Lebron James says Chris Bosh is Heat's 'most important player'

After the Miami Heat's victory over the Philadelphia 76ers in Game 1 Saturday, Lebron James confidently stated that Chris Bosh is the "most important player" on the team.

James Jones echoed that sentiment, saying that "we can only go as far as he goes, and we can only play as well as he makes us."


That's SOME pressure to put on your THIRD option this late in the season.

Only, that pressure has actually been there all along. 


Even back in January when Heat coach Erik Spoelstra told NBA.com that Bosh "is probably our most important player", it was clear that early on, the Heat genuinely believed this to be true. Whether the fans buy in to this idea doesn't matter; the team believes it, therefore Bosh has to believe it too.

On Monday night, Bosh backed up his Game 1 double-double finishing with 21 points and 11 rebounds on 9-of-13 shooting. Another impressive showing against one of the league's better power forwards, Elton Brand.

Oddly enough though, the national perception of Bosh for much of the season was that he was the Heat's weak link. Whenever the team went through a rough patch, Bosh took the brunt of the blame. Critics pointed to his drops in scoring and rebounding and regularly questioned his toughness, just as many did to Los Angeles Lakers forward Pau Gasol before he won a championship. 

But if you've actually watched a good amount of Heat basketball this year, you know that Bosh has been nothing but consistent. Sure it took him a couple of weeks to get used to being the third scoring option after being the primary scorer for seven years with the Toronto Raptors. But even before asking for the ball more in the post, Bosh was shooting the ball as well as any player at his position, regularly sinking mid range jumpers with ease.

On a team with James and Dwyane Wade, Bosh is simply an easy target. In March, Bosh was blasted by critics after a seven-point performance against the Portland Trailblazers, a game in which he was clearly outplayed by power forward Lamarcus Aldridge. The belief that week was that Aldridge was a superior player. But is he really? Is Aldridge flat out better? Or are his stats better than Bosh's because he's his team's first option as opposed to the third? I find it hard to believe that if Bosh were in Aldridge's position, that his numbers wouldn't be the same, if not better.

Bosh should be judged on how he performs against his counterparts in the playoffs. Players like Brand, Kevin Garnett, and Gasol. And ultimately, that's what will happen.

Most feel that in 2006, the Heat won the title due to one of he greatest performances in finals history at the hands of Wade. A performance that will be remembered in NBA lore. But really, it was center Shaquille O'Neal that made Wade's legendary performance possible. His presence down low made defenders stay honest and gave Wade more room to work. Wade won it, but he wouldn't have won it without Shaq.

In a way, Bosh is going to need to play that Shaq role. He has to be that post presence that allows the ball handler (only now there's two ball handlers) to do the work.

This is what James means when he talks about Bosh's importance. He means that Bosh has to be the piece that makes everything work. Nobody expects Bosh to be the leading scorer. But he needs to hit his shots. He needs to rebound. He needs to play defense. He needs to be effective.

In other words, he needs to continue doing what he's done all year.

Hopefully he will.



Check out the incredibly bad "Bosh Song" if you haven't heard it.

Despite big three's subpar performance, Heat beat Celtics

Back in February, the Miami Heat's Dwyane Wade referred to the Boston Celtics as his teams' "bigger brothers". He compared the Heat's struggles against the defending Eastern Conference champs to those that Lebron James and Michael Jordan both went through against the Detroit Pistons, before ultimately making it to the NBA finals.

But on Sunday, it was the Heat that looked like the veteran team, with an impressive 100-77 win that surely left many Celtics fans doubting the wisdom of general manager Danny Ainge. 

Ever since the Celtics traded their beloved center Kendrick Perkins to the Oklahoma City Thunder, the team has plummeted to 29 in rebounding and opponents have taken advantage ever since. 

What should be most alarming to the Celtics is the fact that only one of the Heat's best three players played particularly well. While James finished with 27 points on 11 for 19 shooting, Chris Bosh finished with just 13 points and Wade continued his struggles against the Celtics finishing with 14 points on 4 for 12 shooting. 

Joell Anthony and Lebron James both go for block on Paul Pierce

Often criticized as the weak link of the team, it was the Heat's bench that would provide the spark in the victory with a combined 32 points. 

Point guard Mario Chalmers hit some big three pointers and finished with nine points. Forward Juwan Howard scored six and swingman James Jones scored five. 

