Ball or Nuthin' » Raptors

Colangelo: Bosh Takes “An Easy Out”

T Lamont — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 15:59:31 +0000

I think I could succeed as the general manager of an NBA organization.

Here’s the existing blueprint:

- Draft a player with superstar and/or franchise player potential

- Assemble a mediocre set of players around him, preferably one or two players who were signed to huge deals after overachieving during their final contract year

- Watch the team miss the playoffs without questioning the coaching or front office moves

- Watch your drafted superstar / franchise player walk away to a better situation

- Blast the departed player by calling him names and/or indicating that he was not the right choice to lead your team

Pretty easy, huh?

That’s happened in two cases so far this summer. And it’s no coincidence that the griping GMs were the ones representing the teams of LeBron James, and now, Chris Bosh – who both left their respective organizations for milder weather and greener grass in Florida.

But somehow, I don’t think an individual with the class of Pat Riley (Miami Heat GM) would have given Dwyane Wade the same type of critique that Dan Gilbert and Bryan Colangelo dished out to their mega-stars. Here’s what Colangelo had to say about the departed Bosh:

“Despite limited swelling and any excessive damage on an MRI, he felt like he needed to sit for six more games … I’m not even questioning Chris’ injury. I’m telling you he was cleared to play subject to tolerance on his part, and the tolerance just apparently wasn’t there and he chose not to play.”

“The fact that our season was spiralling downward and we were hoping he’d come back sooner and we were also dealing with a few other things at that point … we were really struggling there. Whether he was mentally checked out or just wasn’t quite into it down the stretch, he wasn’t the same guy. I think everybody saw that, but no one wanted to acknowledge it. At the same time, I never felt we were quite in the game (in terms of signing Bosh to a new contract). There was too much out there, too much built up for him to take an easy out here, and he decided to do that. We tried in vain to put pieces around Chris. Different pieces, different styles. It didn’t work out. No matter what type of player we brought in, it didn’t seem to have the right mix with him as that centerpiece.”

Colangelo seemed to be the type who would be above this type of strategic, but still petty, sound bite. But in the end, the ego keeps these GMs from taking full responsibility for the product that they have assembled. They expect their players to be exemplary citizens, saying the right things during interviews while they allow their egos to direct the content of their media sessions.

Inevitably, there was going to be plenty of debate as to whether Bosh is truly a franchise player – but does it really matter? What does matter is that there would have been a number of teams that would have signed Bosh to a max contract (just look at what the Knicks gave the less-skilled Amar’e Stoudemire), and they wouldn’t have looked back. The hidden fact here is that Bosh was the key to this summer of free agency. It all ended up being about Bosh (and not LeBron or Wade) because he was the best available big man of the bunch.

No matter how you look at it, there are only a few select bigs that are franchise material: Tim Duncan (who is aging, and not better than Bosh anymore), Yao Ming (who is injured way too much, point blank), and Dwight Howard (who is a franchise talent because of his defensive dominance more so than his offensive dominance). I would say that Bosh belongs more in this group than the second group, which would include Stoudemire and Carlos Boozer (who signed with Chicago for $16 million a year).

Colangelo jumped on Turkoglu's bandwagon right when it ran out of gas.

The quality swingman market will always be more saturated, as they have more opportunities to control the rock. But bigs are forced to rely upon the generosity of their point men, as well as the flow of the game when it comes to their touches.

To quantify the impact that Chris Bosh could make, one would only have to look as far as the Los Angeles Lakers. L.A. couldn’t get over the hump without a skilled big like Pau Gasol. Gasol is not a brute, but provides the quickness, mid-range shooting, and overall basketball IQ that was required to get Mr. Bryant his fourth and fifth championship rings.

If you watched Gasol toil in Memphis as their best player, you saw a good player – but one who was not as impressive as Bosh has been in Toronto. In fact, there was a time that the Bosh to L.A. rumors were flying around a few years back. For the Lakers, acquiring Bosh could have been more promising for the present and the future. By no means are they disappointed by what Gasol has allowed them to do. But Bosh is almost four years younger than the Spaniard.

The past three NBA titles have been won by teams without dominant big men. And by surveying the landscape of the league, do we think that is going to change? The game has changed, the rules have changed, and organizations have to be careful with their personnel selection.

It’s no longer about having that one unbelievable player. The league is past that, and defenses are far too athletic today.

It’s all about the mix. And while Colangelo’s comments mention that, he’s not being self-critical at all. When all is said and done, he’s a finger-pointer.

