It’s never really right and proper to root for an injury.

Unless it’s to one of the Miami Heat’s three stars.

Hey … it’s a JOKE.

But it’s probably a joke many in Northeast Ohio are able to get their arms around. It’s a small-minded and catty sentiment, but it is — as they often say nowadays — what it is.

One can at least say that Bosh’s injury does not provoke one shred of sympathy — unlike the injury to, say, Derek Rose.

Perhaps it’s a Cleveland thing, which is OK.

Sunday, in the game after LeBron James was given his third MVP, Bosh strained an abdominal muscle. The Heat won the game — unlike the last time James won an MVP. That was his last season in Cleveland. That night, he and his teammates were out celebrating all night and they sleepwalked through a playoff loss to Boston. That loss eventually led to the Game 5 disappearing act from James in the same series. Which led to the Cavs wondering what happened and James going AWOL from them until he appeared on TV in that gingham shirt to announce where he was taking his talents.

This is why it’s tough for folks to move on from James’ decision — reminders of what happened (direct or indirect) are shoved in their face.

Bosh said “the season would have to be extended” for him to play again.

Evidently that means Bosh will miss the rest of the series against Indiana, and then see what happens.

Suddenly the fan movement that has folks rooting for anyone but the Heat is slightly more spirited.

All those folks holding their breath that Miami had a clear path to the Finals might see a little bump in the Heat’s road.

Because the Heat — while still favored and still very, very good — are not as good without Bosh.

Without him this season, the Heat were 4-5.

Bosh doesn’t deserve the injury. It’s a shame, and it’s a tough one.

But when Rose was hurt James couldn’t offer a shred of sympathy for the 2010-11 MVP. (Though he did find time to put XVI on his mouthpiece, a roll-your-eyes reference to the number of games needed to win the title.)

Some folks will cheer Bosh’s injury, even though it’s not right and sporting. Just like a lot of folks will hope Bosh’s absence benefits the Pacers.

In Game one against Indiana, the Pacers chunked a lot of shots and lost a game they could have stolen. The Pacers also saw the officials work as if they had a memo from the TV networks in their back pocket. That didn’t cost the Pacers the game — though they did have to deal with early foul trouble — but it sure didn’t help.

Now Bosh is out and the Heat really have nobody close to him in ability to replace him. Especially not a “big.”

This might help Indiana “bigs” Roy Hibbert and David West. It certainly does not ensure that Miami loses to the Pacers, but it does make the Heat’s task a little bit tougher.

Which seems right and proper.

Some might call Bosh’s injury karma. That the Heat gave off such lousy, mean-spirited, self-promoting vibes when they signed all the standouts that they deserve an injury.

That’s hard to grasp.

Bosh, after all, has done nothing to hurt anyone, except look pretty goofy watching polo and ride the symbolic boat driven by James and Wade to Miami.

He seems like a nice enough guy.

But he will forever be linked with that celebration in Miami Arena the day after James announced his “decision.”

The way the three preened on stage stuck in the craw of a lot of people. As Charles Barkley pointed out, winning a championship is hard work that a lot of folks failed to achieve after busting their butt to do so.

Yet there were the Heat .. err there was James … talking about “not four, not five …” championships before they had even practiced together, and while the Cavs fans and an entire city were wondering just what had happened to prompt James to treat them like they were standing under an unloading dump truck.

If memory recalls, Bosh smiled or clapped at that “not four, not five” nonsense. So as good as guy as he may be, he still is associated with that moment, with that posing as if they had just brought peace to the Middle East.

Folks can say people in Cleveland should let go, that it was more than a year ago.

Folks would be right.

But let them try and “let go.”

The Miami Heat made their bed. Let them lay in it.