Game 7 vs Boston, 2012 Conference Finals
Stat Line: 19 points, 8 rebounds, 8-for-10 from the floor, 3-for-4 from three
While the stats may not be “eye-popping”, this very well may be Bosh’s most significant game and moment as a member of the Heat. After suffering an abdominal strain in Game 1 of the Conference Semi’s against the Indiana Pacers, Bosh would go on to miss the next 10 games while rehabilitating the injury. During that stretch, James and Wade carried the load as much as they could, but against a veteran team such as the Celtics, it was going to take more than just two superstars to overcome them.
While Bosh’s rusty return in Game 5 and then in Game 6 certainly didn’t aid Miami’s efforts(nobody got in James’s way in Game 6), the “Forgotten Man” would make a triumphant entrance in Game 7, missing just two shots the entire 48 minutes while knocking down a career-high three three-pointers, two of them coming in the fourth quarter. While the dynamic duo of James and Wade combined for 54 points and 18 rebounds, it was the effort put forth by Bosh that spurred the crowd on and had talking heads everywhere(who had all written the Heat off after Game 5) rethinking their Finals picks(most still picked the Thunder anyway).
Had it not been for this particular performance in this specific game, the entire narrative on Miami’s Big 3 era might have been changed forever.