Chris Bosh (Part 3)

Before the 2007–08 NBA season, the Toronto Raptors had high hopes for their frontcourt, with Andrea Bargnani slated to start at center alongside Chris Bosh at power forward. Additionally, the acquisition of three-point specialist Jason Kapono was expected to bolster the team's offense. However, as the season progressed, this plan faced challenges, and Bosh himself had a slow start to the season.
Despite Bosh's early struggles, his performance improved as the season went on, leading to his selection as the Eastern Conference Player of the Week in the second week of January. He was also named to the Eastern Conference team for the 2008 NBA All-Star Game. Despite Bosh missing 15 games due to injury, the Raptors managed to finish the regular season with a 41–41 record, earning the sixth seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs. However, they were eliminated in the first round by the Orlando Magic, losing the series 4–1.


The first-round matchup against the Magic was highlighted by the showdown between Bosh and Dwight Howard, with Howard dominating the series. Following the series loss, Raptors General Manager Bryan Colangelo acknowledged the need to improve the roster to better support Bosh. Despite Bosh's strong individual performance during the season, he was not named to any All-NBA teams.
In an effort to provide Bosh with a more experienced frontcourt partner, the Raptors made a blockbuster trade prior to the 2008–09 season, acquiring Jermaine O'Neal from the Indiana Pacers. Bosh started the season strongly, earning Eastern Conference Player of the Week honors. However, despite his individual success and the partnership with O'Neal, the Raptors struggled to maintain a winning record.


Head coach Sam Mitchell was replaced by Jay Triano midseason, but injuries and roster deficiencies continued to plague the team. Despite being named an All-Star reserve, Bosh missed the game due to injury. The Raptors made a trade to acquire Shawn Marion and Marcus Banks, but it did not significantly improve their performance.
Bosh had a standout season individually, averaging a career-high 22.7 points per game and becoming one of two players in the league (alongside Dwight Howard) to average a double-double in points and rebounds. However, despite the Raptors' efforts to offer him a contract extension, Bosh declined to sign it, indicating uncertainty about his future with the team.


In preparation for the 2009–10 NBA season, Chris Bosh focused on improving his physical strength, working with trainer Ken Roberson to add 20 pounds to his frame and reach a weight of 250 pounds. Following a disappointing 2008–09 campaign, Raptors General Manager Bryan Colangelo knew he needed to make significant changes to the roster to convince Bosh to remain with the team.
The Raptors began the 2009–10 season with a notable victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers, with Bosh contributing 21 points and 16 rebounds. Bosh started the season strongly, averaging 25.4 points and 11.9 rebounds in the first 16 games, despite the team winning only seven of those games. By January 3, 2010, Bosh surpassed Vince Carter as Toronto's all-time leader in total points scored.


As the season progressed, Bosh continued to perform at a high level, leading the league in double-doubles and being one of only two players averaging at least 20 points and 10 rebounds per game. He recorded a career-high 44 points in a game against the Milwaukee Bucks on January 20, 2010, while also achieving his 220th career double-double. Bosh was named a reserve for the Eastern Conference All-Star team and earned Eastern Conference Player of the Week honors.
However, the Raptors experienced several losing streaks after the All-Star break, exacerbated by an injury to Bosh. As the regular season concluded, the team found themselves in a tight race for the eighth and final playoff spot with the Chicago Bulls. Despite Bosh's continued strong performances, including becoming the Raptors' all-time leader in double-doubles in a season and earning Eastern Conference Player of the Week honors for the seventh time, the team fell short in a crucial game against the Bulls on April 11, 2010, ultimately costing them a playoff berth.


After the conclusion of the 2009–10 NBA season, there was significant speculation surrounding the free agency decisions of star players like LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh for the upcoming 2010–11 season. Bosh actively engaged with fans on social media platforms like Twitter, sharing his thoughts and documenting his meetings with interested teams. Ultimately, on July 10, 2010, Bosh signed with the Miami Heat in a sign-and-trade deal, bidding farewell to the Toronto Raptors, where he had become the franchise's all-time leader in several statistical categories.
Joining forces with LeBron James and Dwyane Wade, Bosh became part of what was considered the NBA's first player-created superteam. Despite a somewhat shaky start to the season with a 9–8 record, the Heat found their rhythm and went on an impressive 21–1 run, competing for the top spot in the Eastern Conference with the Boston Celtics and Chicago Bulls.


Miami concluded the regular season with 58 wins and proceeded to advance through the playoffs. They defeated the Philadelphia 76ers and Boston Celtics in the first two rounds, with Bosh playing a crucial role, particularly in the Conference Finals against the Chicago Bulls, where he averaged 23.2 points per game in a 4–1 series win.
However, in the NBA Finals against the Dallas Mavericks, Bosh struggled initially, shooting below .300 in the first two games. Despite his struggles, he made a significant contribution in Game 3 with a game-winning shot that gave Miami a 2–1 series lead. Unfortunately, Miami lost the next three games, and the Mavericks clinched their first-ever championship. Bosh was visibly emotional as he walked off the court following the defeat.

References

1.  "Raptors Re-Sign Chris Bosh to Contract Extrension". NBA.com. July 14, 2006. Retrieved April 3, 2019.
2. a b "Raptors Re-Sign Chris Bosh To Contract Extension", nba.com/raptors, July 14, 2006, accessed August 3, 2007.
3. ^ Raptors Post Up, nba.com/raptors, January 26, 2007, accessed April 26, 2007.
4. a b "Raptors voted all-star starter" cbc.ca, January 25, 2007, accessed April 27, 2007.
5. ^ Raptors Post Up, nba.com/raptors, January 31, 2007, accessed April 26, 2007.
6. ^ Game Notes, nba.com/raptors, January 31, 2007, accessed March 20, 2007.
7. ^ "Bosh named Eastern Conference Player of the Month", nba.com/raptors, February 2, 2007, accessed March 20, 2007.
8. ^ Smith, Doug, Bosh's career-high 41 sparks 'M-V-P' chant, thestar.com, February 7, 2007, accessed April 27, 2007.
9. ^ Post-Game Notes, nba.com/raptors, accessed March 20, 2007.
10. a b Smith, Doug, "Raptors' small-ball ices Heat", thestar.com, March 29, 2007, accessed April 27, 2007.
11. ^ Raptors Forward Chris Bosh Named Eastern Conference Player Of The Week, nba.com/raptors, April 2, 2007, accessed April 26, 2007.
12. a b Raptors Post Up, nba.com/raptors, April 21, 2007, accessed July 13, 2009.
13. ^ Grange, Michael, "Back to square one as Raptors even the series", The Globe and Mail, April 24, 2007.
14. ^ Raptors Post Up, nba.com/raptors, May 1, 2007, accessed July 13, 2009.