For the fans who are new to the game.

[CreaM]

Over the past couple of weeks, there have been several complaints about Bosh not taking it to the hole enough. The same posters continue to complain after I have explained it in numerous threads. The complaint seems to be that Bosh should drive on every play because as results show, he is more successful in the paint/blowing by his man.

Well let me ask you a question. Lebron James is absolutely unstoppable when he charges to the rim, but yet, a majority of his shots come from the perimeter. Why doesn't he just take it to the hole every possession he has the ball? Isn't he more successful there?

The reason is that you CANNOT DRIVE TO THE BASKET ON EVERY FREAKING PLAY!!! Why? There are several reasons.

1. The fatigue effect
2. The respect effect
3. Opposition's defense
4. Risk of injury

1. NBA players are not made of energizer batteries where they play at the same constant speed/ have the constant energy throughout the game. You have to pace yourself especially as a starter or anyone playing a significant amount of minutes. You are asked to rebound, defend, score and play hard EVERY minute that you are on the floor. It is eventually going to take a toll on the body as the game progresses.

Not to mention a player of Bosh's caliber who is asked to shoulder the load offensively/ defensively while being the primary rebounder. Chris has the hardest Job of any other player on the Raptors, and it WILL take a toll eventually. Asking him to drive on every single play is something that cannot be done successfully by any other player in the NBA so please cut him some slack.

2. If you analyze Chris's game (which requires you watching the Raptors since he came to the league), what makes him so effective is his FOOT SPEED and JUMP SHOT which are very RARE in this league. Not a lot of big men have it and the ones that do are not as gifted as Chris in that regard. If common sense and basketball knowledge tells us anything, it is that any player with that kind of ability should take advantage of it.

Its not rocket science!! The defender lags off you, you hit the shot. If the defender plays tight, you blow by which results in either a basket or a trip to the line. Simple. Why should he become one dimensional because he is more effective in one area than another? Isn't the whole point to have a complete offensive arsenal to make him more and more unstoppable? You have to have the defender respect your shot in order to be able to make them play tightly so that you have space to drive.

The bogus argument that when he drives every play is when he is most successful is false because the games where he does explode are those when he mixes up the jump shot with the drive and the post play he added to his arsenal this season.

3. Opposing defenses, like the one we saw against the new jersey nets, or even Detroit today had their game plan to send the double as soon as Chris gets the ball. At this point, it is the job of the wing players to hit their shots. It would be stupid to ask Bosh to drive when that type of defense is being played becuase it is generally made to stop him from using the drive often. Opposing defense plays a large role in how Bosh plays.

4. Injury risk is also a big concern. Driving in the lane as much as Bosh does is VERY risky. It is the same loosers who complain that he should be driving every play that will be the same ones complaining when he gets injured that he is not a durable player.

Keep in mind that Bosh only took 6 jumpshots against Detroit today.

Bash away...

Renamed so it's not as offensive

MAS

[El Presidente]

I agree with a lot of what you're saying, and most of it is common sense but despite all that it doesn't absolve CB4 from taking jumpers. I agree that you have to mix 'n match and take what the defense gives you but at some point you have to realize that the defense is only giving you jumpers and that you need to post-up players like Maxiell, McDyess and used your quickness in the post to create a shot rather than settle.

I think a distinction needs to be made when people say "Bosh should drive more". I don't think he should drive more as much as I think he should post-up more. Driving can be taken away by the defense by giving you space but taking away somebody's post-up game is much harder and that's what I'm looking for as a fan.

I didn't count Bosh's jumpers today but to me the most aggressive move he made was when he was inserted back into the lineup in the fourth quarter, too little too late. I'm sympathetic to CB4 because of all he's being asked to do but he is our franchise player and when he's aggressive, so is the rest of the team - it's natural.

[CreaM]

I agree with a lot of what you're saying, and most of it is common sense but despite all that it doesn't absolve CB4 from taking jumpers. I agree that you have to mix 'n match and take what the defense gives you but at some point you have to realize that the defense is only giving you jumpers and that you need to post-up players like Maxiell, McDyess and used your quickness in the post to create a shot rather than settle.

I think a distinction needs to be made when people say "Bosh should drive more". I don't think he should drive more as much as I think he should post-up more. Driving can be taken away by the defense by giving you space but taking away somebody's post-up game is much harder and that's what I'm looking for as a fan.

