RE-POST: Marko Mondays: Andrea Bargnani A Bust?
Monday, February 22, 2010
"..but soon Andrea will bust out of his shell."
You were right, Marko.
Watching Kwame Brown take the reigns at the center spot in LA while Andrew Bynum is down got me thinking: I am absolutely tired of hearing the number 1 pick in ‘06 is a bust. Andrea Bargnani's numbers are down from his rookie season, while many (including myself) expected him to have a breakout campaign. Watching those offensive skills he exhibited for a good stretch of the regular season sent some serious shivers down the spines of fans. Was that a flash for what we were going to see in the future? Are we talking about a Michael Olowokandi or Joe Smith here? Not even close. Bargs has not regressed. His goods are still very evident at the offensive end. So, why hasn't he taken off like people predicted? There are many, many reasons for that. Bargnani is starting at SF for the first time in his NBA Career. He was a small forward for much of his youth (Europe) and has played the last few years as a power forward. It's not fair to compare him to Brandon Roy, the stud taken in the same draft that has been handling the ball for his entire career. Bargnani is playing at a new position in a much different style of game. He hasn't adapted well to the less physical style of the NBA. It takes a lot more for a big to foul a player in Europe and Bargnani has been plagued by committing touch calls while guarding highly athletic fours and fives (the likes of which he's never seen before). I know many fans have been impatient with Bargnani’s growth, but soon Andrea will bust out of his shell.
You were right, Marko.
Watching Kwame Brown take the reigns at the center spot in LA while Andrew Bynum is down got me thinking: I am absolutely tired of hearing the number 1 pick in ‘06 is a bust. Andrea Bargnani's numbers are down from his rookie season, while many (including myself) expected him to have a breakout campaign. Watching those offensive skills he exhibited for a good stretch of the regular season sent some serious shivers down the spines of fans. Was that a flash for what we were going to see in the future? Are we talking about a Michael Olowokandi or Joe Smith here? Not even close. Bargs has not regressed. His goods are still very evident at the offensive end. So, why hasn't he taken off like people predicted? There are many, many reasons for that. Bargnani is starting at SF for the first time in his NBA Career. He was a small forward for much of his youth (Europe) and has played the last few years as a power forward. It's not fair to compare him to Brandon Roy, the stud taken in the same draft that has been handling the ball for his entire career. Bargnani is playing at a new position in a much different style of game. He hasn't adapted well to the less physical style of the NBA. It takes a lot more for a big to foul a player in Europe and Bargnani has been plagued by committing touch calls while guarding highly athletic fours and fives (the likes of which he's never seen before). I know many fans have been impatient with Bargnani’s growth, but soon Andrea will bust out of his shell.
Labels: Andrea Bargnani, MARKO MONDAYS, raptors, RE-POST, Toronto
