Bosh an entirely new kind of Raptor

First, congratulations go out today to Raptorblog, winner of something called a Canadian blog award. Well deserved, that, and if you go over there, Scott's got an acceptance speech.

On another Raptor note, I’ll leave aside Sam Mitchell’s beyond-my-limited-comprehension substitution pattern – um, he doesn’t have one, far as I can see -- and the upcoming anniversary of the easiest $10 million Alonzo Mourning ever made.

CP PHOTO

Get that garbage out of here, says Chris Bosh.

Instead, some numbers for you:

Raptors annual leaders, FT attempts

(minimum 25 games/season)

95-96 D Stoudamire 70 gms/296 FTA = 4.23 avg
96-97 D Stoudamire 81/401 = 4.95
97-98 D Stoudamire 49/212 = 4.33
98-99 V Carter 50/268 = 5.36
99-00 V Carter 82/551 = 6.72
00-01 V Carter 75/502 = 6.69
01-02 V Carter 60/307 = 5.12
02-03 A Davis 53/280 = 5.28
03-04 V Carter 73/417 = 5.71
04-05 C Bosh 81/542 = 6.69

05-06 C Bosh 21/175= 8.33

Watching Chris Bosh of late is like seeing the arrival of an exotic new species of player in Toronto. He hinted at this after Vince Carter was traded away last year. Now he's blossoming into a stud forward, and one reflection of that are these free-throw numbers (which also quite neatly show Carter's decline as a driving force).

This is pretty elemental stuff, but it's a number that's often overlooked and I haven't seen a whole lot being made of Bosh being ranked ninth in the NBA in this category. Get to the line and you’re getting the ball from your teammates and respect from the referees, you're man enough to take some mauling and you’re getting noticed by the opposition, who either have to send an extra man which opens up the offence or try and play you straight up and deal with the fouls they're going to take, and the Charlotte Bobcats had all kind of trouble figuring that one out on Saturday night.

Bosh’s numbers are rising, too, with 85 free throws in the seven games since Jalen Rose was taken out of the starting lineup. If Mitchell has done something very right this season, this was the move. Bosh is slowly getting comfortable handling Rose's job of last season of finishing games with the ball in his hands, and the Raptors have won three games and lost four (one of those in overtime on the road) – merely mediocre, for sure, but a couple steps away from the historical abyss they were looking into a couple of weeks ago.

Over at Raptorblog, Scott has been grousing at times about Bosh’s interior defence, but I have no problem there. He doesn’t have the luxury of playing alongside even a stopgap centre. He's getting service from an NBA rookie point guard who's still finding his way.

No wonder Phil Jackson was making those goo-goo eyes.

Comments

[alex]

I'm posting a lot today...slow day at work :)

Watching the Charlotte game, with the game winding down with about a minute left and the Raps in the lead, Bosh backs down his defender on the left side of the basket to waste the shot clock, then spins away and banks a fadeaway off the glass. There have been more than a few moments over the past couple of seasons where I've looked at Bosh and felt good about the Raps, but that play virtually cemented what he (will) means to this franchise.

[J.E. Skeets]

Perfect time to tell my Bosh story:

One Saturday night during this past preseason, my friend Ken and I got word that Chris Bosh was eating at a nearby, popular late-night Chinese restaurant (New Ho Kings). Well, as the good and drunk Raptor fans that we are, we quickly made our way over.

I walked in and spotted him immediately (not difficult to do when you’re 6’10”). Then, against the advice of my soon-to-be-embarrassed friends, I made my way over to him.

I apologized to Chris and his “girlfriend” for interrupting their late-night snack, and told him that I just wanted to wish him the best of luck for the upcoming Raps season. He seemed genuinely happy about the support, said “thanks”, and shook my hand.

That was supposed to be it, but by then my friend Ken had made it over to the table. He stood there for a second; looking completely unsure of what he was going to say, until he uttered the following magic words:

“20-10 Chris. 20-10”.

Chris ate it up. He started laughing uncontrollably. With that, Ken and I turned to leave, shouting for all of the restaurant to know, “20-10!” and “Vince who?” It made our night.

And I won’t lie; every night Chris goes out and drops a 20-10, Ken and I truly believe we had a little part to do with it.

[cy]

That's a good story Skeets, thanks. It brings to mind a link that provides a visual, and perhaps a new sign to bring to the ACC (ALL HAIL THE NEW HO KING):
http://www.torontoist.com/archives/2005/12/new_record_new.php