But it was center Joel Anthony who was most effective, finishing with seven points and 10 rebounds and consistently disrupting opposing shots at the rim. 

"Obviously we understood there was a lot at stake with this game," Anthony said. "We understood what position we were in and what position we wanted to put ourselves in. Everyone just came really focused for this game and make sure we executed and do the things we needed to do." 

After averaging 14.3 assists in the previous three Celtics victories against the Heat, Celtics point guard Rajon Rondo was held to just seven points and five assists this time around, turning the all star into a non-factor.

"I think we were covering up a lot of mistakes with our energy, disposition, saving possessions," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. "I think against great players like that, that's what you have to do. Ideally, we're trying to do the same that we did in the previous three games but we were a little more conventional." 

With a win against the Atlanta Hawks on Monday, the Heat would need just one final win against the Toronto Raptors on Wednesday to lock down the second seed in the Eastern Conference. As the the number two seed the Heat will have home court through the first two rounds of the playoffs. 

Udonis Haslem's return to Miami Heat doubtful

With each day that passes, it seems less and less likely that the Miami Heat's Udonis Haslem will play again this season.

Haslem missed practice on Tuesday due to soreness in his left foot, the same foot that was operated on in November to repair ligament damage.

When the co-captian went down 13 games into the season, there seemed to be a sense of optimism amongst his teammates and fans that Haslem would make it back in time for the playoffs. It's starting to look like that was just wishful thinking. 

"I'm not getting coy about it," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. "None of us know at this point. Until he's able to go full speed, running, cutting, side to side and contact work and how his foot responds to that, we won't know. He's still a ways from that."

Haslem is perseverance personified. Many gave him the benefit of the doubt due to his unquestioned work ethic and sheer passion for not only the game, but the Heat organization as well. You better believe that nothing hurts him more than watching his teammates from the bench. 

But with only four games left until the playoffs, Haslem's chances of getting a couple of games under his belt before the rigors of a best of seven series begin are all but over. 

And even if Haslem manages to get healthy enough to play, is it really in his best interest to do so? Better yet, is it in Spoelstra's best interest to let him play?

Looks like once again Spoelstra is in a no win situation. If he doesn't play him due to concerns of re-injury, fans will ask "Why isn't Udonis playing?". If he does play him and he gets injured, it becomes "Why was Udonis ever out on the court?".

Haslem will not be 100 percent this year. Throughout the season many said that a Haslem at just half strength would be better than almost every option on the Heat's bench. I once too felt this way. But now I'm not so sure. 

I'm not sure it's wise to risk permanently injuring a guy who has been such a vital and beloved member of the Heat Franchise for eight years. I find it hard to believe that a 50 percent Udonis Haslem is going to make or break the Heat's chances at a title. 

Hopefully Haslem proves me wrong.

Who knows, maybe the Heat are just playing the manipulation game. Maybe he's a lot closer to returning than Spoelstra is giving off. 

Either way, right now Haslem has to be looked at as nothing more than a bonus if he returns. 

"We're focused with what we have," guard Dwyane Wade said. "The biggest thing for him is to get healthy. With that injury, you can't rush it and we don't want him to rush it at all."

And if he does return, his brothers will be there waiting.

"When he's ready to go, we will welcome him with open arms," forward Lebron James said. "We're definitely ready for that No. 40 jersey to be dusted off out of the maintenance room and get back on the floor."

Derrick Rose for MVP not so cut and dry

The due date for members of the NBA media to get their vote in for the NBA's Most Valuable Player is April 14. Too bad the decision was already made weeks ago.

At least that's how many feel, particularly those that are fans of the Miami Heat, Orlando Magic, and Los Angeles Lakers; fans that feel that their player has been unfairly banished from the race due to an early crowning by the media of Chicago Bulls point guard Derrick Rose.

This isn't a piece designed to undermine Rose, who has had nothing less than a truly great season. He's led his team to the best record in the Eastern Conference with a current record of 53-20 and has managed to do so without starters Joakim Noah and Carlos Boozer for 30 and 18 games respectively. He is the only player who ranks in both the top ten in scoring and assists, an undeniably impressive accomplishment.

Is Derrick Rose really the MVP?

