Not a Bust-gnani
I won’t blame Bargnani for being off-balanced. (REUTERS/Danny Moloshok)Cheers that the Raptors won big last night, 97-75.
Jeers that it was against the similarly woeful LA Clippers.
Cheers that our big man duo combined for 54 points, 16 boards, 7 blocks and 4 steals (Jermaine O’Neal’s demise has been greatly exaggerated).
Jeers that Andrea Bargnani continues his December shooting slump.
And yet, I’m not ready to call Bargnani a bust, as many others are. Consider:
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In the past season and a half, he’s been jerked around from bench to starter, power forward to centre to small forward, perimeter to paint
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Despite obvious struggles, he still has improved from his rookie year — see his free throw percentage, rebounds, blocks and turnovers
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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?”
I dunno. Do you?
December 23rd, 2008 at 6:35 pm
I wouldn’t dare to trade him. He’s got a terrific future on the NBA and I’d better develop him in my team than trading and letting him come back to Toronto with a different team and show everybody I was wrong.
It’s a matter of patience, two years, the first one rookie of the year and sixth man of the year candidate… Can’t you wait and work with him a little bit longer? Come on guys…
As Jeff says it takes more time to develop a big man than a small player, but when you finally make him explode, you have the difference between a good team and a great team. I think Jeff is right, and it would be a good thing to let him grow after J’O leaves the team and then…
Season greetings from Spain!!!
December 23rd, 2008 at 6:40 pm
Thanks for the terrific comment, Raúl. I wish more people here in Toronto were as positive.
December 24th, 2008 at 5:18 pm
Yes I agree. Not a Bustgnani! In his rookie year we saw him at his purest — he’s got the sweet shot, the grit, the passing ability; we saw it, it’s there. So I think his problems right now come down to attitude. He’s not in a good place and he needs to find himself. And everyone giving up on him after three years is not helping. As the Italians say, Whatsamattafo-yooo?!