Bosh return possible today
The Miami Heat on Monday listed injured forward Chris Bosh as day-to-day and are not ruling out his availability for today’s Game 5 of the Eastern Conference finals against the Boston Celtics, with the series tied at 2-2.
Bosh, rehabbing from a lower abdominal strain, is being evaluated, and Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said, “It’s premature to say he’ll definitely play.”
Bosh was injured late in the first half of Game 1 of the conference semifinal series against the Indiana Pacers on May 13 and hasn’t played since. An abdominal strain typically requires four to six weeks to heal.
On how much sway the 6-11 Bosh will have in a decision to play, Spoelstra said, “He’ll get a vote. . . . But you always have to take the player’s opinion with a grain of salt. They all say they’re ready.”
The Heat, 5-4 without Bosh this postseason, certainly could use him. And the Celtics say they’re ready to face him.
“We have prepared every game like Chris Bosh will play,” Boston coach Doc Rivers said. “We don’t have to do anything different. Eventually, he will play.”
Rivers acknowledged Bosh’s return could affect Boston’s rotations.
“The fact that we’ve had success with our small lineup will probably change with Bosh playing,” Rivers said. “That will change the way we have to play.”
If Bosh returns against the Celtics, the likely matchup is against 6-11 center Kevin Garnett, who is averaging 20.5 points and 10.8 rebounds against the Heat.
“I think Kevin’s going to post up anyone they throw out there. I don’t think Kevin is that concerned with who he has to play against,” Rivers said.
“(Bosh’s) value offensively is he’s a great shooter. He really stretches the floor. That will make it difficult, there’s no doubt.”
After the Game 4 loss in overtime Sunday at Boston, the emphasis on Bosh’s availability ramped up. He has had several on-court workouts the last week.
The All-Star forward’s return could provide Miami with an immediate boost or it could alter the team’s chemistry. The Heat’s offense has been focused more around LeBron James and Dwyane Wade in Bosh’s absence.
Since Bosh arrived with James to play with Wade before the 2010-11 season, the Heat have won 72% of their games (11645) with him in the lineup. Without Bosh, Miami has won 52% (12-11).
“We couldn’t win without him for two years. And not only could we not win without him, we looked horrible without him,” Spoelstra said. “So I think that was the bigger challenge.
“If and when we ever get to that point (of having Bosh back), we’ll gladly take that challenge. He was our most important player for a long period of time.”