But I can't help but wonder if this common understanding of "Rose for MVP" by the majority of fans and media alike, has more to do with exceeded expectations than anything else. Because before the season began many analysts and NBA writers figured the Bulls would finish no better than the fourth seed. Clearly, those expectations were low. Now, because a player proved a couple of doubters wrong and managed to keep his team afloat while two of his teammates were injured, the race is over? I don't buy that.

The award shouldn't be about expectations, it should be about who's the best. Because the best is always the most valuable.

Lebron James is the most physically skilled player in the NBA. Many would say he's the best in the league. So does this mean that if Heat teammate Dwyane Wade went down early in the season and missed 30 games just like Noah, that the MVP talk of James and Rose would be reversed? Surely James' stats would be inflated due to more time with the ball in his hands. And I think it's safe to say that the Heat would still be relevant without Wade, with Chris Bosh becoming even more effective as the second option.

Instead, James' shot at a third consecutive MVP has been lost due to a media perception that despite the facts, Rose is a more "clutch" player than James and more valuable to his team. But if your idea of value translates solely to wins and losses, then Rose isn't the MVP, it's the Magic's Dwight Howard. Take Howard off the Magic and you're talking about a mediocre team at best that probably doesn't make the playoffs.

But if you break down the numbers, you'll find that since the 2006-07 season, James has shot a higher percentage (22.0) and scored more points (31) in the last ten seconds of the fourth quarter or overtime than his supposed super-clutch teammate, Dwyane Wade.

Or how about just this season. According to 82games.com, with five minutes left in the fourth quarter or overtime with neither team ahead by more than five points, James ranks second in the NBA, scoring 48.7 points on .439 percent shooting. Rose ranks seventh, at 45.2 points on .375 percent shooting.

So what's more important? One or two buzzer beaters that give off the illusion of the so called "clutch gene," or better overall fourth quarter production?

Lebron was named MVP of the league in back to back years with a Cleveland Cavaliers team that he clearly made infinitely better. Without him, the team has crumbled to worst in the league.

My point, is that James is the same player as then. It should not be held against him now that he's surrounded with two other great players. If anything, he should be rewarded for still managing to maintain much of his stats playing alongside one of the best players in the league.

If Rose is your pick, fine. You won't get an argument from me. But to say it's so clear cut, well, that's simply not correct.

Big Three each score 30 in win over Rockets

The Miami Heat snapped the Houston Rocket's five game winning streak Sunday, with an exciting 125-119 victory in which the Heat made Franchise history along the way. 

The Heat, now standing at 51-22, have won five straight and eight of their last nine and currently sit only a half game back of the Boston Celtics for the number two seed in the Eastern Conference. 

"A fan's delight, a coach's nightmare," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said of a game that surely won't be remembered for it's defensive prowess.

Not only was this the first time in the Heat's 23-year history that three Heat players scored at least 30 points in the same game, but it was only the second time in NBA history and first since 1961 that a team had three players score 30 points and pull down 10 rebounds in regulation.

Lebron James finished with 33 points, 10 rebounds and 7 assists, Chris Bosh had 31 points and 12 rebounds, and Dwyane Wade added 30 points and 11 rebounds in a game that probably made many ponder, "Why don't they do this every night?" 

Lately, it seems like they have.

No, they haven't been setting franchise records on a nightly basis; but in the last nine games the Heat's big three have shown the kind of nightly consistency that has been lacking for much of the season. Too many times this season the Heat lost big games due to a lousy night from one of the three. But with only nine games remaining before the playoffs, that no longer seems to be the case.

Take Chris Bosh for example. After unfairly taking the brunt of the blame for the Heat's struggles at various points in the season, Bosh has recently silenced his critics, putting up the kind of numbers that he did as the first option for the Toronto Raptors. In his last nine games, Bosh has had seven doubles (24 points and nine rebounds against the L.A. Lakers) and has scored 30 plus twice. 

Wade and James have looked like the best two players in the league at their respective positions, both earning Eastern Conference Player of the Week honors during the stretch. 

It may not have been the kind of defensive basketball that has been a staple of the Heat organization for years, but even Spoelstra couldn't help but smile when speaking about the historic night.

"That's what makes great players special, " Spoelstra said. "They can be great during the year and still find another gear, another level they could go to."

"We're just trying to win," Bosh said when talking about his team's historic accomplishment. "That's the bottom line, we're just trying to win games. And historic things that happen, we can have a sense of accomplishment." 

