MIAMI -- It didn't sound like Chris Bosh's pleas for a different role in the Miami Heat's offense were well received by coach Erik Spoelstra.
As the Heat attempted to pick up the pieces following their fifth straight loss and prepare for a stern test against the red-hot Los Angeles Lakers Thursday, Spoelstra all but dismissed Bosh's statements about wanting more low-post plays.
"I think our minds were cluttered last night," Spoelstra said. "Today, it wasn't about talk. It was about working and practicing."
After bringing up his frustration about not getting the ball where he wants it in a postgame news conference Tuesday night, Bosh said that he didn't even talk to Spoelstra or teammates Dwyane Wade and LeBron James about the issue before or during practice Wednesday. He did say he planned to address it before the game with the Lakers.
Bosh struggled in a 105-96 loss to the Portland Trail Blazers Tuesday night, going just 3-of-11 from the field and finishing with seven points. But his displeasure seems to have been building for some time, including last Sunday when he only got one shot in the fourth quarter of a one-point loss to the Chicago Bulls.
"You just notice a trend going on and that was something that was on my heart for a while," said Bosh, who was the last Heat player on the practice court as he worked on post-up moves with teammate Juwan Howard. "I just wanted to be honest."
Spoelstra was being honest as well, saying the team actually had a good game when it came to interior scoring against the Blazers, racking up 48 points in the paint. Spoelstra also implied that improvement needed to be a team-wide effort, not just from getting Bosh more looks.
"We need more paint opportunities, not just from Chris," Spoelstra said, "but from all of our guys working together."
James, who spent the end of the practice conferencing privately with Wade while other teammates went through shooting, said Bosh can get more chances.
"Chris can always voice his opinion," James said. "If Chris wants the ball then he can ask for it and he can get it. If Chris wants the ball and wants to be more aggressive and wants to be more inserted into the offense, all he has to do is ask for it. When's he's productive, we're a better team."
Brian Windhorst covers the Miami Heat for ESPN.com.
As the Heat attempted to pick up the pieces following their fifth straight loss and prepare for a stern test against the red-hot Los Angeles Lakers Thursday, Spoelstra all but dismissed Bosh's statements about wanting more low-post plays.
"I think our minds were cluttered last night," Spoelstra said. "Today, it wasn't about talk. It was about working and practicing."
After bringing up his frustration about not getting the ball where he wants it in a postgame news conference Tuesday night, Bosh said that he didn't even talk to Spoelstra or teammates Dwyane Wade and LeBron James about the issue before or during practice Wednesday. He did say he planned to address it before the game with the Lakers.
Bosh struggled in a 105-96 loss to the Portland Trail Blazers Tuesday night, going just 3-of-11 from the field and finishing with seven points. But his displeasure seems to have been building for some time, including last Sunday when he only got one shot in the fourth quarter of a one-point loss to the Chicago Bulls.
"You just notice a trend going on and that was something that was on my heart for a while," said Bosh, who was the last Heat player on the practice court as he worked on post-up moves with teammate Juwan Howard. "I just wanted to be honest."
Spoelstra was being honest as well, saying the team actually had a good game when it came to interior scoring against the Blazers, racking up 48 points in the paint. Spoelstra also implied that improvement needed to be a team-wide effort, not just from getting Bosh more looks.
"We need more paint opportunities, not just from Chris," Spoelstra said, "but from all of our guys working together."
James, who spent the end of the practice conferencing privately with Wade while other teammates went through shooting, said Bosh can get more chances.
"Chris can always voice his opinion," James said. "If Chris wants the ball then he can ask for it and he can get it. If Chris wants the ball and wants to be more aggressive and wants to be more inserted into the offense, all he has to do is ask for it. When's he's productive, we're a better team."
Brian Windhorst covers the Miami Heat for ESPN.com.
