SkywalkerAC

Yeah, Bosh needs to play better but his defensive deficiencies as way overblown - it's perimeter defense that has been our bane of late. When's the last time a power player really went off on us? And no post moves? Give me a break. He's doubled almost every time he gets the ball on the block because he will score on single coverage every time.

Bosh is not as easy to build around as Tim Duncan. I think we know that. He's not on that level defensively. Deal with it. There's only a couple of power forwards in the world that are better than our guy. He's not mailing it in. He's working to become a better leader and win games.

It's Andrea that needs to get better and he is. Andrea's the guy that needs to get our defensive scheme down pat. Andrea is the guy that needs to become a force in the paint on both ends and rebounding. Andrea is where our championship potential lies. He's not going to get there this year.

So what we need, I'm afraid, is more time.

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AC

southeasy

so your a toronto fan and you were knocking bosh on the general board!?
thats insane, do you watch our team??? No post moves for Bosh?!? he is not soft, he's played most of the season injured and was hurt early lastnight & still helped us get back into the game in the 4th Q against the defending champs.

it was Bosh going insane in the huddle that sparked the comeback our team had, we narrowly lost lastnight.

if there is one word you cannot use to describe bosh it's soft, that **** falls on def ears with me. the kid is amazing leader by example, and his teammates know it, so they have his back 100%

our problem is not interior defence (outside of rebounding) so much that it is letting perimeter players have free lanes to attack our bigs @ the rim. which in turn makes our guards give them too much space respecting the drive & we get burnt, things bosh should not have to worry about while defending his own man is having guards flying at his head.

you saw it with iguodala, maggette & ginobili in just the past couple games just to name a few.

Bosh has some of the best footwork & post moves in the league & is still improving, that is clearly the reason he is always doubled, which half the time he splits the defence for a score.

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Primero Veinte Con La Enfermedad
1AJosh Howard/1BGerald Wallace/2Amare Stoudemire/3Chris Bosh/4Rajon Rondo/5Sean Williams/6Travis Outlaw/7Al Thornton/8Caron Butler/9TJ Ford/10Dwight Howard/11Antawn Jamison/12Dorell Wright/13Leandro Barbosa/14Samuel Dalembert/15Thabo Sefolosha/16Stromile Swift/17Jose Calderon/18Trevor Ariza/19Jamario Moon/20JR Smith

Cierre pero ningún Puro: Julian Wright, Renaldo Balkman, Ronnie Price, Jeff Green, Amir Johnson, Louis Williams


RIP to the Career & The Man, Jonathan "Best Practice Player In NBA History" Bender & Eddie "Most Known Unknown" Griffin

bigbabyjesus

If you guys think Jose and Bosh are good defensively, then man.. I REALLY question your basketball knowledge..

Bosh is average at best. Man to man he has gotten better over the years, but he still has a lot of work to do. He does a bad job on switches a lot of the time, and forgets to box out a lot of the time to..

Jose isn't close to TJ defensively. TJ may have the size advantage but he's not afraid to get up on players and bother them, while using his quickness nicely if they try to blow by him. Jose on the other hand, gets blown by several times a game. It's not that he's not trying, but he seems a step slow a lot of the time, and he's probably our worst player for getting caught on switches and leaving his man open for the shot. I know he will work on his defense in the offseason, because other than that.. theres not really any weaknesses to his game.

SkywalkerAC

Defending NBA players is as tough as it gets. There's only so much you can do. I don't think that Sam is overly concerned with Bosh and the gang's defense. They got lit up by Manu in legendary Manu fashion (the MJ of Argentina) but they made some stops down the stretch and got back in the game. There were some lapses but for the most part Jose and Bosh did their jobs. They'll have some video to watch, no doubt, but they both defend like pros. They can get better, they've got a ways to go before they're savvy veteran defenders, but they compete and know their stuff.

Is the defensive potential there? Both were coming up with huge steals against the Spurs. I think there is. That's probably what is starting to set people off though. VC had defensive potential too, unrealized. They've both got great length, and quickness. They both have to get a little stronger but they've still got plenty of time in their careers to develop old man strength. They've left more little more to be desired thus far, 2007-2008 but hey, there are plenty of games to be played before the playoffs.

Physical strength is one area we are surely lacking in. The NBA is full of beasts and if you don't have freaks on your team, you'll pay the price. We've got plenty of manpower but our main guns need to hit the stacks with Joey and get in the best shape of their lives to give us that edge.

Andrea is number 1 - I know he already big and strong but he's got myriad of ways to take his body to the next level. He needs a lot of core work and a lot of shoulder strengthening. He'll be busy with team Italy but that's as good a training environment as you can really ask for. In my opinion, his strength training is as important to the franchise as our upcoming draft...and I LOVE the draft. Bargnani could become a real beast and that's what we really need.

