why doesn't anyone think Bargnani can play defense? I mean he'll probably suck this season, but you can't say a guy that led his league in blocked shots plays "no defense"
I'm basing this on the classic Euro non-defensive stereotype. Dirk sucked at D until Avery. Mehmet can't play a lick of D. Ditto for Peja. He could prove the stereotype wrong but stereotypes are made for a reason...
God knows he's got the size and quickness to be a very good defensive player.
on the other hand though, Gasol is a very good defender, as are Nocioni and Ginobili [who is decent].
I see your point though, he'll have to prove he's an exception before anyone assumes he can hold the fort defensively. Like I said, he'll probably suck this year, but we'll see
I could name a couple that I think'll be better (not necessarily for the Raptors, but in terms of total impact)
Roy, Foye, Gay are the obvious answers. I think the Raptors would've been better served trading down, grabbing Andrea and some other assets in the process. I'm assuming they tried to and it didn't work out. I've defended the pick but I don't think he'll produce #1 pick numbers. Being the #1 pick places somewhat unrealistic expectations on a player, but that's how it is. I think the Raps will be scary if they keep progressing with what they have, grow together, don't rush anything, etc.
They're both Argentinian so I didn't include them (non-Euro). Kirilenko really throws a monkey wrench in my reasoning, but hey, he's one of how many? I hope he's good. I've been defending him to my friends for a while now so if he doesn't pan out, Andrea will make me look like a moron.
I'm basing this on the classic Euro non-defensive stereotype. Dirk sucked at D until Avery. Mehmet can't play a lick of D. Ditto for Peja. He could prove the stereotype wrong but stereotypes are made for a reason...
God knows he's got the size and quickness to be a very good defensive player.
It seems to always be the same pattern. Just like Darko last season... they show this video where they look great in Europe but it never translates.
Another thing is that people don't realize how unique Dirk is. They think that because there is a Dirk that there must be hundreds of him over there. Every 7 footer can be as good as Dirk.. just doesn't work that way. Bargnani does have an advantage though.. he has something Dirk has never had in his career.. an excellent post player. If Dirk had that he would look even more incredible than he already does.
If you put a player like Dirk with a post presence you create the same kind of dynamic as a Kobe and Shaq or Wade and Shaq or Nash and Amare.. inside out. Though it's even better because you have 2 bigs. It's more difficult for the opposing bigmen to defend them.
Last edited by FabCasablancas : 07-03-2006 at 01:11 AM.
It seems to always be the same pattern. Just like Darko last season... they show this video where they look great in Europe but it never translates.
Another thing is that people don't realize how unique Dirk is. They think that because there is a Dirk that there must be hundreds of him over there. Every 7 footer can be as good as Dirk.. just doesn't work that way. Bargnani does have an advantage though.. he has something Dirk has never had in his career.. an excellent post player. If Dirk had that he would look even more incredible than he already does.
If you put a player like Dirk with a post presence you create the same kind of dynamic as a Kobe and Shaq or Wade and Shaq or Nash and Amare.. inside out. Though it's even better because you have 2 bigs. It's more difficult for the opposing bigmen to defend them.
the biggest mistake people make, is that they say he'll be the next dirk, or he'll be another darko, or tsikivili, all because the have a common point of being 7 footers with outside skills, the point i'd make is that there is a happy medium, which is where I think he'll end up, the guy who said 17, and 7 may not be that far off, could be better, or worse,who knows none of these guys have played a single game in the league yet, but the comparisons to darko, and tsikivili are unfair in this sense, neither of these guys were contributors to their teams in europe, hell they hardly even played, so they were much more of a gamble, whereas andrea was the best player in the playoffs for his team, and led them to the championship, to me that's a huge difference, and one of the main reason's i'm so comfortable with the pick
Do you think Bargnani's gonna be a flop?
