Chris Bosh told his Miami Heat teammates after Friday’s practice that he will not play in the NBA playoffs this season, the Associated Press first reported.
Once again, a blood clot is the culprit of Bosh’s season ending prematurely. He sat out much of last season because of a blood clot that started in his calf and traveled to his lungs. This time, CBS Sports notes, the blood clot remained in Bosh’s leg, but the blood thinners he’s being treated with make it risky for him to play.
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While Bosh has been sidelined since the All-Star break with an undisclosed medical condition, he said in a statement several weeks ago that he was not dealing with active blood clots.
"Chris talked today to us, as a team," Heat guard Dwyane Wade said after Friday’s practice. "The biggest message is someone who lived for this moment, someone who envisioned these moments especially after last year, he doesn't have the ability to be in it."
The Charlotte Hornets are the Heat’s first-round opponent, with Game 1 set for Sunday in Miami.
"With CB, it would be so much easier," Goran Dragic said. "He can do a lot of different things."
Bosh led the Heat in scoring this season, averaging 19.1 points in 53 games, but CBS Sports’ Ken Berger has some data suggesting Miami has been better without him: the team was 29-24 (.547) when he played this season and 19-10 (.630) without him. With Bosh on the court, the Heat posted a 102.0 offensive rating and a 100.3 defensive rating (plus-1.7 net), but without him, they had a 105.9 offensive rating and a 102.6 defensive rating (plus-3.3 net).