Hornets.com’s 1-on-1: Toronto’s Chris Bosh, Chuck Swirsky
November 28, 2006
Hornets.com caught up with Toronto forward Chris Bosh and broadcaster Chuck Swirsky on Tuesday at the Ford Center. In 2005-06, Bosh was selected as an NBA All-Star for the first time in his career. The fourth-year pro also was a teammate of Chris Paul’s on the USA Basketball team this summer. Swirsky is in his ninth season as the Raptors’ television play-by-play announcer and writes an informative column about Canada’s NBA team on Raptors.com.
Toronto forward Chris Bosh
Q: New Raptors general manager Bryan Colangelo made a multitude of offseason moves to upgrade the roster of this team. Even though the Raptors are 4-9 so far, do you believe this team is deeper and more talented than it was during the first three seasons of your career?
A: We’re a little bit more talented than before. Last year we weren’t as deep as we are now. Our bench comes in and gives us a lot of effort and results in the second and third quarters. They can really hold it down for us, so we don’t have to play as many minutes as last year.
Q: With so many new players, do you look at this team as one that will improve as the season progresses and play its best basketball in the second half?
A: Yeah. We know it’s going to take time. We knew we weren’t going to come out of the gates blazing, especially with so many new guys here. We’re just trying to get better as the year goes on, and hopefully we’ll peak as the season goes along. And then really make a push for a playoff spot.
Q: Some NBA players have been skeptical about playing in Toronto, perhaps partly because it’s in Canada. What are some of the things you like about Toronto, or things you would tell free agents to sell them on the city?
A: I wouldn’t tell them anything. I’d bring them there and have them spend a couple days in Toronto with me. If they don’t like it, fine. If they do, come on (and sign with the Raptors). I look at it like (people who are wary of Toronto) aren’t going to like what they don’t know.
Q: As someone who played one season in college basketball, what is your opinion of the new minimum-age rule the NBA has instituted that will require guys to stay a year in school?
A: There are different ways to view it. You have a lot of different opportunities at the age of 18. If you’re talented enough and can play good enough basketball, you should go to the league. If you’re a good basketball player, it shouldn’t hurt you (to not go to college).
Q: What was your impression of Chris Paul, another Atlantic Coast Conference product, after playing with him on USA Basketball this summer?
A: He’s a good basketball player. He gets everybody involved and he can handle the ball real well. He gets the job done.
Toronto broadcaster Chuck Swirsky
Q: Raptors general manager Bryan Colangelo made news around the league this summer by overhauling the roster, emphasizing quickness and bringing in several international players. What was your opinion of the moves that were made?
A: I think they were great. Number one, the international players have a tremendous feel for the game. Their basketball instincts and IQ are very high, and they’re very skilled with the ball. They know the difference between when to throw a bounce pass or a chest pass. They don’t rush; they allow the game to come to them.
Q: People sometimes say that the Raptors will have trouble attracting free agents due to their location in Canada. Do you believe Bryan Colangelo is in a situation where he needs to emphasize international players, because it is often theorized that those players are less concerned with the city where they live than some American players?
A: I think in free agency it comes down to money, and I think it comes down to a team having a winning culture. Players want to be paid. But in the case of the Raptors, it’s not so much that the international players are a focus (of Raptors management), as it is that (international players) feel very comfortable in Toronto. There are a lot of different pockets of culture in Toronto, whether it’s Italians, Slovenians, whatever. When you come in, there is already a built-in comfort zone. But I still think it comes down to establishing a winning base. The rest will come.
Q: Most fans would look at the standings, see that the Raptors are 4-9 entering Tuesday and think that this is going to be another long season in Toronto. Based on what you’ve seen so far, are there reasons to believe otherwise?
A: Yes. This is an improved team, and in my opinion it’s a playoff team in the East. And I want to underline EAST [grins]. Because all you have to do is look at the Atlantic Division right now, where no team is above .500. There is no question in my mind that this club is a playoff team and that this club has talent. I believe the core group of players should be good enough to get in the playoffs.
Q: For people who have not seen Andrea Bargnani play yet this season, how is the No. 1 overall draft pick progressing? He seems to be getting more comfortable and has gotten substantially more playing time in the last week.
A: I love him. I think he has an unbelievable upside. He has a huge basketball IQ. His release on his shot and his form are superb. He’s an underrated ballhandler, a very good passer and can put the ball on the floor. Like any big man, he’s going to struggle at times defensively, but I think he’s learning the nuances of how to play defense in the NBA. But I can understand why they picked him No. 1. To watch him now (compared to) even a month ago, it’s like night and day.
