Monday, March 15th, 2010 at 9:00 am  |  66 responses

Chris Bosh’s Mounting Frustration

by Marcel Mutoni / @marcel_mutoni

Despite their ugly five-game losing streak, the Toronto Raptors are hanging on to the eighth and final Playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. What’s alarming, though, is that 3 of the last 5 losses have come at the hands of teams with no hope of qualifying for the postseason (and to make matters worse, the loss margin against those awful squads was by an average of 16 points.)

Armed with this knowledge, and feeling the sting from an embarrassing loss to the Golden State Warriors, Chris Bosh erupted on Saturday night.

The Toronto Sun reports:

He wasn’t throwing around theories. He was imploring everyone in a Raptors uniform to start taking this playoff thing seriously.“Just do it,” Bosh said in an expectably quiet Raptors locker room. “Act like you care. We need to do the things that win. We don’t do the things that win. I’m going down and playing offence on their side of the court and their (bench) is louder than we are. That doesn’t make any sense. They’re not playing for anything. We’re trying to make the playoffs. We’re trying to get the fifth seed but that is, like, slipping away every day.”

Once on a roll, there was no stopping him. “We’re supposed to be gearing up for playoff basketball and this is not playoff basketball,” he said. “Their bench is more active than ours is. They’re players are getting more stops. They’re getting more offensive rebounds. Everybody is doing everything. If you look on the schedule now and see Toronto, I’m sure people are checking the win box. I can understand if we lose a game going down fighting, but we’re not fighting at all.”

As the linked article points out, head coach Jay Triano shares in Bosh’s frustration, but did not hesitate to point out that Chris and Hedo Turkoglu aren’t exempted from the criticism of the team. Naturally, the Raptors went out and lost again last night in Portland, despite some changes in the rotations.

With the summer of 2010 rapidly approaching, I suspect that Raptors GM Bryan Colangelo hasn’t been getting the best sleep of late.

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  • T-Money

    Triano doesn’t command their respect.

  • http://www.slamonline.com James the Balla

    Should have got traded to the Lakers. But your tiny little above .500 team kept you there. I knew it was all a lie. See yaa Chris Bosh. He is GONE this Summer!!!

  • erich

    I can understand if we lose a game going down fighting, but we’re not fighting at all.”
    He is right . They all should show some pride.

  • http://www.slamonline.com Eboy

    Welcome to Miami (bienvenido a Miami)!

  • http://www.slamonline.com Eboy

    Too many foreign born players on their roster to get so heated when losing occurs. Fact.

  • http://www.Twitter.com/notebooknick NotebookNick

    Bosh won’t resign. The best Colangelo can hope for is a sign and trade deal.

  • jrb

    Well be waitin for u in NY chris

  • Twinparadox

    Hello, New York…or Miami…or anywhere else…

  • http://slamonline.com/ niQ

    Watching the Raptors play is also frustrating.

  • Twon

    Chicago Better Get Him

  • AL29

    If he wants to go, let him go. Don’t be fooled by his contract year. And don’t think that re-signing him to a max contract will preclude him from demanding a trade in 1 or 2 years, à la VC.

  • Shem

    This isn’t good.. We only come out with effort against good teams in the 1st half. We always come out strong against good teams and think the bad teams will roll over. We have to come out strong and want to rebound. Last night against the blazers, triano SAT bargs in the 3rd because he was watching the blazers crash the boards on us. It’s crazy, i’ve never seen a team that just doesn’t give the effort especially not my own team. Before it’s that we werent strong down low but we still gave effort, now camby and howard who are old enough to be my grandfather are out rebounding younger and stronger chris and bargnani. I don’t blame bosh for being frustrated but sometimes chris has to not settle for so many jumpers

  • LA Huey

    Sorry, Stackmack

  • Donell

    with this economy he isnt going anywhere. toronto can offer him the best money. He should just be patient, he’s got the talent around him, they just need to gell. Or he can go to new york and lose there too

  • Sparker

    here’s an observation. the raps were playing well until the all-star break, after which bosh got hurt. in my opinion, he was probably hurt because he went all out during the game, in his tiresome pursuit to prove that he belongs with the best of the best, instead of more or less chilling and focusing on his team’s second half. now he’s telling everyone else to get their priorities straight?

  • http://shawn-kemps-offspring.blogspot.com Cheryl

    shem brings up a trait of Bosh’s i’ve been noticing too, namely that he drifts on the perimeter and sometimes avoids post play. Maybe that’s coaching, w/Bargs also a post player,but I don’t think so. And if that’s his tendency, then the Heat have a guy like that–Beasley. If we’re going to give max money to a guy, it should be someone who can post up the majority of the time or a max talented point guard and a defensive-minded 3 who can shoot the 3 ball.

