MIAMI, May 22 (Reuters) - When the Chicago Bulls forward Carlos Boozer said his team would be up against two great players from Miami in the NBA playoffs few had any doubt about which one of the Heat's 'Big Three' he was omitting.
On Sunday, the 'Third Man' Chris Bosh, so often overshadowed by Dwyane Wade and LeBron James, offered a reminder to Boozer - and anyone else who has taken digs at him this season - exactly why the Heat consider him to be part of a trio of key players.
Bosh made 34 points as the Heat ran out 96-85 winners on Sunday to go 2-1 up in the best-of-seven series and said that Boozer's comments had only assisted him.
"It does nothing but help. I think about it when I'm shooting (in practice). It helps me out. It helps me get some extra reps up, to go a little longer," he told reporters.
Boozer though is by no means the only one to have slighted - - intentionally or otherwise - the 27-year-old Texan.
The Heat have become the team that many love to hate this season and Bosh, who at times in the regular season didn't deliver the numbers that many expected from him, became the target of a lot of criticism.
Bosh, a player who reads, thinks and speaks his mind, said he was well aware of the commentary on his contribution.
"I'm human. I really don't care for it and if it isn't positive, I don't listen to it. I know I am a good ball player. There is always going to be someone throwing rocks, no matter what you do," he said.
VERY EDUCATED
But Bosh, who left Toronto as a free agent prior to this season, is frank enough to concede he found the transition from being the 'main man' at the Raptors to becoming part of a trio of match-winners at Miami, to be tough.
"It was extremely difficult. There was a point when I really didn't know how I was going to be able to be effective. But I still have to have that aggressiveness that I had.
"Of course, I am not going to get as many play calls. I know that, with two other great players and a great team. But you just have to be aggressive and have the swagger and belief in myself," he said.
Part of the process of coming to terms with his new position was, he says, learning how to handle his own ego.
"Nobody really tells you that, nobody says that is going to be something you have to worry about. Everybody is going to go through it in a different way and ego is part of that.
"I didn't know that I had that big of an ego."
If Bosh has surprised himself, he has also given his team-mates the chance to be alongside a player who doesn't fit many of the stereotypes of a NBA player.
"He is different. He's Chris Bosh, we understand that he is a guy who internalises a lot of things," said Wade after Sunday's win.
"When he speaks out though, he is very educated, very smart. He thinks things out. Before games a lot of guys listen to music - Chris though, he has (his) head in a book. That calms him, gets him ready for the game.
"We can buy some more books for him. He can read all day - he's Chris Bosh, he's different, yes".
On Sunday, the 'Third Man' Chris Bosh, so often overshadowed by Dwyane Wade and LeBron James, offered a reminder to Boozer - and anyone else who has taken digs at him this season - exactly why the Heat consider him to be part of a trio of key players.
Bosh made 34 points as the Heat ran out 96-85 winners on Sunday to go 2-1 up in the best-of-seven series and said that Boozer's comments had only assisted him.
"It does nothing but help. I think about it when I'm shooting (in practice). It helps me out. It helps me get some extra reps up, to go a little longer," he told reporters.
Boozer though is by no means the only one to have slighted - - intentionally or otherwise - the 27-year-old Texan.
The Heat have become the team that many love to hate this season and Bosh, who at times in the regular season didn't deliver the numbers that many expected from him, became the target of a lot of criticism.
Bosh, a player who reads, thinks and speaks his mind, said he was well aware of the commentary on his contribution.
"I'm human. I really don't care for it and if it isn't positive, I don't listen to it. I know I am a good ball player. There is always going to be someone throwing rocks, no matter what you do," he said.
VERY EDUCATED
But Bosh, who left Toronto as a free agent prior to this season, is frank enough to concede he found the transition from being the 'main man' at the Raptors to becoming part of a trio of match-winners at Miami, to be tough.
"It was extremely difficult. There was a point when I really didn't know how I was going to be able to be effective. But I still have to have that aggressiveness that I had.
"Of course, I am not going to get as many play calls. I know that, with two other great players and a great team. But you just have to be aggressive and have the swagger and belief in myself," he said.
Part of the process of coming to terms with his new position was, he says, learning how to handle his own ego.
"Nobody really tells you that, nobody says that is going to be something you have to worry about. Everybody is going to go through it in a different way and ego is part of that.
"I didn't know that I had that big of an ego."
If Bosh has surprised himself, he has also given his team-mates the chance to be alongside a player who doesn't fit many of the stereotypes of a NBA player.
"He is different. He's Chris Bosh, we understand that he is a guy who internalises a lot of things," said Wade after Sunday's win.
"When he speaks out though, he is very educated, very smart. He thinks things out. Before games a lot of guys listen to music - Chris though, he has (his) head in a book. That calms him, gets him ready for the game.
"We can buy some more books for him. He can read all day - he's Chris Bosh, he's different, yes".
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