And who wants to be in trenches with a finger-pointer?

Not Chris Bosh.

Bulls, Raptors Headed in Different Directions

T Lamont — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 02:47:23 +0000

Get Shareaholic

Is anyone surprised that the Chicago Bulls have overtaken the Toronto Raptors for the #8 spot in the Eastern Conference?

Over the last 10 games played, the Bulls have had a much favorable schedule, and a little cooperation from their opponents (like LeBron James sitting out in their showdown against the Cavs). But most of all, they are motivated to make the playoffs.

But aren’t all teams motivated to make the playoffs?

I’d say perhaps, but it definitely would be more beneficial to Chicago than Toronto. And here’s why:

The Bulls have key building blocks in place. Derrick Rose – fresh off of his debut in the All-Star

The Bulls playoff hopes were boosted by Bosh's late season injury.

Game – should be expected to be the premier point guard in the East for years to come. Joakim Noah has become a nightly double-double machine…he’s a big man who’s not afraid to play like a big man (a rarity in today’s NBA). Luol Deng is both a good defender and scorer. He somewhat inconsistent offensively, but if he’s routinely oriented in the offense he can easily produce 16 – 18 points per game. Kirk Hinrich is a great substitute lead guard, and Flip Murray is the very definition of a bench scorer. Although King James and the Cavs should trounce them, making the playoffs is beneficial for a young team aiming for yearly inclusion in the postseason.

The Raptors are a team that is truly in rebuilding mode. No Bosh pretty much meant no chance for this group (to reach the playoffs). And what better time to get use to playing without Bosh? Over the summer, he could very well be off to a team with a chance at prolonged success. For Toronto, the missed playoff birth will mean a shot at a better draft pick. Outside of that, Hedo Turkoglu has been one of the highest-priced busts that I can remember. Pending their selection in the draft, with Bosh gone the Raptors won’t have anyone who can consistently score the rock – and that’s a real problem.

The Raptors should be thanking Chris Bosh for getting injured.

He certainly took one for the team.

Cavs Looking Unspectacular With 0-2 Start

T Lamont — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 03:01:32 +0000

Get Shareaholic

Opening night in the NBA. First game of the season on TNT – because “they know drama”. The location is none other than the Quicken Loans Arena – AKA “The Q”. Home of the Cleveland Cavaliers and their 39-2 home record last season. Home of new Cavalier and 4-time NBA champion Shaquille O’Neal. Home of 2008-2009 NBA MVP LeBron James.

The stage was set for a grand opening for the Cavs in their opener against their rivals, the Boston Celtics. But a funny thing happened on that grand stage…the Cavs flamed out.

For Cleveland, its Cavaliers are a big deal. They’ve sat through a rebuilding baseball season, which ended with the Indians hiring a head coach that came from a team that lost over 100 games this year. And the town is in the midst of enduring what could be the worst football campaign that the Browns have ever put together.

In their 95-89 loss on Tuesday night, Cleveland looked much like they did when we last saw them (in the Eastern Conference Finals against the Orlando Magic) – a one-man team. LeBron James put up 38 points, 8 assists, 4 blocks, 2 steals…he even bagged four triples. What about his new sidekick, Shaq? Well, he looked pedestrian with a mere 10 points and 10 rebounds.

LeBron and Shaq have lacked chemistry in their first two regular season games.

No problem, right? I’m sure the Cavs thought they’d just reload and get ready for Wednesday night’s game in Toronto. Wrong. Cleveland marched into the Air Canada Center and gave a lackluster first-half effort which led to a 101-91 defeat to the Raptors. Again, James put up his stellar stat line which included a triple-double (23 points, 11 rebounds, 12 assists). And while the Cavs finished with five players scoring in double figures, there was very little flow to their offense.

The Cavs will get a night off before heading into Minnesota, which is about as much of an automatic win as you can ask for in the NBA. And while the Celtics game was billed as a tough showdown between two of the Eastern Conference’s front runners, no one really expected Cleveland to be down 0-2 going into the game against the Timberwolves.

But what’s been even more surprising than the record, has been the Cavs’ unspectacular play. They haven’t looked sharp. A couple of their new additions – Anthony Parker and Jamario Moon – haven’t looked like players who are going to be difference-makers. And Shaq needs to warm up in a hurry if Cleveland doesn’t want LeBron to lose his legs before the postseason.

After a much hyped offseason of “roster improvements,” the time is now for them to begin paying dividends. If not, the stage may be set once again.

For a departure by LeBron James.