Hunger Pains

Good point Howland. In an ideal world you would want to give a max contract to a player who has both, talent and that hunger. I'll say no more, you can see where I am going....

It's probably why Jorge Garbajosa and Mo Pete were so valuable to that run a couple years ago. Both had that hunger and we've been trying to replace it. I'm sure Bosh has a bit of it, but it's not to the same obsessive degree. I think that's why a lot of us fans may be on the ball when looking at Pops Mensah Bonsu, who at least shows that hunger on individual plays. As I look more and more at Delfino's numbers (which I'll cover a lot more on Friday) I'm not really liking choosing Delfino over Pops.

are Delfino and Pops interchangeable? if not I am not sure you would go for one over the other on hunger alone
R

I'm not convinced that Pops hunger doesn't have a lot to do with his desire for more money. Give him 5 mil and some of that energy might disappear. Delfino is a more skilled player and frankly has a lot to prove. Bosh has NEVER had it, he's a FP by default. Oakley's stats were deplorable, but he was out there in crunch time and IMO he was the last guy the franchise had that wanted to win at all costs. We keep looking for guys with good stats and wondering why we lose.. If we're going to examine stats, only take the last five minutes of each game. Those are they guys I want on my squad - when it counts!!

Renato - No, they aren't. But if we're looking at money wise, they will be in the same ballpark. I'm just not convinced that having another shooter is what this team wants or needs.

Mycall - I think a lot of people are being very revisionist about Carlos Delfino's game. Yes, he's hungry to be back in the NBA, but he's never proven that he will go after it on a consistent basis. A guy that settles on his outside shot far too often, and takes off on defensive plays far too often, it makes me concerned about how much he would change the makeup of this team's psyche.

I just wanted to say that was a great read. The quality articles and discussion on this site is outstanding.

Gerald Wallace who the Raps could of had fit the bill

Disclaimer: I am not now, nor have I ever been a Chris Bosh apologist.

However, I think your article gives him a raw deal and I will explain why.

I agree on your point that Bosh had a fire in his belly at the beginning of the year after returning from the Olympics. No doubt about it. He was hungry and he believed in the squad Colangelo had put together.

However, as the months passed it became increasingly clear that no matter how hard Bosh tried, he simply could not will the 2009/10 incarnation of the Raptors to victory. He tried. Lord knows he tried. You could see how he was taking the losses personally and how frustrated he was getting towards the middle of the season.

And then one day, all of a sudden, it seemed as if he stopped caring. He was joking around on the court. The losses were rolling off his back like water off a duck. Why?

I would argue it was to preserve his own mental sanity. To take each loss personally will only work when you have the backup of a solid team. Otherwise, you could literally make yourself go nuts. Look at Kobe a few years ago. What were his words about Bynum again? "Ship his a%# out!" were they not? What about KG on the TWolves? Didn't there come a point when even he had to stop living and dying wth every win or loss?

Bosh's fire will return when given the wingmen to have a shot at glory. Put him on a championship level team and he will have more than the requisite amount of desire. Let's hope it happens in Toronto.

Great article...

Two words: Alvin Williams.

The Raptor with greatest hunger of all time in my mind... it probably even cost him a lengthy career, but he laid it on the line every night.

Couldn't agree with ZAlvin Robertson more. When paired with guys that just don't have the skill level or tools necessary to win, no matter who you are, you won't fight as hard. Bosh came out swinging, put the team on his back and did all he could to get a good start. But you're only as strong as your weakest link.
The Raps bench was very weak.

"ZAlvin Robertson for three", you hit the nail on the head regarding Bosh's attitude as the season progressed. I don't think I've heard of a more accurate and realistic explanation for his "decline" in performance and attitude as the season progressed. Your example of KG and Kobe (prob more KG in Minny) is also spot on. I remember the last couple of years that KG was in Minny and will always remember a commentator criticizing him for his lack of fire and passion, and this was KG he was talking about.
When you are surrounded by what Bosh was surrounded by in terms of supporting cast, how could he not become despondent? He's only human.

I agree re: Alvin, he was an intense player who gave this team everything he had, literally.

