BOSH SPICE
Well, I got it wrong. Could have sworn I read “Nets @ Raptors” on the NBA Playoffs sked yesterday. But, no worries, it actually worked out. Well, for me, at least. I missed the Pistons shellacking the Magic last night, a game I didn’t care for much anyway, and get to check out the Raptors and my man Chris “CB4” Bosh tonight.
Now, first things first, I know that anyone who knows basketball (or reads SLAM) already knows Bosh, the 6’10” forward for the Raptors, but generally speaking, he’s slid under the radar nationally. He was drafted back in ’03, below LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony and one slot ahead of Dwyane Wade — another reason he’s not more well-known — and plays in a city that, until now, was best known for chasing Vince Carter out.
Some other quick facts on him: He grew up idolizing Kevin Garnett (wow, makes you realize how long KG’s been around), was in the National Honor Society in high school, is an active reader of books (and founded the Chris Bosh Foundation to help promote teaching the youth) and donated a cool $1 mill to charity after signing his 4-year, $65 million contract extension with the Raptors last summer. He’s also extremely quiet on the court and doesn’t have a ton of press out there on him.
I’m hoping that changes soon. Watch the Raptors tonight. Don’t think they’ll win but he’s one of the great stories (and the great guys) floating around the league and one that, hopefully, will get out there more next season. Also, check out his blog on NBA.com. It’s about as minimal and cliché as it gets, but hey, everybody can’t be Gilbert.
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Free Throws:
Speaking of Bosh taking Carter’s place in Toronto, check out this old Nike commercial that I’ve been sitting on for a second. Sure some of you have seen it, but this was reportedly shot just before Vince Carter made the leap from Toronto to the New Jersey Nets. It was scrapped as a result and banished to a life of YouTube views. Coincidentally, NJ rapper Joe Budden penned and performed the happy-go-lucky theme for the spot. Go figure.
Raptors coach Sam Mitchell was named the NBA’s Coach of the Year today. Good choice. Jerry Sloan might have deserved this as well, but by the looks of things, the Jazz are about to give T-Mac his first NBA Playoffs series victory. Mitchell transformed this organization from a perennial loser to one of the most exciting young teams in the League. It's also especially interesting because he was named the worst coach in an NBA players' poll last year. Again, go figure.
Is anyone else surprised at how effective Rafer "Skip 2 My Lou" Alston, PG for the Houston Rockets, has been in the NBA? Especially watching him in the playoffs (where he hasn't played particularly well, but has obviously been effective enough to win). The streetball legend definitely continues to surprise me.
Okay, let’s get this right tonight. Nets at Raptors, Heat at Bulls and Lakers at Suns. I got the Nets, Bulls and Suns. Let’s go…
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