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Toronto Raptors: Creating the team’s all-time roster

By Mike Bossetti

Tracy McGrady (L) consoles Vince Carter after Carter fouled out against the Charlotte Hornets April 27, 1999. Kevin Willis (r) looks on dejectedly. (BERNARD WEIL/TORONTO STAR) (Photo by Bernard Weil/Toronto Star via Getty Images)
Tracy McGrady (L) consoles Vince Carter after Carter fouled out against the Charlotte Hornets April 27, 1999. Kevin Willis (r) looks on dejectedly. (BERNARD WEIL/TORONTO STAR) (Photo by Bernard Weil/Toronto Star via Getty Images) /
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Toronto Raptors – Chris Bosh (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Chris Bosh (2006-2007): Starting Power Forward/ Backup Center

Arguably the best individual season by a Raptor in franchise history, Chris Bosh CARRIED the 2006-2007 Toronto Raptors. Toronto finished 47-35 with the following players ranking 2-5 in minutes played: Anthony Parker, T.J. Ford, Jorge Garbajosa, and Rasho Nesterovic.

Garbajosa and Nesterovic started almost the entire season on a team that earned the three seed. (No offense, I am sure they are very fine people).

In 06-07, Bosh averaged 22.6 points, 10.7 rebounds, and 2.5 assists. He was voted as a forward to the 2nd team All-NBA team, ahead of Kevin Garnett and alongside LeBron James.

For our team, it’s tempting to start Bosh as the center of a modern pace-and-space lineup. Unfortunately, the talent gap between Jonas Valanciunas (spoiler) and the potential starting power forwards is too large. For that reason, Bosh slides in as the team’s dominant power forward.

This version of Bosh has enough mid-range shooting to keep the lane open enough, and we can always stick JV out there at times. During his 06-07 season, Bosh did attempt 35 threes and made near league average, so he is a minuscule threat out there.

Bosh is also a gifted enough athlete that guarding opposing “stretch fours” wouldn’t be too difficult of a task. Them handling him in the post is another story.