Q: What about the Dirk Nowitzki comparisons?
A: I remember Dirk’s rookie year. He struggled and did not average double-figure points coming from Germany. I see a lot of Dirk’s game in Andrea. But I will say this: Just looking at the first year (of the two players’ careers), Andrea has a better skill set than what Nowitzki had when Dirk was a rookie. Now whether or not Andrea becomes the player that Dirk has remains to be seen – I don’t know the answer to that. But I’m telling you, if you turn the clock back and look at Dirk as a rookie, I think Andrea has a better skill set.
Q: The Hornets have been extremely streaky so far, with two four-game winning streaks and two three-game losing streaks. From what you’ve read and seen, what do you expect from the Hornets this season?
A: I think it depends on health, number one. Because you can’t lose David West and Peja Stojakovic. You have no offense without them. It’s going to be a struggle to score. But I really liked the acquisitions that Jeff Bower made. I think he’s a very underrated GM. He’s a guy who’s not on the radar screen, but he’s done a phenomenal job.
But in the West, you can’t go through a (bad) stretch. Teams in the East can go through a stretch of maybe five or seven games and then kind of regroup. In the West, you don’t have that luxury. You can’t afford a long losing streak in the West, because it is so competitive that other teams are going to leapfrog you in the standings.
I like the direction the Hornets are headed, and I love Chris Paul. If someone said other than the players we have on (Toronto’s) roster, what point guard would I take right now, it would be Chris Paul, hands down. Hands down.
Q: This summer, did you think the Hornets were the NBA’s most improved team talent-wise? People also wrote that the Raptors were among the league’s most improved teams.
A: Absolutely. I think if Tyson Chandler can stay within the boundaries of what can make him a very good player in this league – blocking shots, rebounding – then West comes back and is healthy, and you have Chris Paul breaking down defenses, the Hornets are one of the most improved teams. You also have Bobby Jackson, who is a better bench player than he is a starter.
From a Raptors standpoint, the reason I am excited is because of Bryan Colangelo. He is changing the culture of our franchise. When people ask me what was the best free-agent signing Toronto made – Fred Jones? Jorge Garbajosa? – I say, no, no, no. The best free-agent signing was the GM. (Colangelo) is so proactive, and he has so much passion and vision for basketball.
Hornets.com caught up with Toronto forward Chris Bosh and broadcaster Chuck Swirsky on Tuesday at the Ford Center. In 2005-06, Bosh was selected as an NBA All-Star for the first time in his career. The fourth-year pro also was a teammate of Chris Paul’s on the USA Basketball team this summer. Swirsky is in his ninth season as the Raptors’ television play-by-play announcer and writes an informative column about Canada’s NBA team on Raptors.com.
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Q: New Raptors general manager Bryan Colangelo made a multitude of offseason moves to upgrade the roster of this team. Even though the Raptors are 4-9 so far, do you believe this team is deeper and more talented than it was during the first three seasons of your career?
A: We’re a little bit more talented than before. Last year we weren’t as deep as we are now. Our bench comes in and gives us a lot of effort and results in the second and third quarters. They can really hold it down for us, so we don’t have to play as many minutes as last year.
Q: With so many new players, do you look at this team as one that will improve as the season progresses and play its best basketball in the second half?
A: Yeah. We know it’s going to take time. We knew we weren’t going to come out of the gates blazing, especially with so many new guys here. We’re just trying to get better as the year goes on, and hopefully we’ll peak as the season goes along. And then really make a push for a playoff spot.
Q: Some NBA players have been skeptical about playing in Toronto, perhaps partly because it’s in Canada. What are some of the things you like about Toronto, or things you would tell free agents to sell them on the city?
A: I wouldn’t tell them anything. I’d bring them there and have them spend a couple days in Toronto with me. If they don’t like it, fine. If they do, come on (and sign with the Raptors). I look at it like (people who are wary of Toronto) aren’t going to like what they don’t know.
Q: As someone who played one season in college basketball, what is your opinion of the new minimum-age rule the NBA has instituted that will require guys to stay a year in school?
A: There are different ways to view it. You have a lot of different opportunities at the age of 18. If you’re talented enough and can play good enough basketball, you should go to the league. If you’re a good basketball player, it shouldn’t hurt you (to not go to college).
Q: What was your impression of Chris Paul, another Atlantic Coast Conference product, after playing with him on USA Basketball this summer?