Heat look to avenge worst loss of season against league's best

Just four days ago the season and hopes of an NBA championship were all but over for the Miami Heat. The experiment had failed. Lebron James and Dwyane Wade couldn't couldn't figure out how to play together. Chris Bosh was too soft. Erik Spolestra wasn't the man to lead the team. At least that's what you might have been conned into believing if you'd watched only five minutes of Sportscenter during a five-game losing stretch that started back on February 27 and didn't end until this past Thursday.


But funny how a measly two games can change everything.

Heat point guard Mike Bibby hit five 3-pointers and finished with 17 points against Memphis

After an encouraging 94-88 win for the second time this season against the defending champion Los Angeles Lakers Thursday and a 30-point beatdown to the Memphis Grizzlies on Saturday, the panic meter has dropped for the Heat, (there's actually an ESPN Heat panic meter) if only momentarily.


"It feels good to get some wins. The expectation of us going out and playing at a high level every night was waring on us a little bit," James responded after the Grizzlies win when asked about the significance of this particular point in the season. "We said it's just going to take one win and everybody could let their hair down and relax. We've been able to do it the last two nights."


Now the Heat look to make it three in a row Monday night against a San Antonio Spurs team that embarrassed the Heat earlier this month in a 125-95 shalacking, that only further raised doubt in the minds of Heat critics and fans alike.


When the two teams last met, the Spurs dissected the Heat's defense with ease, as the Spurs finished with eight players scoring in double digits and set a franchise record with 17 made three-pointers.


The Heat hope for a much different outcome this time around, with the Spurs entering the game with the best record in the league and riding a three-game winning streak.


Regarded as being one of the better run organizations in professional sports, Spolestra has nothing but high praise for the Spurs.


"We've always had the ultimate respect for them and what they've been able to accomplish. This year, it's probably a little bit of a surprise how well and how efficient they've played. They've already been tested through adversity. They've been through playoff battles.They've been through all the ups and downs."

You have to believe this Heat team wants some sort of revenge. They may not all come out and say it, but leave the admission to Chris Bosh, who's never short of words when it comes to talking about how he really feels.


"They beat the crap out of us and it was on national TV. Everyone saw it." said Bosh.


"We want to redeem ourselves."

Lebron owning up to late game failures

After another brutal 87-86 loss to the Chicago Bulls Sunday, it was pretty hard for a Miami Heat fan to find any reasons for optimism.

Once again it had all the components of a "big-game Heat loss", such as blown double digit leads, lack of bench production, and missed final shots.

This time around it was the Heat's failure to secure a rebound that would have put them in position to close out the game.

With less than 20 seconds left in regulation, Bulls forward Luol Deng stepped to the free throw line with his team down 86-84. At this point, the Heat had to feel pretty good about their chances, considering that even if Deng hit both free throws, the Heat would still have about 18 seconds left to play for the final shot or at worst take their chances in overtime.

Deng would only convert on his first of two free throws, but in the ensuing scuffle for the rebound the Heat's Mike Miller was called for a foul on Deng which sent him back to the free throw line with a chance to take the lead.

This time Deng would convert both free throws giving the Bulls an 87-86 lead, and ultimately the win.

During the Heat's final timeout, Heat head coach, Erik Spolestra would draw up a play designed to get Bulls center Jokim Noah covering Lebron James at the top of the key. The play worked up to that point, but the mismatch wasn't enough as James missed on a driving left-handed layup. Dwyane Wade would then take one final fade away jumper after securing a great offensive rebound, but that wouldn't drop either.

But it's what was said after the game by the Heat's biggest star, and perhaps biggest culprit, that should make Heat fans feel a little better. During the post game press conference, a clearly worn out Lebron answered questions regarding the current mental state of the team and also alluded to his own late game struggles.

"I told the guys that I just keep failing them late in games," James said. "I won't continue to do that"

A simple, yet meaningful quote.

Lebron owning up to his struggles and taking the blame. Letting his teammates and fans know, that he has to be better.

And hopefully he will. Because being "clutch" in the biggest moments of the game doesn't always mean that you need to make the winning shot. Maybe creating for another teammate to have a better shot is what is sometimes needed.

But whatever happens in these last couple weeks of the season leading up to the playoffs, it's refreshing to know that despite the daily criticism from the media and the fans, the most talented player in the world isn't too big to admit his failures.