Chris Bosh and the Softest Stars in the NBA

You've heard it before and you'll hear it again: The NBA just isn't what it used to be.

The role of interior defender has become nearly null and void due to the fact that the rules favor any ball-handler who attacks the basket. The mid-range game has become a lost art due to those very rules, as players can now finish around the basket without even splitting the defense. Once the ball-handler receives contact, however, it's arms flailing and screams ringing should the call not go his way.

Basketball has become one of the softest sports around, and here are the league's worst perpetrators.

10. Danilo Gallinari, Denver Nuggets

First you flop. Then you claim the other team is receiving calls they don't deserve. And then you prove why everyone is so frustrated with your status as a pending "star."

If you're hurt, don't blame the foul. Blame the fact that you're playing more like an Italian soccer player than a basketball star.

9. LeBron James, Miami Heat

Is it possible to be the one of the most powerful and softest players in the NBA simultaneously? Thanks to LeBron James, we can finally say yes.

This is not to suggest that LeBron James can't hold his own physically because he can. The fact of the matter is, you'd be hard-pressed to find a player who has suffered from such severe mental lapses as LeBron James. Nor is it easy to find a player who spends as much time complaining about non-calls, specifically when they shouldn't have been fouls to begin with.

Maybe upon shining in an NBA finals appearance or two, LeBron James' name will be removed from this list.

8. Derrick Rose, Chicago Bulls

There's a reason Tony Parker has mastered the tear drop. There's also a reason Isiah Thomas was so deadly from 10-to-15 feet. They knew that hitting the lane meant hitting the floor. Hard.

Derrick Rose, however, seems to be unaware of that fate. He also seems to be unaware of how frustrating it can be for a team to watch you finish in the paint on a play-to-play basis. What he's most oblivious about, however, is how unlikely it is that these fouls will end.

Even if he is publicly sick of the contact.

It's hard not to love Derrick Rose's style of play, but it's time to acknowledge facts: attacking the basket will lead to retaliation. Time to become a mid-range maestro, eh Isiah?.

7. Carlos Boozer, Chicago Bulls

Carlos Boozer has long been one of the best pick-and-roll big men in the NBA. Unfortunately, he's also been one of the weakest interior defenders in the league.

Quite the strange coincidence considering Boozer's top-tier upper-body strength.

Boozer struggles to defend opponents in the post, is constantly outmatched in rebounding battles and never seems to be in control once he gets into the paint. Furthermore, Boozer is one of the many who jumps to claims of "foul" when any given play doesn't go his way.

Either that or he crashes to the floor like a bag full of bricks.

For those who don't believe Carlos Boozer is a superstar, I won't argue. It's just hard to find relevance in any claim when the indisputable evidence is presented: Boozer's $75.0 million contract.

6. Blake Griffin, Los Angeles Clippers

I won't join the biased masses who labeled Blake Griffin as soft for falling to the floor in pain after his tooth went through his mouth because just about anyone would succumb to the pain. What I will say, however, is that any player who consistently attacks the basket for highlight reel finishes and then complains about fouls they receive doesn't seem to understand the concept of interior defense. It's never pretty, and it's hardly ever clean.

DeMarcus Cousins was spot on with his evaluation of the Lob City superstar, claiming that Griffin fit the Tinseltown scene perfectly due to his on-court acting. This is a major reason, combined with Griffin's highlight reel dunks, for the hard fouls he inevitably receives.

While the fouls cannot be rationalized, Griffin's actions would have led to this type of reaction in this era. Even Blake Griffin is angry at himself for this.

5. Andrea Bargnani, Toronto Raptors

While some may see Andrea Bargnani as less than a superstar, it's important to note that he is a former first overall draft choice. He's also a 20-plus-point-per-game scorer who ranked second among all centers in scoring in 2011.

With that being said, Bargnani is as soft as they come.

Between his horrid rebounding numbers and apparent fear of contact, Andrea Bargnani has been a difficult player to watch since entering the league in 2006. He shoots as well as most guards, scores in ways that most centers could only dream of and stands at 7'0" tall.

Somehow, all of that shows his inability to play any resemblance of a physical breed of basketball.

4. Manu Ginobili, San Antonio Spurs

I'm a huge Manu Ginobili fan, but let's be real. Have you ever seen a guy flop as much as the 2008 Sixth Man of the Year?

From his framing of Amar'e Stoudemire to the battle of two of the game's flop masters, Ginobili has always been at the heart of the flop phenomenon. Due to this fact, even the greatest of performances cannot change one simple fact: Ginobili is soft.

And no, that's not just "finesse."

3. Brook Lopez, Brooklyn Nets

Whether it's his nonexistent will to bang in the paint or shockingly low rebounding numbers, there is a surplus of reasons for a claim of Lopez's softness. What's most significant of all, however, is Lopez's consistent loss of focus when attacking the basket.

Lopez often appears rattled when an opponent closes in for a defensive stop, a likely result of his fear of contact. It's also a likely reason for his well-developed mid-range shooting. Interior offense is always more efficient than reliability on jump shooting.

Unfortunately, Lopez's response to a poor shooting night has been throwing up further attempts. Time to bulk up and attack the hoop.

2. Chris Bosh, Miami Heat

It's hard to put your finger on one definitive quality of Chris Bosh's game that qualifies him as "soft."

First, you could acknowledge the mental aspect of the game, where Bosh is constantly hindered due to his big-game struggles. For every clutch NBA finals shot, you'll find the former Toronto Magician in a disappearing act. He just doesn't handle the spotlight well.

Then, you could tack on the fact that he's often nonexistent as an interior defender. He's been bullied by the likes of Kevin Garnett and just about every other elite scorer, calling into question his lack of motivation to add more upper- and lower-body strength.

With all of this being noted, Bosh is one heck of a player. His mid-range game is deadly, and he is more than capable of dominating an opponent when on his game. Just don't send him into the paint if you expect positive results.

1. Pau Gasol, Los Angeles Lakers

In 2011, Pau Gasol disappeared under the bright lights and left Kobe Bryant hanging in the balance. While Gasol dominated opponents throughout the regular season, posting averages of 18.8 points and 10.2 rebounds per contest, the Spanish superstar saw a major decline come the playoffs.

Averages of 13.1 and 7.8 seem too bad to be true, but they're real. Gasol was just that bad in the postseason.

Considered by many to be a fluke, Gasol had high hopes entering the 2012 season. The 11-year veteran responded to the critics with exceptional play throughout the regular season, despite missing the All-Star Game for the first time since 2008.

Those who chose not to vote for Gasol found evidence for the omission when Gasol proved to, once again, be a non-factor in the postseason, posting averages of 12.5 points and 9.5 rebounds.

We could attempt to tally the number of times Gasol has flopped, cried over non-calls or set the weakest screens you've ever seen. Instead, we'll keep it to the production.

You know, to keep feelings from being hurt.