| Expectations On Bosh's 09-10 Season Authored by Gagan Gandhi - September 28, 2009 - 10:50 am
| Current Featured Columns | | Merry Christmas, Raptors Fans The Raptors might not be playing good basketball right now, but there are plenty of things for Toronto fans to be thankful for this holiday season.
A Melo Behind The SuperstarsCarmelo Anthony has never been one of the league's most efficient offensive players.
 |
Maynor Using Utah’s Resources
Eric Maynor is an increasingly rare four-year, small college rookie. He sat down with RealGM to discuss how his first few weeks of NBA life has gone and what he has learned from Deron Williams and Jerry Sloan.
|
 |
Why LeBron To The Clippers Makes Sense
LeBron James already plays for a perennial underdog in Cleveland, but moving to the Clippers would allow him to do so in a huge market and with a core that will immediately compete for championships while also having an encouraging long term outlook.
|
 |
‘Home-Heavy Schedule’ Brings Question Marks
The Heat have been plagued by inconsistencies, making it difficult to determine how good they really are this season.
|
|
More from RealGM's Columnists
|
| |
2008-09: 22.7 PPG, 10.0 RPG, 2.5 APG, 1.0 BPG
Career: 19.6 PPG, 9.2 RPG, 2.2 APG, 1.2 BPG
2009-10 Salary: $15,779,912
Contract Status: Signed through 2009/10, player option for 2010-11
Claim to Fame: The guy who beat the other guy to 50,000 followers on Twitter
Strengths:
Since his rookie season, Bosh has improved his jump shot tremendously; so much so that he’s comfortable taking shots from beyond the arc when need be. It’s because of this he’s able to beat most big men off the dribble. Similar to Andrea Bargnani, defenders have a tough time guarding him because they have to respect his shot. That extra half foot in space is all that’s needed for him to either shoot over his opponent, or attack the basket.
His free throw is probably one of the most underrated facets of his game, add to that the fact that he actually gets to the free throw line regularly every game (8.0 attempts per game in 08-09) and he becomes an even bigger threat. You could be the best free throw shooter in the world, but you aren’t going to draw many fouls by standing 20 feet from the basket.
You’re also not going to be a rebounding threat standing that far out. Bosh is good for 10+ rebounds on most nights, the only Raptor to be. It’s a crap load of work for only one pair of shoulders to carry, but it’s something he’s been doing since he came into the league.
Weaknesses:
The biggest knock I have on Bosh is that he doesn’t necessarily make the players around him better. He has a good ability to attract double teams, but a not so good ability to make decisions when he has two players guarding him. Quick thinking is one of the biggest things that separate the stars from superstars, Bosh has been grouped in the former throughout his whole pro career. Although he may think of himself in the class of Dwyane Wade and Dwight Howard, he just isn’t.
Another facet of Bosh’s game that is not praiseworthy is how often his game goes south when facing top teams. It’s happened numerous times of the past two seasons against elite teams such as Boston, Cleveland and Los Angeles (Lakers, it’s quite sad I decided to point that out). He’s a star, a guy who absolutely feasts on the lesser-likes, but without him bringing his “A” game against the “A” level teams, the Raptors will once again be fighting for a playoff seed they shouldn’t have to fight for.
2009-10 Expectations:
21.6 PPG, 9.5 RPG, 3.2 APG
His battle to 50,000 followers with former Raptors forward Charlie Villanueva is the biggest headline Bosh made all summer, nope, no extension for this big man just yet. While many around the 416 and 905 want Bosh to be locked up to a new multi-year deal as soon as possible, I just don’t see the point in that.
He’s a not a true max player, there’s only a few in the league that are, and I’d be happy for Bryan Colangelo and Bosh to both let this scenario play out and see how it develops. If he takes his game to another level and lifts the Raptors into the second round of the playoffs, give him the extension. If the Raptors fail to meet expectations once again this season and are ousted in the first round, or dare I say it, not even make the playoffs, I’ll be the guy opening the door for him to leave town.
This is part two of a five part series analyzing the Raptors starters and bench players. Follow Gagan Gandhi on Twitter and join his group on Facebook . He can be reached at: gaganrealgm@gmail.com with any comments, concerns or requests. |
