Heat-Celtics Game 5: Bosh will be the difference, not Rondo

No doubt, Rajon Rondo has been fantastic against the Heat in the Eastern Conference finals. He had a 44-point game, he dropped 15 and 15 on Miami in Game 4 and led Boston to even the series. For Celtics fans wanting to be convinced he was the bridge to a strong future, he has been that and more.

But Boston’s offense has not been dominant in this series — they averaged 93.9 points per 100 possessions against the Heat last game (worse than every team’s regular-season average save the Bobcats) and scored just 28 points in the second half. They won that game because of their defense.

And that’s why Chris Bosh will be the story of Game 5 — all signs point to him playing and he rapidly improves everything the Heat do on offense. He may be rusty to start, but just his presence changes things. Miami is back home and will put up plenty of points in Game 5, numbers Boston will be hard pressed to match.

No matter what my NBC Sports Network colleagues think, Bosh is the key, not Rondo to Game 5.

(UPDATE: Bosh might have more on his mind than just basketball, with the news out that a masseuse died at his house.)

It’s been obvious all series — when Kevin Garnett is off the floor suddenly LeBron James and Dwyane Wade are on an open highway to the rim. And not some East Coast toll road either, this is a California six-lane super highway. Nobody gets in their way and the Heat make runs. Garnett has been the guy at the heart of keeping Wade in check (well, that and Wade’s knee).

However, Garnett cannot help off Bosh the same way he helps off Udonis Haslem or any of the other Heat big men — Bosh will knock down the shot and make him pay. Garnett and the other Celtics big men will have much tougher decisions to make on help rotations.

Don’t just take my word for it.

“(Bosh) helps (the Heat), because all the trapping we’re doing is harder because he stretches the floor,” Celtics coach Doc Rivers said in a Monday press conference. “He’s long. We can close out on the ball and get a hand on the ball (when Battier or Haslem shoot). You can’t do that with Bosh. It will be more difficult.”

Right now, Wade or LeBron come off the high pick and Boston shows no respect to the roll man — that changes, because Bosh can both roll or pop out and score. Even if he’s rusty to start, you can’t just leave him. And that opens up everything for two of the best attacking wings in the game.

Miami has really only played near their peak in spurts these playoffs, but when the Heat felt their backs were against the wall, they have stepped up. This is a backs-against-the-wall game, and the Heat their trio back.

We’ll hear about how Boston is a scrappy, veteran team — and they are, this will not be easy — but Wade and Haslem have rings, LeBron has been to two NBA finals, and this is not an inexperienced Heat team.

The Heat have fought through nine games without Bosh and won enough to keep moving on, but they were not themselves. You get a feeling Game 5 is the kind of place they show up on fire — particularly on defense. That is where it shows when they relax. Miami can’t do that Tuesday night.

We know Boston will bring its fire, we know Rondo will play well, we know what they can do. If Miami doesn’t bring its “A” game, Boston will have the chance to close this series out at home. But Bosh makes it easier on the Heat to be the team they need to be. Much easier.