Chris Bosh's abdominal injury has turned out to be just what the doctor ordered for LeBron James and the Miami Heat.
When Bosh went down in Game One of the Heat's series against the Indiana Pacers, it looked like the team might crumble under the weight of such a heavy loss. They went on to lose their next two games, and many questioned whether or not the team would be able to beat the surging Pacers without him.
Then, LeBron James and Dwyane Wade roared to life, rallying the Heat to win their next three games in a rowâ€"two of them on the roadâ€"against the Pacers. Their fierce play and determination to win carried the team's momentum into Game One of their series vs. the Boston Celtics, where they were clearly the superior team.
I wrote a post the night of Bosh's injury in which I said that James needed to play like Michael Jordan if the Heat had a chance to win the NBA title this year. James struggled to find his rhythm in the two games following Bosh's injury, but after the team went down two games to one he started to do just what I prescribed in my column.Â
James has begun to exert his will on his opponents ever since. He has been looking more for his own shot and relying less on his teammates to get the job done. He would have never felt the need to do so unless Bosh was no longer there in the middle of the court.
James has upped his aggression two-fold since Bosh's unfortunate injury. He is in full attack mode, and the Heat are winning as a result.
If Bosh returns for the NBA Finals, will the Heat beat the Spurs?
If Bosh returns for the NBA Finals, will the Heat beat the Spurs?
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Yes
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No
In the four games since the team lost two games in a row to the Pacers, James has averaged 32.5 points per game, 11.75 rebounds per game and 6.75 assists per game. He wants a championship so bad he can taste it, and nothingâ€"including the loss of one of the team's best playersâ€"is going to stand in his way this year.
On a personal note, I hope Bosh can make a return to action by the time the NBA Finals comes around. The Heat will need his presence down low to compete against Tim Duncan and the San Antonio Spurs' big men.Â
That being said, his absence has been a huge blessing in disguise for James and the Heat. It has forced James into the role he was destined forâ€"the role of a true leader.
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