Many comparisons can be made between Chris Bosh and Kevin Garnett in terms of the style of basketball that they each play. But if there’s one thing that separates the two, it’s the intensity with which Garnett plays each night and his eagerness to seize the big moment.
While Garnett feeds off his emotions, Bosh admitted that jitters hindered his performance in Game 3 on Saturday.
"Given all the elements that were out there [Saturday] night … they were so hyped," Bosh said, according to ESPN.com. "My emotions got the best of me early on and it kind of dictated what I was doing for the rest of the game."
Bosh admitted that he didn’t trust his game Saturday night, and it was evident from the opening tip-off.
Not only did the six-time All-Star turn in perhaps his worst performance in a Miami Heat uniform — scoring an anemic six points on 1-for-6 shooting, while grabbing only five rebounds in 30 minutes — but he allowed Garnett to explode for one of his all-time best playoff performances.
Garnett scored 28 points, the third highest playoff total he’s had with the Celtics, and grabbed 18 rebounds, the most he’s had in a single playoff game as a member of the C’s. It was a lopsided matchup within the lopsided matchup.
Bosh played well in the first two games of the series, especially in Game 2, when he had 17 points and 11 rebounds, but the hostile Boston crowd seemed to mess with his head.
"I wasn't relaxing and playing. I play better when I'm just relaxing," Bosh said. "I have to take the emotions out and play basketball."
That’s easier said than done, though, as the Heat will surely face another intimidating TD Garden crowd on Monday night for Game 4.
This series marks the first time Bosh has played in the second round of the playoffs, and if he doesn’t harness his emotions and play more like the guy that averaged 19.8 points per game and dominated at times versus the Sixers in the first round, he might not play beyond it.
