15 losses in the last 21 game is not the kind of streak the Raptors want to be on heading into the playoffs. In what started as a promising season, things have fallen apart rapidly. At a time when confidence should be high, a solid rotation is set, people know their roles, the offense is hitting on all cylinders, you are able to make a solid stop or two on the defensive end, and the team is generally getting along, things couldn’t look more bleak for the Raps.
I’m not looking to point fingers or lay blame, I’ve done enough of that already. Everyone knows what they should and shouldn’t be doing at this point of the season. There have been hundreds of practices, game tapes reviewed, strategy discussed, responsibilities assigned, jumpers hit, plays run, shots blocked, and missed rebounds grabbed (sorry, couldn’t resist). Yet things have regressed in Raptorland.
Since the west coast swing, the Raptors have been in a funk not seen by Raptors fans for a couple seasons. They have lost to some of the leagues elite, but it is the losses to the Hawks, Bobcats, Clippers, Knicks and Nets during this horrible stretch that have winded us, and knocked us on our collective asses.
Not so much the losses themselves, but the manner in which they have been losing. In games where the Raptors have had the lead (and some were big leads), you knew that at any moment, things would come undone, and they did. In games that they were down, you knew it was going to get worse, and it did.
After that Denver game, where Kenyon Martin made that great defensive play in the final minutes, Bosh went on record calling out the Raptors to step up, and play with some purpose. Normally, a call to arms from your franchise player would ignite a spark under the players and provoke some results.
But Bosh’s call was a hollow one. He was demanding grit and passion, things he himself had not been displaying, and hasn’t displayed with any level of consistency. Certainly, after going off like that, we could have at least expected him to pick up his level of play. Certainly, if he did step up, the rest of the team would have followed suit. I for one haven’t seen it.
Statistically, Bosh has been averaging 24pts and 8rebs since he went off. Solid numbers, there is no question, but they have been relatively quiet. He has been getting his, but his teammates have not been feeding off him. He hasn’t made anyone around him better. He hasn’t been getting the ball in crunch time, and worse, he hasn’t been demanding it.
Not what you expect from your franchise player making max money. Lead by example, get dirty, bang in the paint, knock someone on their ass, get a f*cking technical foul…anything, for the love of G*d do something!
It’s not like we haven’t had hero’s in Toronto before:
- Against the 76ers, VC went to his graduation in the morning, and at night came within one shot of taking the Raptors to the Eastern Conference finals.
- With VC out, Antonio Davis put the Raptors on his back, averaging 27pts and 13rebs, to win something like 13 in a row to get them into the playoffs, and a game from the second round against the Pistons.
- And say what you want about Jalen Rose, but during his Raptor tenure, he got the ball when the game was on the line more often then naught, and made things happen.
I look no further then to Bosh to display some heroics, step outside his comfort zone, and salvage what is left of a disappointing season that was once full of promise of a 50 win year, and a birth in the second round.
I’m not one for the gay/romantic semantics of a fan needing to be saved, but Bosh, and the rest of the Raptors, need to salvage what is left of this season, and display some courage, pride and passion heading into the playoffs….
Technorati Tags: Antonio Davis, Atlanta Hawks, Charlotte Bobcats, Chris Bosh, Denver Nuggets, Jalen Rose, Los Angeles Clippers, Milwaukee Bucks, New Jersey Nets, New York Knicks, Vince Carter
April 6th, 2008 at 11:19 pm
I’ve honestly been torn, and your great work here doesn’t make it any better.
Is Chris a franchise player? In some cities not, but he is here. He is the best player on this team, a guy that visiting teams look to make weak. So, by definition, he is “our team” in a body.
It baffles me that of all the players on this team that we can call out, some of us call out a guy providing 24/8 as an average on a team that likes to turtle. I’m not saying you are doing that here, since I’ve seen others become even more lethal towards his character and play. Like my argument about Sam getting unwarranted blame, Bosh can only play with who he has around him. Unfortunately lately, his best offensive teammate has been a big white guy playing for another deal down the road. Lets be honest…if the second scoring option is a lumbering Slovenian, Chris has a problem.
Yes, I believe Chris has to get out the paddle and start spanking some of his teammates. When he does, though, how many will listen? And of those that listen, how many have the talent to take it to a Cleveland, Detroit or Boston?
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April 6th, 2008 at 11:47 pm
you are right, bosh is a franchise player in only a few cities, ours being one of them. i agree it is crazy to criticize a player averaging 24/8 over 7 games, but 4 of those have been losses to teams way under 500. something is wrong here. stats don’t mean anything. look at what carter is doing in jersey, 21pts, 6rebs, 5ast. it’s incredible, but what does the team do around him? nothing! same thing with bosh and the raptors.
as far as the supporting cast, i agree with you again, lol, but look at the lakers. they arguable have the deepest team in the league. after their starters, the bench isn’t that much better than the raptors. would those guys be as good if kobe wasn’t there? i don’t think so.
since there aren’t many plays to get the shooters great looks, it is on bosh to create space by attacking the basket, and not holding on to the ball in the post for 6 seconds while the defense sets.
on the defensive end, he doesn’t rotate aggressively enough to really matter. how many layups do teams hit on us in the half court? it is ridiculous. rasho isn’t much of a weak side defender, so it is left to bosh (and moon) to protect the paint.
just seems to be something missing form bosh. do i think he can be a better player? sure, he has the tools to really elevate his game to elite-type level in the league. does he have the grit/heart/passion? i don’t know, my first inclination is no, but he talks a big game, and sometimes he does things to make me second guess myself. time for him to walk-the-walk.
