The Miami Heat are understandably taking great precautions with center Chris Bosh after another blood clot scare forced him out of the lineup earlier this year. However, Pat Riley isn’t ruling out a return by the big man to the court this season, per Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun Sentinel.
Riley says Heat are "open minded" when it comes to a possible Chris Bosh return.
— Ira Winderman (@IraHeatBeat) March 20, 2016
There is still no timetable for Bosh’s return, though.
The All-Star center was removed from action before the All-Star break with what was initially reported as a “strained calf.” However, it wasn’t long before reports emerged that his condition was much more serious and was likely the result of a blood clot (like the one that nearly cost him his life last year).
The team was reportedly pressuring Bosh to sit out the entire season as of four weeks ago, but it seems as if that hard-line approach has been abandoned.
When healthy, Bosh is still one of the most effective big men in the NBA today. Before he left the lineup he was scoring 19.1 points and hauling in 7.4 rebounds per game, which was quite remarkable after he missed the second half of the 2014-15 season with the initial life-threatening blood clot in his leg.
The Heat are currently nine games behind the top-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers after beating them for the 11th straight time in Miami Saturday night. Miami is No. 4 in the east and is starting to look like a team that could do some damage in the playoffs.
No doubt bringing Bosh back would help the franchise’s cause even more. He’s been practicing in Miami and working with team trainers on a consistent basis, and we all know he wants to play the game he loves.
At the end of the day, however, it’s all about Bosh’s long-term health. If there is any doubt at all that letting him play could potentially, even remotely cause him injury, then he will not play.