The Miami Heat are on the brink of elimination from the playoffs, as they are down 3-2 with their first round series headed back to Charlotte for game six. From watching this series, you can tell that the Heat really miss Chris Bosh, and with him, the outcome likely would be very different.
Bosh released a statement towards the end of the regular season saying that he was positive he would return at some point this year. However, the Heat have been extremely hesitant to allow Bosh to play and continue to insist that he is out with no timetable for a return.
Bosh last played in the Heat's last game before the All-Star break in the beginning of February. Bosh then had to pull out of the All-Star game due to a calf injury, but it was later revealed that he had a blood clot in that calf. This is the second straight year that Bosh has had his season end due to blood clot issues, and although this one doesn't seem as serious, this is a potentially life threatening issue, so the Heat are being extra cautious.
The 32-year-old forward is on blood thinners, and doctors have recommended that he stay on them for a while. It is not safe to play on blood thinners, which is why the Heat won't allow it, but Bosh still desperately wants to.
Bosh and his wife, Adrienne, have taken to social media to show that he is shooting around and to try and get the Heat to change their stance. Bosh posted a video of him making jump shots, saying "I still got it," while Adrienne has used the hashtag "#BringBoshBack" on Twitter.
It is a little surprising that Bosh wants to get back on the court so badly considering how dangerous it would be. Despite the clamoring from him and his wife, you can't fault the Heat for continuing to take to a cautious approach here. They have Bosh's best interest in mind and are thinking long-term, even beyond basketball, for him which is respectable.
This may all be a moot point considering the Heat's season could end as early as Friday night, but the good news is that Bosh has no plans to retire and is expected to be available to play next season. The Heat, with Bosh available, would have been a very formidable opponent for anyone in the Eastern Conference, so it will leave fans thinking what if, but the Heat know that it would be too big of a risk, so they are doing the right thing by keeping Bosh from hurting himself.