April 6th, 2008 at 11:52 pm
also, it is a matter of playing to the teams strengths. with a team full of jump shooters, we need to get them off. it wont be happening with bosh jacking jumpers from 18. he needs to be in the blocks, drawing double teams for a kick and a swing to an open shooter.
having bosh and rasho in the paint for a majority of the game might just open up that sort of space.
also, sending moon/delfino flashing through the paint, might open it up even more. just a thought…
April 7th, 2008 at 12:53 am
I don’t know, Raps seemed to become the Magic the year they’ve acquired Steve Francis… They started out strong and somehow started fizzling out towards the end… Jalen does not have a team right now and if they take an early exit, I’m taking a consideration getting Rose back..
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April 7th, 2008 at 5:32 am
If Bosh was playing on any other team he would be hyped to the high heaven. They would be calling him the second coming of Garnett !!
If he is healthy and things stay the same look for many teams in the league to be offering big money in a couple years. Hopefully the team gets better around him. I guess the best a fan can hope for is they trade up in the draft (maybe top ten) and get a young hungry player that will compliment Bosh’s style. The former number 1 draft pick has regressed to the point of bench warmer (funny he has scored as many points as last year) and look for a move by next year’s trading deadline.
So I would cut Chris a little bit of slack. As they say it’s a team sport.
April 7th, 2008 at 9:45 am
“But Bosh’s call was a hollow one. He was demanding grit and passion, things he himself had not been displaying, and hasn’t displayed with any level of consistency. Certainly, after going off like that, we could have at least expected him to pick up his level of play. Certainly, if he did step up, the rest of the team would have followed suit. I for one haven’t seen it.”
Right there’s the problem. He can talk the talk but can’t walk the walk. As you said, the numbers are solid but filter out the first three quarters and their not so great. If you consider the key possessions in the game, he comes up empty often opting for the fadeaway often against smaller players.
Not saying this team doesn’t have other issues but its got to start with your leader, if he’s letting you down and nobody else is willing to step up, you’re in trouble.
Arsenalist’s last blog post..End this season already
April 7th, 2008 at 3:53 pm
In contrast to what some of you seem to think …
In the NBA, Chris Bosh is and has always been a finesse Center/5.
Bosh is not a 4. Never has been. Never will be.
Neither is Bosh a Power.
Chris Bosh IS a franchise player … but not the kind of player YOU think he is … nor the kind of player he’s been made to play as for the Raptors under the Leadership of Rob Babcock AND Bryan Colangelo or the coaching of Kevin O’Neill AND Sam Mitchell.
Chris Bosh’s strength is as a FINESSE 5 … who is:
1) A terrific Team Defender, in the Middle of the action, in the Lane, when he can defend each of the other 4 players on the court and not just his own individual check, which he isn’t very good at to begin with, as a Finesse 5;
2) A terrific Rebounder, capable of averaging 15-20 boards a game;
3) A terrific Character guy, with the Core trait of unselfish that the great Centers who have played the game in the past have all had;
4) A terrific Mid-Post, Low-Post scorer … when he’s matched up vs the opponent’s Big … all of who he can out-quick … which can only be dictated by Bosh’s coach if said coach plays Bosh as the Biggest player on his own team and not the 2nd biggest who can go into the Post and demand a double-team, based on his ability to score from this position on the floor with his FINIESSE game, not a power game which Chris doesn’t and will never ever have.
Unfortunately for Chris, since he was drafted into the NBA by the Raptors he has yet to play for a GM or a coach who knows what his strengths are as a pro player … and has not developed him yet into the type of dominating ALL-PRO player he can become in this League.
To claim that Chris Bosh is not a franchise player … is flat-out WRONG.
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April 7th, 2008 at 3:54 pm
please excuse the numerous typos
khandor’s last blog post..THE problem at Bay Street & Lakeshore Blvd
April 7th, 2008 at 4:11 pm
i agree that he isn’t being used properly, but don’t great all-pro players rise above their position and do the necessary things needed to win? that is my biggest knock. and what about his post-denver rant? he hasn’t done any of the things he called for. so i do agree that he could be utilized better, but calling him a franchise player is a stretch for me.
April 7th, 2008 at 10:50 pm
If you are a player who handles the ball a lot off the bounce and off the dribble-up then it doesn’t matter if you’re being played out of position in the NBA. You can just go and get the ball and take the game over yourself, when need be … e.g. like MJ, Kobe, LBJ, Chris Paul, Oscar, Magic, etc.
Likewise, when you’re an interior Power player … in general, your teammates can simply throw the ball inside to you whenever you use your STRENGTH to gain an advantageous position in the Low Post, and allow you to go to work, scoring yourself or creating open shots for your teammates … e.g. like Shaq, Duncan, Wilt and Miken.
However, when you are a finesse Center/5 … like Chris Bosh or Rasheed Wallace or Hakeem Olajuwon or Jack Sikma or Bill Walton or Dave Cowens Kareem Abdul Jabbar or Bill Russell … on offense, you are dependent on your coach to play you in the correct position, for your unique skill set, and your teammates to get you the ball in the spots on the floor that you can be the most effective, either as a passer or a scorer; while, on defense, you are also dependent on your coach to match you up defensively against the individual check that allows you to not only defend this player BUT the other 4 players on the court, as well, when/if you can block shots and rebound like Bosh, Olajuwon, Walton, Abdul Jabbar and Russell can/could all do at the peak of their careers (i.e. between the ages of 27-35).
Chris Bosh is a Finesse Center/5.
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