POWERED BY BOSH

From CB4 to Number 1.

By TIM DAVID HARVEY

Three's company, but sometimes a crowd. This is because at times when looking at a group thrice nice we may only think twice and miss one out. Take the Rat Pack for example. Sinatra was king and Dean Martin was every ladies favourite, but what of Sammy Davis Jr? Well even if he was in the shadows, he was still just as good as the rest. Ol' blue eyes was the man but Ol' Sam was effortlessly cool and without him there would be no 'Eee-O Eleven'. That's kind of what it's like with Miami Heat's own Rat Pack. LeBron has to be Sinatra, while South Beach favourite Dwyane Wade is just as good like Dean Martin. This leaves Chris Bosh as Sammy, but just like Junior Bosh is no third wheel and that's as real as the apple juice in Dino's glass.

See now this Miami team are feeling like family this Christmas, it's clear Wade is the leader and 'Bron the decision maker, but Chris is their presence in the post. The extra element and dimension Miami need to take them from contenders to champions and consideration to everyone else's commiseration. Whether he's considered hot or cold, Bosh is still raising the temperature of his game, just like he did when he made Toronto Raptor fans forget about Vince Carter. Sure those cool cornrows, come dreads may have turned into a Wade cut but Bosh's game still looks just as good.

Over the past few years Bosh has belonged to another trio along with Dwight Howard and Amare Stoudemire. A tandem of frontcourt power players that just look scary in the paint with the way they fly like guards, but dunk like Shaq's. Sure with the rake thin Bosh you may look at Dwight's physique and two handers and then at STAT's and think, NAH! Don't get it twisted however like Bruce Lee, Bosh is all muscle and for strength in plays just check out the dunk he unwrapped on the Lakers last Christmas day above L.A.'s trees. This tough forward thinking player can take the Heat past Amare's Knicks and Dwight's Magic.

Everybody loved Chris in the T-Dot. He carried the team, his city and the country with only one basketball franchise on those spindly shoulders. Sure he had a lot of help and talent in Canada (especially in '06) but not like this. Now in South Beach this former Northern light has to share the ball and the limelight with a Heat legend and one of the best ever. So sure he's going to be a little disregarded like the cold receptions he'll expect back up at the Air Canada Centre but Bosh is still a bright light in all this stardom. Miami's new sheen is not about two and a half men.

The original big three of recent memory was in Milwaukee. Sam Cassell, Ray Allen and Glenn Robinson were huge in the late 90's/early noughties and just like the Buck stopping with Robinson, the Heat are a little colder without their big dog. The 6, 11, 235 pound, worthwhile talent still averaged 18.6 points and 8.20 rebounds per last season. This is huge, especially when he shares the ball with a roster full of talent and two guys who could both hit 40 on any given Sunday, Monday or Tuesday. This guy is no 20 and 10 threat, he's that, and a regular double, double promise. Chris Bosh was also resolute that this new year he'll average 10 boards. Now he's doing everything and still vowing more. He's even got his Shaq on, dishing a 1.9 average at assists and with some Dikembe development on his 0.70 swat average, he could also soon have a block party on defence next season. With this, plus an 0.80 steal average, Chris is also looking to upgrade his D even more.

Wade may be the catalyst and LeBron the top prize, but still the free agent signing of Chris Bosh may be exactly what Miami need to really heat up the league and the history books. After Wade re-signed, it might just have been Bosh's ink that led to LeBron James' decision point. The East is more of a best these days, it's getting taller and better, but still the Miami are right up there next to the Magic in Florida, the new New York Knicks and the old favourite, Boston Irish of the Celtics and their own big three. Miami don't need any tricks or Irish luck however, the reality is even with a shaky, haters love it start, they are as good as the paper they read well on.

Don't look too much into the inconsistency this season as the Heat's talent is one constant that can't be denied. Wade leads this circus with his wild clutch shots, but organised play. While LeBron, is LeBron or some M.J./Magic hybrid, chasing Kobe. Now the final formation of this Voltron, Bosh is a frontcourt force. Bynum, Gasol and Odom better watch out and D up. Following a valiant finals effort against champions Dallas, another potential finals or Lakers/Heat series could look like good tidings next season. With Chris Bosh being that superstar x-factor that could take his new Miami friends to the promised/critically wrote off land, things are looking as open as the plays on Coach Spo's dry erase board. LeBron and Wade are a holy trinity with frontcourt cleric Chris Bosh. This class of '03 look to teach the league and the critics a lesson. Time for school. Wake up!