Chris Bosh has decided to join Dwayne Wade on the sunny beaches of southern Miami. As heat fans celebrate at their local retirement home, the sports rant takes a minute to consider what kind of impact Bosh and Wade really can make on the future of the NBA.
According to John Hollinger's PER, Chris Bosh and Dwayne Wade were the second and fouth most efficient players respectively last year. The only two players better? Lebron James and Kevin Durant. So from a purely statistical standpoint, Miami has the most efficient one-two attack in the league.
In addition, Wade and Bosh compliment each other in near perfect fashion. Bosh is the ideal finsiher for Wade off the screen and roll, both players demand double teams on the offensive end, and both are able to lock up their man on the defensive end.
Bosh has a sweet jump shot up to 18 feet and is an agile finsiher around the rim and Wade is quite possibly the best in the NBA at attacking the rim. Neither player can be stopped with one defender, just ask the Celtics, who held Wade to 43 points, despite constant double and triple teams. Defensively, Wade is a league leader in steals and Bosh protects the rim with agility and length. If Miami can fill out their roster with shooters to spread the floor, ala the spurs, magic and celtics, they will feature a dangerous offensive attack.
With all that said, it is easy to understand why Bosh and Wade on the same team is an eviable position and a dangerous tandem for years to come. The real question becomes, is it the best in the NBA?
As the free agency period spirals into hysteria, the media has seemingly abandoned coverage of the defending champion Los Angeles Lakers.
Are Wade and Bosh really that much better than Kobe and Pau? Remember Kobe, not Wade, was the hero of the Olympic gold medal game and Pau, not Bosh, was the one who nearly led his hometown Spanish team to an upset over team USA.
Kobe and Pau have three years of basketabll rapport under their belt, three years working within Phil Jackson's triangle offense, and three years of NBA finals expierience together. Even if Bosh/Wade is superior to Kobe/Pau, there is no way Miami can surround their power duo with two seven footers, such as Odom and Bynum, a lock down defender, Ron Artest, or even a been there-done-that-point guard a la Derrick Fisher.
So before you go Dennis Green on everybody and "crowns their ass" over in Miami, folks need to recognize that Black Mamba, Pau Gaso, Pau Gasol's beard, Phil Jackson and the rest of the gang are primed and ready for the second LA three peat in the past 10 years.
And its going to take a lot more than just a one two punch to beat em.
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