Howland is right though, if this team expects to win a championship it has to bring in players who have that as their ultimate goal, and wil not be satisfied until it is achieved.

At this point, I'm not even sure if Bosh is worth debating since we all expect him to be moved. However, the player(s) we get for Bosh have to fit within the paradigm set up by Howland. It's funy that Iverson is mentioned because I think he will be the player with the most to prove this upcoming season, after everybody has written him off. He would be a great fit on the Raps, if they moved Bosh and had a better defensive PG; I think the first will happen, but a Calderon/Iverson backcourt would give up more points than they would score.

Either way, I think we all would like to see more players on this team like Alvin and Oak; Oak even managed to get Vince Carter to play with a fire for a few seasons, and I think that's saying something.

Rob

PS-Where is Oak? Wouldn't he be a great addition to the coaching staff as an assistant? Great for a quote too!

IMHO we have one guy that wants to win at all cost and that is Jose. CB4 is hungry but not as tough mentally. I am not sure if Garbo was hungry, more likey really tough and really smart (which is not a bad thing). In an era of 5 million dollar bench players, it is hard to find the angry young men who need to win. Admittedly we need a few, but good luck finding them.

CHRIS PAUL!!!!!!!

Chandler? Really?

He looked useless against the Nuggets... and any player on the team that no-showed at home to a 58 point loss isn't really one with this "hunger" you speak of.

Gordon solidified my opinion that he's a great talent, but he's a volume chucker. I was impressed at first, but then when he failed, or refused, to pass when trapped, I wrote him off as a potential rap.

Crawford is intriguing... he is a chucker too... but of all the players listed, I find him the least objectionable... though I'm still not sold.

I think the hunger you speak of is doing anything you can to win, not doing anything "I" can to win. And unfortunately, Gordon and Crawford put a little more "I" in team than I care to see.

lessthanzero -

Chandler - Being totally discarded while injured. Traded unsuccessfully once. Watch last year's play...think he couldn't be the rebounder we desperately need?

Crawford - Good player. Trying to prove he is more than just an I player. Desperate to makle the playoffs.

Gordon - If you watched the Bulls Celts you saw how good he is.

Rather than diss my ideas do you have any of your own?

yeah this is a total need for the team....CB4 isnt pumped enough...we need more pl like jose to bring tha noize

Howland, I was just surprised... I normally side with just about everything you write.

Chandler was a shell of his former self for sure. We do need rebounding, but I'm weary of his contract and his injury history. But I don't really see him as a leader either... which we could really use... he valuable, but I don't think he's the kind of catalyst that can light a fire under a soft team like the Raptors.

I watched every second of the Bulls Celtics series and walked away thinking, yes, he's got balls. Yes he can score, but did you notice that he shot a worse percentage than he did during the regular season, had fewer assists yet scored more points? We need a leader that fires up every player on the team, not one who can get into a game of one on one because his hunger fuels his ego.

Now Crawford, I agree. He has something to prove. Of all three... even though he has a bit of a selfish streak... I think he's seen the dark side of the NBA and is ready to be a winner. He gets my vote.

As for other players... as for my two cents... some realistic targets... the truth is I can't think of anyone who could be the next Garbo for this team... though Crawford would be a good start.

Great article. Do you have any reason to believe that Colangelo will take toughness and heart into acount when drafting and trading?

I never thought I would say this, but Golden State has some guys who would look real good in Raptors Red and who would bring the crazy that we're missing.

A guy I would actually like to see - and I'll take some heat for this - would be Stephen Jackson.

Is there any chance that Golden State would do a Bosh + Banks for Biedrins, Jackson, Turiaf and Randolf deal? I suppose not eh? Is there a chance that anyone here would do that deal?

The more playoff basketball I watch, the more I see the need for the Raptors to acquire some toughness. Trade, draft, whatever. To win in the playoffs requires mentally and physically tough players. Not a group of guys who stand around after TJ Ford gets decapitated in Atlanta.

Articles like this make me profess my man love for Mike James.

Then you all laugh at me....but for the rare days an article like this comes along let me have my day in the sun.

Oh.....yeah....I think there was that one Damon Stoudemire fellow....he was quickly vanquished from these parts as well.