missed him severely in each of these losses, and it’s been pretty evident. His offensive consistency, defensive versatility, and overall experience and leadership may have gotten the Heat through each of the last three losses.
I don’t want this to take on a “what if?” feel, but I want to make it known as a fan just how much I appreciate what Bosh has done since arriving in Miami, and how important he’s been from Day 1.
A guy who was a star in his own right BEFORE making his way to Biscayne Blvd., Bosh has become one of the most important guys of the small ball movement despite being 6-foot-11. His ability to step away from the basket to hit the mid-range jumper already made him dangerous. Then he stepped back even further and developed his three point shot during the Heat Big Three era, culminating in two championships.
He also happens to be the catalyst in what may arguably be the greatest play in NBA history, rebounding and assisting on Ray Allen’s legendary three. Allen will always get alot of credit for the play (rightfully so), but the play doesn’t happen that way if Bosh doesn’t grab that rebound. THAT is a microcosm of Bosh’s tenure in Miami: many under the radar events that signify something much bigger.
He has become a part of Heat lore, mainly because he chose to stay when the stars were aligned for him to walk away. Yes, the money and security was better in Miami, but staying put was more about finishing what he’s come to start four years prior.
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Bosh recently attempted to show that he’s back to good health and ready to play, as the #BringBoshBack hashtag took off, thanks to his wife, Adrienne. The Heat haven’t budged and I don’t blame them. Blood clots are no joke, and deserve all the time necessary to figure out. But Bosh’s spirit in the fight to get back to what he loves is admirable, to say the least.
Bosh has been traveling with the team for their road games already, but as they head on the road with their backs to the wall, having Bosh around is a morale booster. But I know for sure, that they miss his presence on the floor.
So do we.