A: He’s a good basketball player. He gets everybody involved and he can handle the ball real well. He gets the job done.
|
Q: Raptors general manager Bryan Colangelo made news around the league this summer by overhauling the roster, emphasizing quickness and bringing in several international players. What was your opinion of the moves that were made?
A: I think they were great. Number one, the international players have a tremendous feel for the game. Their basketball instincts and IQ are very high, and they’re very skilled with the ball. They know the difference between when to throw a bounce pass or a chest pass. They don’t rush; they allow the game to come to them.
Q: People sometimes say that the Raptors will have trouble attracting free agents due to their location in Canada. Do you believe Bryan Colangelo is in a situation where he needs to emphasize international players, because it is often theorized that those players are less concerned with the city where they live than some American players?
A: I think in free agency it comes down to money, and I think it comes down to a team having a winning culture. Players want to be paid. But in the case of the Raptors, it’s not so much that the international players are a focus (of Raptors management), as it is that (international players) feel very comfortable in Toronto. There are a lot of different pockets of culture in Toronto, whether it’s Italians, Slovenians, whatever. When you come in, there is already a built-in comfort zone. But I still think it comes down to establishing a winning base. The rest will come.
Q: Most fans would look at the standings, see that the Raptors are 4-9 entering Tuesday and think that this is going to be another long season in Toronto. Based on what you’ve seen so far, are there reasons to believe otherwise?
A: Yes. This is an improved team, and in my opinion it’s a playoff team in the East. And I want to underline EAST [grins]. Because all you have to do is look at the Atlantic Division right now, where no team is above .500. There is no question in my mind that this club is a playoff team and that this club has talent. I believe the core group of players should be good enough to get in the playoffs.
Q: For people who have not seen Andrea Bargnani play yet this season, how is the No. 1 overall draft pick progressing? He seems to be getting more comfortable and has gotten substantially more playing time in the last week.
A: I love him. I think he has an unbelievable upside. He has a huge basketball IQ. His release on his shot and his form are superb. He’s an underrated ballhandler, a very good passer and can put the ball on the floor. Like any big man, he’s going to struggle at times defensively, but I think he’s learning the nuances of how to play defense in the NBA. But I can understand why they picked him No. 1. To watch him now (compared to) even a month ago, it’s like night and day.
Q: What about the Dirk Nowitzki comparisons?
A: I remember Dirk’s rookie year. He struggled and did not average double-figure points coming from Germany. I see a lot of Dirk’s game in Andrea. But I will say this: Just looking at the first year (of the two players’ careers), Andrea has a better skill set than what Nowitzki had when Dirk was a rookie. Now whether or not Andrea becomes the player that Dirk has remains to be seen – I don’t know the answer to that. But I’m telling you, if you turn the clock back and look at Dirk as a rookie, I think Andrea has a better skill set.
Q: The Hornets have been extremely streaky so far, with two four-game winning streaks and two three-game losing streaks. From what you’ve read and seen, what do you expect from the Hornets this season?
A: I think it depends on health, number one. Because you can’t lose David West and Peja Stojakovic. You have no offense without them. It’s going to be a struggle to score. But I really liked the acquisitions that Jeff Bower made. I think he’s a very underrated GM. He’s a guy who’s not on the radar screen, but he’s done a phenomenal job.
But in the West, you can’t go through a (bad) stretch. Teams in the East can go through a stretch of maybe five or seven games and then kind of regroup. In the West, you don’t have that luxury. You can’t afford a long losing streak in the West, because it is so competitive that other teams are going to leapfrog you in the standings.
I like the direction the Hornets are headed, and I love Chris Paul. If someone said other than the players we have on (Toronto’s) roster, what point guard would I take right now, it would be Chris Paul, hands down. Hands down.
Q: This summer, did you think the Hornets were the NBA’s most improved team talent-wise? People also wrote that the Raptors were among the league’s most improved teams.
A: Absolutely. I think if Tyson Chandler can stay within the boundaries of what can make him a very good player in this league – blocking shots, rebounding – then West comes back and is healthy, and you have Chris Paul breaking down defenses, the Hornets are one of the most improved teams. You also have Bobby Jackson, who is a better bench player than he is a starter.
From a Raptors standpoint, the reason I am excited is because of Bryan Colangelo. He is changing the culture of our franchise. When people ask me what was the best free-agent signing Toronto made – Fred Jones? Jorge Garbajosa? – I say, no, no, no. The best free-agent signing was the GM. (Colangelo) is so proactive, and he has so much passion and vision for basketball.