Moon is number 2 - and thankfully he's heading into a contract year. he's probably going to work primarily on his jumper but it would be nice for him to come back ready to meet and dole out a little more physical punishment. You know Pipp hit the gym.

Bosh is number 3 - he's put plenty of work into his physique but he's going to have to continue to work at it. he'll be with team USA, working out with the best of the best. hopefully the dream team kicks his stability and defense to another level.

TJ is number 4 - he's not giving up anytime soon. dude's going to be putting in a lot of work in the summer.

Calderon is number 5 - I can't see this guy lifting a weight. yoga maybe? anyways, he'll be playing ball with one of the best teams in the world, and what better way for a point guard to get tougher?

These guys will be able to get it done in the playoffs, if they click and catch fire. Their defense will be passable but at the end of the day this team needs to hit shots. If they burn out in the first round, they start prepping for the big push - 2008/2009. The most important year we've had to date.

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AC

Junkyard Dog13

we could of used a big body like Sheldon, I hope after the break BC can find a decent low key name big man that can well in a up tempo offense

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Raps fans since Day 1
Steelers fan since 97
Leafs fan since 88
Mets fan since 98

laydee-bawla22

Sean Williams is what we need.

a bad *** who wont take ****

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strait-ballin

SkywalkerAC

BC should take a long look at Chris Anderson when he's reinstated. Seriously.

Shotblocking, length, athleticism, energy. He'll be cheap and he'll work his *** off to redeem his career.

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AC

SkywalkerAC

What the Raps need is that perfect blend of experience of experience complemented by upside.

I do think our guys are going to get better. It's going to be difficult for Chris to get much better than he already is (and we're all a little concerned about his knees) but he's still SO young, we forget that sometimes. One area I do expect him to continue improving is his passing, an underrated facet of his development.

Andrea, on the other hand, is playing so far below his potential it's mind-bottling. He's only just finding his endurance (he played 47 minutes ok) and his physical strength/balance and his shot hasn't caught up yet. His help defense is going to get better and better with experience. He's not a stupid guy; he was made to be a basketball player, he just needs to figure it out. He is going to get better at rebounding - he was one of the worst rebounders (ever) to start the season but he's actually able to snatch some balls now. He is also going to become a very good big man play-maker.

We also forget that this is Carlos' breakout season and that Moon is a rookie. The upside isn't overwhelming but remember that we basically got them both for free. These guys have the potential to be fantastic roleplayers for us - some of the best we've had.

Same goes for TJ and Jose. They need a shot to...get better.

We also need to add some experienced talent through trade. Obviously our bench talent needs to be consolidated.

And then we need to add upside, and plenty of it, through the draft and through trade. Most of all I want a combo forward that can play both with Moon and Delf and co on the wings and complement Bosh and Bargnani with power and force.

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AC

Dee-Zy

Sounds like you want Marion!

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The "I'm still bitter about the CV-TJ Trade" Club

SkywalkerAC

i do. though he doesn't have the demeanor i'd look for.

al thornton would do.

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AC

ballocks

two experiments that are not working with our current lineup:

1) two pg's. we can't afford to sit one while the other plays if our other options are so limited. we may have to sacrifice our depth at this position in order to improve another... unless we can figure out a way to play them together. that shouldn't be as complicated as we've made it seem but these two look worse every game. like they're not learning anything together. microcosm for the entire team, imo.

2) bargnani and bosh down low. i emphasize "with our current lineup" when i say this. if we're going to be consistently successful with the perimeter men we currently have, we probably need a playmaker/eraser down low. bosh is not him. bargnani is. just kidding. the point is that this team is probably not that bad inside on defense, it's just that they can't hold the fort when our guards get exposed so often (pretty much every set). the solution here is as simple but for some reason impossible, to me, as jose and tj together: andrea on the three. wouldn't necessarily need a new 5 either- just use rasho. none of those guys are playmakers either but something tells me that: a) three 7ft'ers are inherently tough to score on; b) bargnani is a natural three, anyway. instead of forcing him to learn how to defend the paint and swat flies, perhaps it'd be easier for him to learn how to guard players who have a tremendous lateral quicks advantage.

we don't have to address both issues, maybe solving one would be enough. but that'd be a crazy starting lineup that i wouldn't mind seeing, if only to witness change for the sake of change:

jose
tj
bargnani
bosh
rasho

be entertaining to see it play out. and if it doesn't work, i think we need to move a point and/or get a big- but if we get a big, where does that leave b&b? maybe we'd be looking at three 7ft'ers regardless, which is the path i think we've always been on.

peace

george

Trade TJ for Cory Maggette!!! Clips need a PG, Livingston might never make it back.

bigbabyjesus

Why would they trade for TJ when they have Dan Dickau?

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seifer0406

why should we trade for Maggette when we have Joey Graham?