MIAMI – Mario Chalmers, Norris Cole, Ray Allen and Rashard Lewis all had more shot attempts than Chris Bosh in Game 3 of the 2014 NBA Finals. San Antonio Spurs head coach Greg Popovich stated after Game 2, the Miami Heat are built differently.
Miami doesn’t rely on a deep rotation of players to do the scoring; it comes from the Big Three. But if Bosh touches the ball this little again, it’s safe to say there won’t be a three-peat.
Going into Tuesday’s match-up with the Spurs, Bosh was averaging 21 points and eight rebounds over his last five games. Bosh finished with nine points and three rebounds in 34 minutes. The man who made the game-winning three pointer andhelp tie the series, took just four shots. Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra has said on many occasions that Bosh is Miami’s most important player.
Dwyane Wade had a party for Bosh in the Eastern Conference finals to remind him how much he will be needed down the stretch. Making it incomparable to understand how Bosh had all of 12 touches as the series swung to South Beach. Where can the blame go for Bosh’s lack of exposure in the Heat’s attempt to come back from a record-setting performance by the Spurs?
Everywhere.
Clearly, the champs panicked as the Heat got away from its identity early in the game. In the first two games in San Antonio a concerted effort was made to get Bosh involved in the offense from tip-off but Tuesday night it was as if he was simply a role player. How could Spoelstra not run more plays out of the many timeouts he took in the first half for Bosh?
Maybe LeBron James’ seven turnovers could have been chopped in half if he was dribbling less and feeding the big man. When Wade became the point guard how could he forget the man who found him underneath the basket at the end of Game 2. Chalmers and Cole who combined for 10 points, five assists and five turnovers, must have forgotten about the nine-time All-Star too.
The Spurs have taken back home court and Miami will need the biggest performance from the biggest member of the “Big Three” in its biggest game of the season.
A loss in Game 4, will crush any chance at winning a third consecutive championship.
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