I didn't count Bosh's jumpers today but to me the most aggressive move he made was when he was inserted back into the lineup in the fourth quarter, too little too late. I'm sympathetic to CB4 because of all he's being asked to do but he is our franchise player and when he's aggressive, so is the rest of the team - it's natural.

That's the thing. If people say Chris should post up more, that would be totally different. Thing is that, some just expect him to drive every single time he gets the ball and that is never going to happen. Other teams are not stupid nor will they allow it. I watched CB very closely today and trust me, he drove when he should and shot it when he should. The reason that you saw improvement in the fourth Q was because Maxeill was playing him tight. Granted, Maxeill is not the defender that Mcdyess or sheed is so Bosh could take advantage of this. I saw him post up quite a few times today and he has been doing a lot of that this season.

[J Dilla]

Driving to the hoop is easier said than done, specially for a big man because a big man doesnt have the handles to shake his man off the dribble.

On NBA 2K8 its possible to take it to the hoop with Chris Bosh every position.

[VCShox66]

what bosh is missing from his arsenal???
jump hook!!...he used it sparingly in the past, but haven't seen it much this year, it would help him from getting hacked when he drives, mix it up a bit more.
the problem is that he can't really get deep position in the post which is about 6ft away. he can get to 10ft away but its hard to back someone down if the defender is bigger or have more girth.

[rdtx2005]

On NBA 2K8 its possible to take it to the hoop with Chris Bosh every position.

i think 'some' Raptor fans on this board play too much NBA2kwhatever and think they know everything about 'real' basketball and try to applying this videogame logic to real life

[asif9t9]

I understand what the OP is saying. But you're also missing the point. There's a reason players are supposed to get down low and keep their arms/hands active. It's because you're in a better defensive position when you do so. Same with running without the ball on offense, and making hard cuts, even if you know the ball isn't coming to you (like a wide receiver in football).

These are the things you are supposed to do. The better players choose the right times to do it. They do it often enough that it seems like they're always making the right play. See Steve Nash as an example.

So fine, CB can't drive all the time. But he needs to post up. And when he does post up, he's at his all-star best when he drives immediately. And if the double comes, he needs to act like he was expecting it.

And btw, before you rip clueless fans, keep in mind it's guys like Chuck who keep telling the fans, "Leo, I'd give the ball back to Bosh. Leo, I'd give the ball back to Bosh." Makes the average guy think the right play is to keep giving Bosh the ball.

[3inakey]

Bosh is not a natural Post up player. He's continuing to add post-up moves to his arsenal and he's improving, but he's not natural enough using post-up moves yet to be doing it with the regularity we'd like to be seeing. Ideally, as he and his game matures, we'll see a mix of face-up drives, jumpshots and post-ups to take advantage of the opposing defense...we hope.

[asif9t9]

Sorry to bump this post again. But last night was a good example of how Chuck "teaches" the fans. Josh Smith was on fire in the first half and Chuck tells Jack he "just can't understand why teams don't keep going to the hot player over and over."

"I'm mean, Jack, I just don't get it!"

When Chuck says stuff like that, it makes the average fan think it's feasible to keep going to the same player over and over.

[Schad]

what bosh is missing from his arsenal???
jump hook!!...he used it sparingly in the past, but haven't seen it much this year, it would help him from getting hacked when he drives, mix it up a bit more.
the problem is that he can't really get deep position in the post which is about 6ft away. he can get to 10ft away but its hard to back someone down if the defender is bigger or have more girth.

Agreed, although he has been using the baby hook with more frequency during the last two weeks...he had two great ones last night, where he carved out deep position and put it up immediately, unchallenged. It's not really his forte, but a nice wrinkle to throw in now and again; it keeps his defender off balance, which makes his little spin move all the more effective.

[kmatrixg]

Im tired of seeing video game references. Its a joke.

[El Presidente]

Sorry to bump this post again. But last night was a good example of how Chuck "teaches" the fans. Josh Smith was on fire in the first half and Chuck tells Jack he "just can't understand why teams don't keep going to the hot player over and over."

"I'm mean, Jack, I just don't get it!"

When Chuck says stuff like that, it makes the average fan think it's feasible to keep going to the same player over and over.

Somewhat unrelated but I like how Jack pointed out that you always have to pass-fake when Josh Smith is around because he reaches for everything. Excellent point.