  • http://shawn-kemps-offspring.blogspot.com Cheryl

    Maybe Shinn will hold a fire sale and CP3 can force his way to South Beach. And a reunion of the FIU guys–Arroyo and Raja Bell–will bring me joy.

  • J-City

    To tell you the truth I’m a Raptors fan and I wouldn’t mind a S&T for David Lee. At least he plays down low. I don’t get why more teams don’t see that putting a lankier guy on Bosh like Camby really limits his effectiveness.
    Lee + Bargnani would work out better than Bosh + Bargs imo anyway.

  • http://www.realcavsfans.com Anton

    Anderson Varejao post game interview: “WE GON BULLY DEEZ NI&&AS!”

  • LA Huey

    @J-City, kind of agree with you there. Raps have two finesse bigs and that won’t get it done if you want a chip. Nothing against Bosh but I think Lee is a better fit with Bargs.

  • Stillballin

    raptors say goodbye to chris..because he won’t be there next year..

  • Shem

    J-City is right, Chris Bosh usually struggles when he plays agaisnst tall lanky players like Dalembert. Honestly, there aren’t going to be many good teams in the bidding this off-season most will be teams like the knicks and nets. Apparently, Toronto offers him $30 mill more (i read an article about this including indorsements etc. im not too sure about that because his contract right now is 15.7mill a yr) but if a team like Miami or LA offer him close to a max contract, I wouldnt be surprised if he took it

  • http://www.slamonline.com/online/category/blogs/farmer-jones/ Ryan Jones

    This is all on Bosh. He says it himself: “I’m going down and playing offence…” Maybe if you played “offense,” Chris. But no. “Offence.” I wonder if he has a favourite colour as well? Does he put the date AFTER the month when he write out a check? Embarrassing.

  • http://slamonline.com S.Man

    I agree with Eboy, as a Raptor fan I’ve got to say that they are too European. Bargnani isn’t getting it done, averages 6 rebounds a game, doesn’t box out. Include him in whatever trade package to get a real center and make this team play more North American. Brace yourselves Raptor fans.

  • stu

    i’d call a spelling mistake in bosh’s quote, but lately their offense HAS been offence(ive), so fair play..

  • Tommy Patron

    Keep this softie out of Chicago.

  • http://www.hibachi20.blogspot.com BETCATS

    Bosh is gonna leave and the Raps will replace him with some random Euro. Thats just how it goes.

  • http://slamonline.com S.Man

    ^ That’s the sad truth.

  • Teddy-the-Bear

    Hedo Turkoglu has been playing horribly the past few games. DeRozan needs more playing time, and so does Amir Johnson. Turkoglu needs to sit, seriously. He’s not the same as he was on Orlando.
    Amir Johnson, Demar DeRozan, and Sonny Weems are outplaying the starters almost every night. Antoine Wright plays really well too, but Triano has his minutes so sporadic that he can’t be a factor in games where he is needed.

  • Teddy-the-Bear

    DeRozan usually shoots a great percentage from the floor, makes solid plays, and gets around 10 points on like 5-7 shooting. But he gets benched for Hedo Turkoglu and the two point guard backcourt…

  • http://www.slamonline.com Pardeep

    Bosh will show all his frustration now because he knows there going to get swept in the first round by the Cavs and then it wouldn’t look as bad if he leaves because people will think he left for a reason the Raptors weren’t doing ish for him. But then again it is the Toronto people so they’ll probably boo him every time he plays them. Raptors messed up with Turkuglu payed him waaaaaaaaay to much and Turk isn’t doing shit right now so now they aren’t even going to get David Lee in the summer. Raptors basketball is about to suck again unless Bargani turns into Dirk over the off season.

  • ab_40

    leeettt the sun shine dude is off to miami next season. already played with o’neal. and miami can still get something for beasley he’s not in self destruct mode yet

  • http://joeloholic.wordpress.com Joel O’s

    Some of us here are blaming the “Euro” influence for the lack of fire on this squad. I don’t like playing stereotypes. But it’s the sad truth. Who were the ones on this squad who actually got upset when they were losing? Jack, Wright and Bosh. The rest of the squad are so apathetic to winning and losing, are so embarrassingly unambitious (satisfied with another probable first round exit) that I really hope Bosh finds a team that deserves him. I’m sure there are Torontonians who’ve followed Chris his entire career who agree. I’d love to keep him, but deserves better.

  • Teddy-the-Bear

    Sonny Weems, Amir Johnson, and Demar DeRozan need to be getting more minutes than Hedo Turkoglu and sometimes Andrea Bargnani.

