2012 NBA Eastern Conference Finals: Chris Bosh Returns To No Avail, Miami Drops Game 5 At Home(Heat POV)

After 9 games missing in action, game 5 saw the return of Chris Bosh to the Miami Heat. In very limited time, 14 minutes, Bosh had 9 points and 7 boards. Despite the return of the 3rd member of their “Big 3” it wasn’t enough. As Miami lost 94-90 and now trail in the series 3-2.

Bosh-Full

Bosh finally returned to action Tuesday evening. He looked well in the 14 minutes he played on the floor. It was obvious Miami was taking the overly cautious route in his first game back.  So if it wasn’t caution or an injury, I’m not to sure why Bosh didn’t see more action. He was however, a minus 13 while he was on the floor. I don’t know how much stock you can put in that, considering he played with the bench for most of his 14 minutes.

While the over reaction is coming, and it is, if Bosh can play more minutes going forward the series is far from over. Game 5 was another perfect example of the Heat desperately needing a 3rd scorer. As usual, it took Wade awhile to get going. So a front-runner like Bosh would be a great addition to the starting line-up.

Obligatory Over-Reaction

I don’t want to do it but my job description calls for it. Not counting the return of Bosh and the “Big 2” Miami stinks. We can blame Lebron, Wade, Bosh’s injury, or Coach Spoelstra. But for the love of Sam Cassell look at their roster. We want to blame everyone but the people who are costing them these games, the role players.

The Heat’s trio of superstars scored 66 points. The 6 other gentlemen that touched the hardwood, 24. LBJ, Wade, and the dinosaur average 22 points together. That’s mind boggling considering Bosh only played 14 minutes. However the 6 role players managed to average 4 points a player. A little help for you’re highly criticised teammates, anyone? Someone? Miller? Battier?..No, okay.

Doc Rivers is a fine coach. Usually a coach has to make the decision between 2 options while facing star competition. Either let the stars get their’s and try to shut down the role players. Or try to shut down the stars and see if the role players can beat you. Well Rivers is a fine coach. So fine that he realized the Heat’s role players are so bad they don’t need to be guarded. There were stretches in game 5 where Lebron and Wade had the whole city of Boston draping them leaving their teammates wide open.

Between a combination of enough trust broken between teammates and a burden so heavy it would crush Hulk Hogan’s back, Lebron and Wade really didn’t look to pass. Of the teams 82 shot attempts, 47 came from LBJ and Wade. The next closest was Bosh with 8 and he only played 14 minutes.

At this point in the playoffs you can’t blame Miami’s stars for not giving up the rock. For to long, and to often, LBJ has been crushed for passing to his teammates during key moments towards the end of games. Game 5 saw Lebron be the aggressor as he scored 30 points on 11-25 shooting. So until game 6 comes, expect Lebron to get hammered for not getting his teammates involved. But you can’t blame him for game 5. But you will. Not Mike Miller’s 3 points.

If you’re dying for points and a sense of urgency has finally set in, are you going to pass the ball to Mario Chalmers with your legacy on the line? No, absolutely not. LBJ is in a no win situation. If he continued to play using his “best basketball decision” mode the Heat would have lost by 20. Instead he tried to put the team on his back and they lost by 4. But you’ll blame him. Not Shane Battier’s 5 points.

What is also lost in over reaction translation is Dwyane Wade’s slow starts. I’m not saying he didn’t have a good game. Except Miami needs his good game to start earlier. The 2nd half is far to long to wait for his offense to show up. It’s become a recurring theme during this series. Without Wade, Miami would be losing by 20. With him starting on fire? Heck, they might even win a game. Who is to blame for Wade’s slow starts? Not Lebron, try…..

Coach Spo

I’ve been a Coach Spoelstra apologist. Like James, it feels like he is in a no win situation. If Miami was to win 4 NBA titles Spoelstra would get none of the credit. When they lose he gets more than his fair share. With that being said…..WHAT IS HE DOING?!

The already aforementioned Bosh return. Why is he only playing 14 minutes? He looked very good on the court. Tomorrow morning my cell phone better have an update alerting me to a Bosh injury. He looked healthy, he played healthy, HIS MINUTES WERE NOT HEALTHY.

Also, will the man ever draw up a play in late game situations? Either he doesn’t or Wade doesn’t listen. The theme seems to be, Wade gets ball: Wade dribbles around: Wade shoots erratic shot: We blame Lebron: End theme. Just a few feet away from Spoelstra, Doc Rivers is diagraming his life away on the sidelines. Putting his players in situations to succeed. Rick Carlise out-coached him in the Finals last year. Now Rivers is taking him to school.

Trust me, this Spoelstra bashing is coming with a heavy heart. I root for him to succeed. He has your buddies humor and looks like at least one of your friends. The only exception is our friend isn’t carrying the weight of “Not 1, not 2, not 3” on his shoulders.

Grades

Big 3: A 

They are who we thought they were? Or something along those lines. STOP BLAMING THEM.

Every other waste of talent: F+

I’m not a Miami Heat fan. The only dog I have in this race is Rajon Rondo. Somehow though, I find myself yelling at the TV like this is my team. Every time Norris Cole or Shane Battier touch the ball I want to cry. The fingers need to start pointing at the role players. If they don’t than they need to get pointed at the guy who brought them in. But really, who has the cojones to call out Pat Riely? Not anyone on ESPN. So they’ll just keep picking on Lebron and Spoelstra.

Game 6

Game 6 is Thursday at 8:30pm on ESPN. See if the Heat will bounce back or if we’re in for a summer of “breaking up the big 3” segments on TV every waking second of our lives. Game 7 please.

Joseph Nardone is a Writer/Blogger for Sir Charles In Charge. He is also a loyalist apologist for Rajon Rondo. You can follow him on the twitter machine @JosephNardone