O'Neil Is Not In CB4's League

When you think back about four years ago there was a huge debate on who was better Jermaine O'Neal or Chris Bosh. Time to declare a winner it is clear that Bosh a three time all-star since has won the debate. O'Neal has been injured plagued and constantly the subject of trade rumors. He has been a huge disappointment. This season he has been sidelined with knee injury and you have to wonder if he can ever be the same player that was a legit comparison to Bosh.

Danny Granger is now making a case that he is the franchise player of the future and with O'Neal out you could say of the present as well. Much like Rudy Gay in Memphis seems Granger has a bright future. The Gasol trade would not have been made if they did not believe in Rudy Gay. If O'Neal was healthy he would be out the door in Indiana as well. But he remains and sits in a suit more nights than he puts on the jersey.

Raptor fans may recall that Danny Granger was rumored to be a pick the Raptors might make. But Rob Babcock picked Joey Graham, some will say yet another Babcock mistake. I am not one to help out Rob Babcock but the truth was he was not alone in doubting Granger. Many NBA teams were concerned about Granger's health long term. But I think as clear as the debate between O'Neal and Bosh, same can be said for a Graham vs Granger debate. I think Joey Graham has clearly established that he is inconsistent at best. Granger is having a breakout season on the Pacers.

Raptor fans will get to see that up close and personal over the next three games. Tonight in Indiana and later in the week back in the ACC. Unbelievable as it may seem Indiana still has a shot to get in the playoffs in the east. Raptors are more concerned about seating in the east and that is why they can not afford another letdown like they had in New York on Friday. The Pacers are without point guard Jamal Tinsley as well. So Raptors will have an even bigger advantage at the point guard position than they normally would. T.J Ford is starting to show the confidence and play he showed before his crash landing in Atlanta. Jose Caldron meanwhile remains the starter and deserves that right. Caldron has been unreal. I had a friend I met through the Internet who lives in Spain he told me when Caldron was signed in Toronto he was like Europe's answer to Steve Nash. After season one I thought he was crazy. But now in season three it seems my Internetguards friend in Spain was not crazy after all. Caldron is an amazing talent and to both Raptor point guards credit they have taken a situation that could be a controversy and turned it into the team's greatest strength. Both have handle the situation with class and respect.

So to all those people that said Jermaine O'Neal was the real deal. I think the real deal wears #4 in Toronto and he leads his team to the playoffs while O'Neal leads the list on the injured reserve. Bosh is taking his game to a new level. Sam Mitchell said in a recent press scrum he doesn't know what the next level is beyond NBA ALL STAR. Well I think it is called NBA ELITE PLAYER and Bosh is clearly building his case to be part of that exclusive club.