This is only his third season. If Bargnani’s designated position is centre, he’ll need more time to show his potential. Centres take longer to develop, dontchaknow.
So I still think the best is yet to come. On the other hand …
Is centre his best position? Yes, he can stretch the defence with his range and out-quick the opposing big here, but is he wired to play centre? For that matter, is he wired to play multiple positions? Would he be better suited to playing power forward? And if that’s where he’s best, how will he get the minutes?
To me, Bargnani can be a good NBA player, but is Toronto where he’ll reach his potential? Is it best for him to play apprentice to O’Neal and Chris Bosh, and then move him back to the starting lineup once O’Neal’s contract expires? Or is it time to give up and say, “The Raptors is not the team for him?”
2005-06 — the Raptors are on their way to finishing a craptacular 27-55 season. That summer, Bryan Colangelo brings in nine new faces, including TJ Ford, Anthony Parker, Rashoooo, and Garbajosa. Expectations are low.
2006-07 — the Raptors have a HUGE, HUGE turnaround, matching the franchise-best mark of 47-35 and getting back to the playoffs for the first time since 2002 (which was during the Lenny Wilkens era. Lenny. Wilkens.); hopes are high. And Garbajosa breaks his leg in a really gross way; off to surgery and rehab and … the Olympics qualifier???
2007-08 — Garbo plays seven games during which he pretends to be healthy. He gets bought out, the Raptors fall apart. The Raps limp to a disappointing 41-41 finish and are booted out in the first round of the playoffs again.
2008-09 — BC tries to patch up this roster by swapping malcontent TJ for former all-star big Jermaine O’Neal. The team stumbles out of the gate; fans and media talk about the future and rock bottom.
What was the turning point from winning club to losing? Yes, Garbo. Though out of position, he covered the now-weak 3 spot. He came up with key plays time and again. He gave the Raptors defensive smarts. And worst of all, he helped a mediocre squad overachieve and its fans overexpect. Yeah, that’s right. I said “overexpect.”
How did all this happen? You could blame Garbo for playing injured for those seven games. You could blame him for playing in the Olympics qualifier in Spain. I, however, blame him for having Alvinwilliamsitis. That’s a disorder in which a player works unnecessarily hard and while seriously injured.
Archibald has a special place in my heart because he’s Scottish (like my wife), “the only Scot to make it in the NBA.” Nice to see him finding success in basketball, showing some veteran wiliness against Sofoklis “Baby Shaq” Schortsianitis and other Euroleague stars.
Well, [Jose] never has had a spectacular sideways [lateral] movement for the physical conditions you have, that is true. Not a great defender, but neither is bad bad.
What I do not know is whether the improvement is through a different attitude, if not over whether, or if you happen to teach him to defend otherwise.
How good will they have outside entrances [???] also gives more vidilla [a little more life to?] the blog.
Between losing Mike D’Antoni as coach and Bell leaving, could this affect his long-term future in Phoenix. Nash’s contract expires after the 2009-10 season.
“I knew you were going to go there,” Nash said. “I don’t know. Like I said before about the 2010 speculation, it’s so far away. I just want to try to win as many games as I can and then I’ll worry about it after.”
Toronto Raptors general manager Bryan Colangelo told The FAN590 on Monday that even before the dismissal of Sam Mitchell he was active in discussions with other teams regarding the Raptors current roster. It looks like December 15 is the date to mark on your calendar as Colangelo said that he has been trying to “wiggle free” from the cap restrictions the team is currently up against and that is the date where players who were signed in the summer can be traded.
In short, everybody comes into play on that date.
Who else comes to play on that date? Vince Carter and the New Jersey Nets. Hopefully this time, no post-dunk mugging.
UPDATE: Here’s that mugging I was referring to. Note the face and body language – I don’t think Vince knows entirely how to handle the spotlight, especially when he’s “the bad guy.”
Get a chance to see Mo Pete. He might not see you, though. (NBA.com)
Bohire is giving away Raptors tickets again. The latest release sez:
Bohire is now on Facebook. Download now and become a fan of the Bohire application by Thursday December 11, 1:00PM EST to have a chance to win great Raptors tickets. We will conduct a random draw from our list of fans on Dec. 11, 1:30PM EST.
The Prize: An amazing pair of Toronto Raptors Tickets (face value $354.00) vs. New Orleans Hornets on Sunday Dec. 14, at 12:30PM. The Bohire seats are 5 rows from the floor, Section 102, Row E.
Nice. A chance to see Chris Paul and good ol’ Mo Pete.
Here’s your chance to watch D-How grab another handful of Hump. (Getty)
I won’t blame Bargnani for being off-balanced. (REUTERS/Danny Moloshok)
(Quote and player combo from Tim Grover’s Jump Attack, page 117) 
Good news: Jose doesn’t have to guard Carlos Arroyo anymore. Bad news: He has to guard all the other PGs in the NBA. (Warren Toda, EFE)
Get a chance to see Mo Pete. He might not see you, though. (NBA.com)
