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Chris Bosh a distraction for Miami Heat

By Alex Butler
Miami Heat's Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh high five. UPI/John Angelillo
Miami Heat's Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh high five. UPI/John Angelillo | License Photo

TORONTO, May 3 (UPI) -- Don't expect Toronto reporters to be mum when it comes to Chris Bosh this week.

One of the Miami Heat's biggest reasons for success over the last few years, could be one of its biggest distractions this postseason.

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And the pressure is mounting.

Bosh, who is out after his second occurrence of blood clot issues, is putting pressure on the team to play this postseason. Doctors have advised the All-Star forward not to play, but Bosh allegedly has a doctor that could clear him, according to multiple sources. The Heat doesn't believe "any NBA team would clear him under the circumstances," according to ESPN.

Fans and even Bosh's wife have urged the Heat to bring him back by using the hashtag #BringBoshBack on social media.

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Bosh attempted to get the NBA Players Association involved. The NBPA released a statement Tuesday, according to Deadspin.

"Our top priority is Chris' health and well-being,"the statement said. "We have spoken with Chris and his agent, and have reached out to the Miami Heat. We are hopeful that all parties involved can meet as soon as possible to resolve the situation."

Bosh has been with the team so far during the playoffs, but did not fly up with the Heat for Tuesday's Game 1 against the Raptors. Bosh opted to fly with Heat owner Micky Arison, as he did for the Charlotte series, according to the Miami Herald's Manny Navarro.

ESPN's Dan Le Batard sounded off Tuesday on the Bosh situation.

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"I can't think of a lot of instances where a sports organization is acting in what appear to be the best interests of the player over their own interests, and against the will of the player," Le Batard said. "From the people I'm talking to, Chris Bosh wants back on the court. And now. Wants to get back to the Miami Heat. And the Miami Heat, on medical advice, are saying absolutely not. No."

Adrian Wojnarowski of the Vertical reported in February that Bosh was facing pressure from doctors and the franchise to sit out the rest of the season.

"They're paying him," Le Batard said. "They need him. They badly want to get to an Eastern Conference finals against LeBron, and they are telling him, "No. You cannot work." And I was trying to think of examples of this, where a sports organization chooses the best interest of the player over the organization and the player is acting in a way that doesn't — and, by the way, a player who's super rational, super diverse, super smart, has a lot of interests; he's not a crazy person, he's got five kids — and he's appearing to take a stance here that is super dangerous. Because if you talk to medical experts, they will tell you a recurrence of blood clots can be catastrophic."

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Le Batard added that the increasing presence of the #BringBoshBack movement is putting pressure on the team.

"He wants to get out there, and his wife wants him out there, and they're wearing "Bring Bosh Back" shirts at the games, and they're putting private pressure on the Heat, and putting public pressure on the Heat, and he's flying with the team. He's around all the time," Le Batard said. "And I just don't know how messy this is going to get, because he is a good soldier, but he seems to be — as the stakes get ratcheted up, as you find yourself with the possibility of Chris Bosh being able to play LeBron James with a Finals appearance on the line — he feels the need, more and more, because of the pipeline that he came up through to be there for his teammates in a time of need."

"I don't know exactly what to believe here, OK, but I do trust the organization and I trust the people in the organization who tell me things because I've never been lied to by them about much of anything," Le Batard said. "They're telling me that they're protecting him from him, but he doesn't feel any symptoms. This doesn't feel like the last time. All the doctors the Heat are talking to are saying, and they're the foremost authorities on this stuff, "Hey, a second recurrence of a blood clot situation could be catastrophic, where you've got a death on the court."

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Bosh has not talked to the media since mid-February, with the exception of a social-media statement. The 11-time All-Star has not played since Feb. 9. He also missed the second half of last season with blood clotting.

On April 23, the Miami Herald's Ethan Skolnick and Barry Jackson reported that the Heat and Bosh "have not all been aligned in terms of the treatment of his condition." Skolnick and Jackson also reported that "just because an outside doctor clears Bosh, it doesn't mean the team will be comfortable letting him play."

Bosh posted a photo of himself with a guitar, Tuesday on Instagram. The photo read: "Decide what you want, decide what you are willing to exchange for it. Establish your priorities and go to work."

Read about my first job!!!!! ChrisBosh.com #nba #blog #blogger

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A photo posted by Chris Bosh (@chrisbosh) on

He released a statement on his health two months ago on social media.

"I know there have been many questions regarding my health and when I will play again," Bosh said in the statement. "My situation this year has never been life threatening. I am feeling great and currently do not have deep vein thrombosis. Together with the Miami Heat I am working with doctors, exploring the best precautionary treatment options, and taking every necessary step to make sure I'm healthy for myself, my family and my team. ... I remain positive that I will be able to return this season."

#TeamBosh www.ChrisBosh.com

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A photo posted by Chris Bosh (@chrisbosh) on

On Tuesday, Brian Windhorst also spoke about Bosh's health on 'Mike and Mike.'

"Of course the Heat would love to have [Bosh] back, but you just can't play when you're on blood-thinners, you just can't. And from what I understand, the Heat believe that there's no team in the league that would play Chris Bosh under the circumstances that he's facing right now," Windhorst said.

"Having somebody who's had a blood clot before, the medication, it works, it's life-saving medication, but the side effects make it impossible to play," Windhorst said. "If you get elbowed in the side of the head, you can get in a situation where you die from bleeding inside your brain."

Bosh, 32, has stated that he currently is not dealing with blood clots. He has averaged 18 points and 7.3 rebounds per game in six seasons with the Heat. Bosh averaged 20.2 points and 9.4 rebounds per game in seven seasons with the Raptors.

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Bosh signed a deal last season that pays him $22.1 million this season and $26.8 million in 2018, its final year.

The Heat's temperature on the situation could rise if it wins this series, possibly setting the stage for a matchup against LeBron James' Cleveland Cavaliers for a ticket to the NBA Finals.

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