The Miami Heat have a target on their back that every other NBA team is going to be aiming at.
The Heat need to be prepared when the season starts to put their best foot forward, which includes maximizing the talent on their roster by putting the best starting lineup on the court.
With a starting lineup of Mario Chalmers, Dwyane Wade, Shane Battier, LeBron James and Chris Bosh, the Heat have their best chance of repeating as NBA champions, but that means Bosh must be the Heat's center for the entire 2012-13 season.
Ahead are five reasons why Bosh is a perfect fit at center for the Miami Heat.Â
It Adds Versatility on the Offensive Side of the Ball
Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images
The Miami Heat don't have a true center. Let's just get that out into the open.Â
The good news is they have a player in Chris Bosh who can get the job done mainly because of the talent he has around him. Having Bosh's talents at center make the Heat a weaker team on defense, but it helps them become a more versatile team on offense.
Putting Bosh at center brings LeBron James to the power forward position, and that opens up the small forward spot for either Shane Battier or Rashard Lewis. Doing that gives the Heat added production on the wing, which is better than having a useless offensive player such as Joel Anthony at center.
Unlike most centers in the NBA, Bosh can spread the court with his perimeter game, and that helps the Heat be a more dangerous offensive team.Â
It Worked Last Year for Bosh as a Starter
Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images
Starting at the center position last season, Bosh averaged around 19 points and 14.5 rebounds, which is pretty dominant for a guy who's more built to be a pure power forward.
Bosh's intensity and energy are things the Heat thrive off of, and his intensity is to the max when he is forced to play physically in the paint. Being at the center position worked last year, so the question should be, why shouldn't the Heat play Bosh at center?
Against teams like the L.A. Lakers, Boston Celtics and New York Knicks, the Heat desperately will need a post presence. While guys such as Joel Anthony and Udonis Haslem can get the job done defensively, Bosh is the only big man on the roster who can make a difference on the offensive side of the ball, and that is what really matters.
The Heat need to be a more dangerous team in the paint if they want to repeat as NBA champions during the 2012-13 season, and the only way to do that is replicate last year's success of playing Bosh at the center position.Â
The Heat Won a Championship with Him at the Center Last Season
Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images
Why should the Heat change the system that helped them win the 2012 NBA title?Â
They clearly shouldn't, because a lineup with Bosh at the center position gives them the most versatile and dangerous starting lineup possible.
If the Heat moved Bosh back to the power forward position, that would keep LeBron at the small forward spot, meaning that guys such as Rashard Lewis and Shane Battier would see less time on the court. Sure, keeping Battier and Lewis off the court isn't going to stop the Heat dead in their tracks, but it wouldn't maximize the talent on their roster.
During the 2012 NBA Finals, the Heat found the lineup that gave them the best chance at winning, and that is without a doubt with Bosh at center. Spreading the floor against bigger teams will be key to a Heat repeat.Â
The Heat Don't Have Any Other Options
Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images
The next best option for the Heat at the center position is Joel Anthony, and his career averages of 2.7 points, 3.4 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per game won't cut it for the Heat this season.
Looking at the competition the Heat have to go up against,â€"the New York Knicks with Tyson Chandler and Amar'e Stoudemire, and the L.A. Lakers with Dwight Howard and Pau Gasolâ€"it's clear that the Heat need a center who can not only play defense but also be a force on the offensive side of the ball.
Bosh is the only player on their roster who can do that, and while he isn't the biggest or strongest "center" in the game, he's certainly a player who is intelligent enough to understand how to best utilize his talents no matter where he is on the court.
With guys such as LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Ray Allen on the perimeter, the offensive focus won't be on Bosh in the paint. But having him as a viable offensive option will take the defensive pressure off the Heat's superstars, which will, in turn, make the Heat a more efficient and productive team.Â
Bosh Forces LeBron to Be More Physical in the Paint
Ronald Martinez/Getty Images
LeBron James is at his best when he's being pushed by everyone around him on the courtâ€"including his opponents.
Putting Bosh at center puts LeBron at the power forward position and forces him to play physically on both sides of the ball from tipoff. LeBron certainly will be forced to guard bigger, stronger players in the paint, but that will add intensity to the way he approaches the game.
Last season, when Bosh was either out of the lineup or at the center position, LeBron took over in the paint, either locking down guys such as Pau Gasol or slashing into the paint and throwing down on bigger, stronger defenders.Â
When you are the best in the game, you need someone to continually push you, and sometimes the best way to do that is to put yourself in uncomfortable situations. Forcing LeBron to play at the power forward position will make him a more versatile player, as it will force him to continue to polish his post game, and it also will make him a tougher player on both sides of the ball.
A lineup for the Heat that features a frontcourt duo of Bosh and LeBron sounds odd, but it is the only way the Heat will have a shot at repeating as NBA champions in 2013.Â
Begin Slideshow
Keep ReadingProps (0)
What is the duplicate article?
Why is this article offensive?
Where is this article plagiarized from?
Why is this article poorly edited?
Flag This Article
Miami Heat: Like this team?
No comments:
Post a Comment