Is Chris Bosh A Leader on Team USA?
Chris Bosh (photo. Chris Gordaneer)It’s obvious to anyone who’s tuned in to watch Team USA this summer that they look to LeBron James to set the tone with his play and with his voice. But after Chris Bosh stepped up against the Greeks to boost his average over the course of the three official contests to 11.6 points and 5 boards per, has he established himself as one of Team USA’s leaders?
That’s what his hometown Toronto Star is saying in an article published this morning, “Bosh Emerging as a U.S. Leader.”
Bosh has far eclipsed Carlos Boozer as the backup centre on a smallish American team and with Dwight Howard’s propensity to draw fouls, it could mean more time for the 6-foot-11 Bosh.
He’s responded each time, playing with an intensity and passion that was missing his first time around with the American team.
“We’re going to have to play passionate basketball and when we do that, that gets everybody into it and we can keep the intensity level up for the whole 40 minutes,” said Bosh.
Do you think Chris Bosh is a leader on Team USA?
Source: Toronto Star
August 15th, 2008 at 11:17 am
SayItAintSo says:
Bosh is not a product of leadership, he is a product of the element of surprise.
August 15th, 2008 at 11:20 am
Blue says:
plain and simple…no! bosh isn’t a standout player. he can’t really impose his will on the game, and get the players around him more amped up. the leaders on the team are kobe, lebron and wade. and maybe j-kidd, but more in a granddaddy sort of way. bosh had a good game, but it doesn’t make him a leader on the team.
August 15th, 2008 at 11:24 am
asmaticasiatic says:
I would consider Bosh a leader, but he has been playing with alot of fire and playing better than I thought he would, especially last game. Hopefully he can keep it going in the later rounds
August 15th, 2008 at 11:26 am
Big V says:
No.
August 15th, 2008 at 11:34 am
Ashlov says:
Leadership sometimes is earned as a result of one’s actions. So far, he’s taken strides that have put him in a position to possibly take leadership.
I like Bosh a whole lot, and if he keeps it up, I certainly believe that he can take a role in leadership, and carry it on to the 2012 Olympics, where he’ll be a valuable veteran presence.
August 15th, 2008 at 11:34 am
Phil T. Rich says:
I’m a Bosh fan but he isn’t a leader. Not on this team anyway. He is definitely contributing and may be playing better than Dwight Howard right now though…
August 15th, 2008 at 11:43 am
Prof. TX says:
He seems like more of a strong role player rather than someone whose play elevates the performance of his teammates. If Jordan and Pippen are the leaders, then he’s more like the Horace Grant of the team: effective but not inspiring.
August 15th, 2008 at 11:52 am
Eric says:
Bosh was absolutely a spark in the Greece game. He’s vocal on the court (as shown on Road to Redemption), versatile enough to go inside and out (while being the 2nd best free-throw shooter on the team). However, I do not think he is a leader of the team.
I still think LeBron is the offensve “leader” of the team while Kobe is the defensive “leader”. Each set the tone for their respective side of the ball.
August 15th, 2008 at 11:52 am
alex says:
i think he might be considered a leader – not a vocal one at least, but his play sets the tone for the team as well. He plays hard, smart, doesn’t complain and gets the job done. Dwight has a long way to go maturity wise. You can see him getting frustrated with contacts and rough play, and as a result, he’s called for a lot of fouls. He plays ball 90% physical and 10% mental – just like shaq before he realized it didn’t work.
August 15th, 2008 at 11:57 am
Daily boy says:
Wouldn’t call him a leader but he has stepped his role up on Team USA.
August 15th, 2008 at 12:18 pm
cuzzy says:
I would put him in a class of “leads by example”. Kind of like a Joe Dumars in his day. He works his but off but will never be the man, at least not on the US team.
