Chris Bosh: The Most Unique Power Forward in the Game

With so many NBA players in today's game being pigeon-holed into labels, “two guard,” “point guard,” “power forward,” and so on, Chris Bosh is being asked to be nameless. From a different basketball perch, he is being asked to make his Miami Heat squad even more of a creative force, too difficult for opponents to define and deal with.

Chris Bosh has always been a wanted man.

In explanation, Bosh is like former Chicago Bull Hall of Famer Scottie Pippen was: He's a co-star who superstars long to play with.

To his further credit, Bosh is one who frequently fondles, fiddles and fidgets with the edge of superstardom himself.

That's a pretty good player.

Admittedly—before readers howl at the moon—Bosh is missing a key Pippen ingredient, the championship rings. But Bosh is just as much a desired collaborator by his colleagues because he seems to play the Pippen-like complete game and manifests confidence without having to be the leading luminary.

 

Beyond this, Chris Bosh is so statistically reliable, from game to game.

On Monday, Bosh was named a finalist for the 2012 U.S. Olympic team, along with heavyweight power forwards Blake Griffin, Kevin Love and LaMarcus Aldridge. Such honors indicate that Bosh's merit is broadly acknowledged, although his current Miami Heat superstar teammates LeBron James and Dwyane Wade receive most of the publicity.

Witness the 6'11” 235-pound Bosh's statistics this year: To date they're right where they always are, 19.1 (scoring) and 8.2 (rebounding). As far as numbers go for big men, those are generally considered co-star numbers, not top-billing numbers.

But still, Chris Bosh is an elite NBA player.

Stats are not everything.

Chris Bosh exhibits what other power players do not within his myriad abilities. He can suddenly move and groove through opposing defenses like a slippery eel, or he can stutter-step and stop to swish a medium-range jumper. He's also adept at shooting three-point shots.

In the open court, most power forwards have to get set before they launch jumpers. Not Bosh. Whereas Pau Gasol can do similar things, Chris Bosh is the more explosive player of the two, and Bosh, with his ability to shoot the three, has an even more diversified game than Gasol.

And Pau Gasol never averaged close to the 24 points per game Bosh notched in 2009-2010.

On any given night Chris Bosh can score 30 points and collect 15 rebounds.

Moreover, Chris Bosh may be the best NBA player in this regard: He's equally and highly efficient facing up to the rim or maneuvering with his back to the basket.

What's new this year for the multi-talented forward is that the Miami Heat brass want Chris Bosh to be their decision-maker of sorts. Within Miami's nascent “spread” offense unveiled for 2011-2012, Bosh's job is to look for successful opportunities from the head of the circle.

 

Bosh elaborates on his new responsibilities:

“It’s a difficult position because you have to get involved, and I’m an unselfish guy....Sometimes I have to be aggressive at that top-of-the-key position in order to get myself involved a lot...At any time, I can go. It’s on me to make that call.” 

Miami this year also wants Bosh to feel no hesitation in putting up the three-point shot as a trailer on the fast break.

With it all, Bosh is routinely expected to continue to rebound, gnaw at his counterpart defensively and be the competent shot-blocker he has been over the years.

Bosh's capable meshing with his au courant role, although he has not gotten it thoroughly down pat, is part of the reason for Miami's strong 8-4 start.

Bosh's newfound obligation with the Heat raises the question for basketball fans: On which other power forward in the NBA could such an obligation be placed? Answer: No one else. Certainly not Kevin Durant (who can be considered a “power” type), Blake Griffin or Kevin Love. None of them could presently handle it, skill-wise.

With so many NBA players in today's game being pigeon-holed into labels, “2 guard,” “point guard,” “power forward” and so on, Chris Bosh is being asked to be nameless. From a different basketball perch, he is being asked to make his Miami Heat squad even more of a creative force, too difficult for opponents to define and deal with.

He wouldn't be asked if he couldn't do it. That's how good he is.