I think people underestimate how great it was having a guy in Bosh who absolutely knew his role as the third guy and played it beautifully. Also, outside of maybe a little more 3-point shooting early on, I don't know what Melo brings that the Heat *needed.* They didn't need another guy to create shots off the bounce, because Bron and Wade were gonna combine for 35+ shot attempts that way regardless. They didn't need a mid-range guy (Bosh's career numbers from mid-range are actually better than Melo's). They... kinda needed what Bosh was.

And in that Finals against the Mavs, with the exception of Game 2... I don't think Bosh was the problem. And I don't think Melo helps slow down Dirk at all.

Now, Bosh *did* struggle against the Spurs, both in the series they won and the series they lost... but that has a lot to do with Tim Duncan being one of the best players of his generation. And it has to do with that 2014 Heat team being their worst defense of the Big 3 era. Melo could've helped occupy more of the Spurs' perimeter defenders, but... if any team ever was suited to guard more jumpshot specialists, it's absolutely the Spurs. The Spurs were simply a much better team than the Heat that series, and I don't think Melo over Bosh alone changes that.

And none of this is a slam against Melo, who is completely and beautifully suited to what he was at the time-- the primary option on a playoff team, an All-Star, a future Hall of Famer. Certain guys are just better as the primary option than they'd be if they were second banana. In the early 2010s, he was by far most effective with the ball in his hands. One can argue that he would've adapted to that third man role just like Bosh did, and, okay, fair enough-- though we also saw Melo take his lumps during the year or two where he had to get used to being the third guy, and I think it's fair to believe he would've taken some lumps the first year or two with the Heat, figuring out how to play a role instead of lead.

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