August 15th, 2008 at 12:28 pm
David Brandon says:
he’s still a role player to me given the type of personalities on this team, but he’s doing what he’s supposed to do. thats why you have certain guys on certain teams. a lot of it is talent, yes, but its just as much personality. this was already talked about few weeks ago…
August 15th, 2008 at 12:31 pm
K Dizzle says:
The T-Dot Star is just feelin they oats, but they know CB4 ain’t really a leader on this squad.Not with Kobe, Kidd, Wade, and Bron. They just tryin to show love cuz when heads talk about that sick draft class from ‘03, they always talk Bron, Melo, Wade, but CB don’t always get the love. He’s a major piece and the best big on the team, offensively and defensively and has a chance to be this Olympic team’s ‘92 Barkley who tore it up in the summer then came back to his NBA team and went to a whole new level as a leader and baller. Dude is only 24 and can use this Olympics to propel himself to the top of the power forward class
August 15th, 2008 at 12:52 pm
S-SiN says:
he can definetly step it up at any given moment and CB4 surely deserves to be out there with Kobe, Bron and them. there was a pole here the other day about who would have helped Team USA the most, here’s what i think could have been done to make this squad truly unbeatable and very close to the Dream Team of 1992 – KG for Booz and P Double for Kidd. there, now talk all u want about on-court leadership, busting a zone, defence, ball handling etc.
August 15th, 2008 at 1:43 pm
JC says:
It really depends on how one defines leadership. In hoops, you can lead by being the alpha male, like Kobe, LeBron, D-Wade. This is arguably the best player on the court, and is demonstrative physically and vocally. You can also lead by simply being one or the other. Coaches and savvy vets like Sam Cassell are more vocal leaders, and Chris Bosh is quickly becoming a physical leader on Team USA. My goodness, how many and-1s did he convert against Greece? Seemed like every bucket he got! He plays extra hard on both ends of the floor, and cherishes every moment he’s on the court, be it 10 minutes or 25. He leads by playing hard, playing well, and not running his mouth. Much respect-
August 15th, 2008 at 1:59 pm
doc says:
On the Raptors he should be a leader,but he not on this team.He’s a energy player that happens to be a All Star on his real team.He’s a souped up Carl Laundry or Paul Milsap on this team.A key player yes,leader no.
August 15th, 2008 at 2:06 pm
Dave says:
I consider Bosh a good leader for the Raptors but for the US team I see him more as a role player.
Too many charismatic personalities on that team, and some incredible talents.
I doubt he’s up near the fore-front of the leadership situation on the team.
August 15th, 2008 at 2:22 pm
magnifico says:
Whatever leadership is, Bosh is producing the results!
August 15th, 2008 at 2:30 pm
speedcat says:
lebron is the leader of the team, with maybe paul or kidd behind him. bosh can set the tone, but the one who really runs the show is lebron
August 15th, 2008 at 2:34 pm
BALLZ says:
Was Tito the leader of the Jackson 5? Just cuz a brotha gets a solo sometimes don’t make him the leader.
August 15th, 2008 at 2:51 pm
GEE...I will break you. says:
Aight Ballz I see where you going with Tito (that was funny) so I will say:
Was Dwayne the leader of the What’s Happenin show?
Was Dalvin the leader of Jodeci?
Was Barney the leader of The Andy Griffith Show?
Was Ronnie ever the leader of New Edition?
Was Memphis Bleek ever the leader of the R.O.C?
Was Wordsworth ever the leader of Heathcliff’s gang?
Was Mushmouth ever the leader of Fat Albert?
and I can go on, but basically I got to get back to work
But y’all get the point. Chris Bosh….No.
August 15th, 2008 at 3:09 pm
Taj says:
Leaders can be defined as an individual or a group of individuals! I would say that he IS emerging as ONE OF the leaders because of his consistent play, as with the other Leaders (Wade, James, Bryant, Kidd) He’s stepped up alot more than Melo has and he was supposed to be one the core guys. Bosh was also slated to be the 10th guy off the bench but, he’s making the most of his PT and unexpectedly moving up on the depth chart! Booz shold take notes from the pine while he’s not picking the slpinters out his azzz!
August 15th, 2008 at 3:33 pm
Safetydan says:
LOL boozer is a scrub on team usa
August 15th, 2008 at 3:38 pm
BALLZ says:
Gee you got deep on me with Barney and Andy Griffith, but then I laughed my ass off with Mushmouth and Fat Albert. I was gonna respond but decided I couldn’t top that.
August 16th, 2008 at 1:43 am
MUH DIK says:
bosh be da dopest yo.