  • Sparty’s Law

    @ Jones: you forgot to spell “check” “cheque”

  • Sparty’s Law

    Whoa, Derozen does NOT need more playing time. He has been one of their biggest problems. He needs to come off the bench and play exclusively against their opponents’ second unit. He is getting torched by the starting 2 on every team the Raptors play and it is hurting both the team and his confidence. He had tons of athleticism and seems like a good kid, but he is a long way away from having a consistent NBA game. They need to Wright, maybe even Weems, at the 2. Not Derozen.

  • http://missjia.com JrSwishh

    Derozan definaely needs more playing time… especially at the end of the game… because this turkalou guy has been the worst decision made in this franchise’s history… i was telling u guys last year, this guy is a scrub… and the fact that we need to keep him for 4 more years is even worse

  • Shem

    Either Bargnani gets rebounds and gets down in the post with the 3 pointer as an “add on” to his game it shouldn’t be his entire game. Derozan doesn’t need more playing time, he needs to play D and get a more reliable jumper

  • Teddy-the-Bear

    Sparty you’ve got to be kidding me. What’s hurting the Raps on defense is having TURKOGLU GUARD LEBRON JAMES AND BRANDON ROY.
    DeRozan has been playing great as of late, and he can’t be worse at defense than having Calderon with Jack in the backcourt. Think about it.
    Also, DeRozan’s midrange game is one of his strengths… Why is it always the jumper argument against athletic players?

  • Teddy-the-Bear

    Also, TONEY DOUGLAS IS THE TRUTH! The Knicks FINALLY found a reliable point guard–and he was right on D’Antoni’s d@mn bench. Wow. If Douglas got more playing time he would have made All-Rookie no problem.

  • http://fdksjlf.com Jukai

    I’m going to co-sign Sparty’s Law and also say that Amir Johnson should ONLY come out when Bosh is sitting… dude is a walking bad decision maker…

  • http://fdksjlf.com Jukai

    Just cause yer starters are sucking, doesn’t mean you should play your sucky bench more often.

  • http://www.slamonline.com Pardeep

    Turkoglu is not a go to option at all he is just too slow and he needs to lose weight and become a Paul Pierce type player. Bosh is leaving for sure thats why hes showing his frustration because when its all over he won’t look like a bad guy for leaving because everyone knows if Bosh wants success in the playoffs it probably won’t happened in Toronto and he won’t get bashed for ditching the city like LeBron or Wade would but the Raptors crowd is still going to boo him every time he plays them. The Raptors can still get a 5th seed but I doubt it either way they probably are going to get swept or lose in 5 games in the playoffs IF they make it. Bosh and Wade are going to win the East every year for 5 years though.

  • Scottie Pimpin

    hey Bosh you wanna win and kick ass, come to Chicgo baby !

  • Tyson

    BOSH! You are the weakest franchise player in history. Your defence is atrocious. You lack lustre is infecting the rest of the team. You’re a good player but you’re a defensive liability, you’re not clutch, so you lack in the most important areas that qualify a franchise player. The sooner we get rid of Bosh the sooner we can find a real stud

  • Sporting-Lisbon-Blazers

    lol at Anton, he bullied them ni&&as thats fosho!! also, good to see those Knickerbockers revenge on the Mavs..maybe Douglas is a good piece for their future, he played really well in philly today again..

  • wilz

    id be fine with the raptors pulling a jamaal tinsley with turk if it meant never having to see him again. guy is a disease.

    bosh isnt a good leader. he just doesnt have it. he can lead by example, but he doesnt do it for 82 games. he dropped off only slightly later than ever other year prior. he’ll keep pulling this stunt and breaking hearts for years to come if hes relied on to carry a team

  • wilz

    id be fine with the raptors pulling a jamaal tinsley with turk if it meant never having to see him again. guy is a disease.

    bosh isnt a good leader. he just doesnt have it. he can lead by example, but he doesnt do it for 82 games. he dropped off only slightly later than ever other year prior. he’ll keep pulling this stunt and breaking hearts for years to come if hes relied on to carry a team

  • http://jdfkslld.com Jukai

    How is Bosh’s defense atrocious? I hear that a lot, but I’ve watched him and he seems average. A bit weak on the block but he switches well and can keep up with quicker fours. He’s not bad at all.

  • Teddy-the-Bear

    Jukai, listen to me when I tell you you are COMPLETELY WRONG about Amir Johnson. Period. I don’t know what you saw in Detroit, and he may have been clumsy and underdeveloped and a poor decision-making then, but I have watched EVERY single Raptors game this season and Amir Johnson is FANTASTIC.
    He is the best interior defender BY FAR on the team, the best rebounder, and the best shotblocker. He has added an above-average and always-growing offensive repertoire to his game that he didn’t have in Detroit. He hustles and makes plays no one else on the team has the guts to make. And his decisions on defense this season have been spot on.
    Again, the bench has consistently outplayed the starters this year. The bench definitely is not “sucky.” Hedo Turkoglu is “sucky.”

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