The Monster Rises In Toronto

by Steve Weinman on Jan 13, 2008 11:41 PM EST in NBA Articles

Chris Bosh is enjoying 2008. A lot.

It certainly wasn't like the string bean power forward up north had been sleeping through the end of 2007, as he was averaging up around 20 points and 9 boards per game through December. But the man is most definitely awake and raring to go now.

Bosh has gotten off to an absurd start to the new year, averaging 29.0 points, 9.4 rebounds and 55.6 percent shooting in five games since the turn of the calendar.

His last two games (both wins) have yielded 40 and 38-point performances. The two games before that saw him shoot 9-for-11 and 8-for-10 from the field. He is getting to the line 8.8 times per game this month, an excellent frequency for a power forward who often seems to prefer playing face-up to the basket in the high post.

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Comments

This is the Chris Bosh from last season.

Glad he’s back. The composure, the concentration, the talent, the leadership …. the total package.

Did you watch the Portland game? One of the best games of the season. Brandon Roy doing just about everything he could for his team. Bosh countering and beating him at every turn. He just took the game over in both overtimes.

There was this lovely play by Bosh. They ran a pick and roll with Parker and Bosh. Portland were switching on everything so Roy ends up on Bosh, Aldridge on Parker. Roy is fronting Bosh like a mad-man trying to deny the pass. Bosh just 3/4’s him to open up the entire baseline and starts waving his hands at Parker – forget the pass!forget the pass!Take the baseline, I got you a dunk! – He must have been waving his hands for a good four seconds before Parker copped on and saw what Bosh was doing for him. But of course the minute he saw, he drove baseline and crowned Travis Outlaw and whoever the other help defender was. Just incredible recognition by Bosh.

It was like that all last season and all through the overtime. Glad to see the big fella back.

He had a lovely post up on the right block, 3 dribbles, turn and a high release lefty fadeaway over Aldridge. He had another where Roy again switched on him – Toronto were milking this switching all through overtime – and he just caught the ball, no hesitation, straight up over his shoulder and drains a nice 14 footer before the help gets close. Another play where he does the Bosh thing, and just rams the ball on a penetrating drive and draws contact and gets two plus he should have got the foul but the refs were letting a lot go. He had a monster block on Roy, maybe two, and altered numerous others. Everyone on Portland was looking out for him. The biggest thing he did though …. he dominated the boards. He was getting anything that came near him. Portland simply didn’t have the bodies that could keep him off the glass and he just went right at it and seemed to come up with just about every important rebound.

He also did the leadership thing as always. Pulling aside Jamario Moon twice, once after the foul leading to overtime and another on a missed jumper. Great captain.

Took over the ballgame. So happy to see Bosh is back. This is the guy from last season, he’d been missing this year.

Toronto is about to make a run, you can just feel the electricity in their play. They jusy need to get Bargani going somehow. He’s been disappointing this year.

by Who on Jan 14, 2008 7:20 AM EST reply actions