Bruce Arthur: Glass half full analysis of Andrea

[dagger]

http://www.nationalpost.com/sports/stor ... id=2902988

He remains infuriating, sure. But let's look at the best-case scenario, just for a change of pace.

Let's say Bosh leaves. Let's say whatever pennies come back on the dollar, Bargnani becomes the No. 1 option. How would it change him? What could you possibly hope for?

Well, for starters, the team might start running plays for him, as they did in Detroit. No more hanging around watching Bosh hold the ball, which was a second-half theme this season until Bosh was injured (and during which Bargnani's numbers shriveled). A few more post-ups. More facing up from midrange, Dirk Nowitzki-style.

And without Bosh, maybe the ball moves better, as it did it Detroit, where the Raptors compiled a season-high 37 assists on 45 field goals. Maybe, because everybody is touching the ball, the defence picks up and the dysfunction dies down. Maybe Bargnani's defence picks up with it, though coaches will tell you his one-on-one work has improved. Maybe he grabs the odd offensive rebound because he's working closer to the basket, instead of hanging out at the line.

And maybe he stops being lazy, because he gets to shoot. And maybe he becomes a 24-and-8 guy, rather than the current 17-and-6 guy. Maybe he rewards Bryan Colangelo's vast faith in him.

[Vandal Savage]

If he needs plays ran for him, maybe he should go in the post more often.

[tmoney34]

He's shown flashes of what he is capable of.
The biggest thing for Andrea is finding consistency.
He's been inconsistent all season and has still been able to put up 17 and 6.
Imagine if he could do what he did last night (or slightly less) on a routine basis.

[Indeed]

Lots of upside, but I don't know if he can use them all.
His laziness will hurt him.
But if BC can build a fun team for him, I think he will no longer be lazy. BC needs to find a leader that is always positive, and help him and DeRozan to develop.

[terrybali]

Bruce I love the positivity and I think thats exactly what Brian or his replacement should use to sell Bargs upside to the next team....and get something decent back.

He could turn out as you say but odds are long he doesn't and if he craps out as a number 1 option then your done....stuck with a very unmoveable contract. Personally I think he will play on a championship team as a killer role player 15-25 minutes and spot starts...but that will be down the road when his price comes off....For now while we can we need to deal him....need to get a defensive center and hope Chris Bosh decides he really wants to remain the man.

[Lionel Messi]

No one has questioned his skill level and potential (ok, well some haters have) but it's the fact that he has "shriveled" when Bosh went out that makes people so pessimistic.

[tmoney34]

I think the issue with Bargnani's production going down when Bosh was out is not as black and white as people think.

Expecting Bargs to pick it up and dominate with Bosh out was a little unrealistic.
The biggest part of that being the added attention and pressure that Bargs would receive that he just isn't used to and I don't think a handful of games at the end of a long season where Bosh was the focal point is enough time for Bargs to adjust.

I don't know if he could ever be a No.1 option on any team but he would be a nice piece to keep. I've always thought BC should try and build this team similar to the Pistons team that were perennial contenders. There wasn't one clear-cut *star*. It was a just a good team from 1-5. And if we went that route, Bargs could be a very valuable piece.

[Lionel Messi]

It's not about bargs dominating, but everyone including him knew that he needed to step it up on defence and rebounding AT LEAST when Bosh left.

He did neither and also flopped on offence.

[Jakay]

Well, I still think AB will pan out, but it might take not having Bosh beside him to see what he can really do. He's too used to taking a back seat, and it shows in how he plays.

Not that I want to see Bosh leave.

[34_fifty]

IDK we'll see he has a summer to rethink things about how he improve his strengths and use them to his advantage. How he can keep himself motivated to play with intensity every game even if the shot isn't falling and sacrifice his body on the offensive and the defensive end.

[AbC?]

If Andrea's your number one option you're screwed regardless of whatever stats he puts up.

[sh00n]

I wouldn't mind Bargs as a #1 option; would welcome it actually. I'm more worried about Hedo and Jose being his "next best" options. Much the same story as CB had most of his time here.

[dagger]

Well if Bosh isn't around there is no need for AB to spread the court for Amir Johnson so I assume that his game would move in closer to the basket and become more deliberate.

The problem with what transpired during Bosh's seven game absence just after the all-star break is that everyone took it upon himself to take his shots. It's not like we had a structural change, where plays were run for Bargnani.

Like I've been saying for months, Bosh was the only player the team deferred to, and when you remove him from the equation, there is no hierarchy or structure. The offence becomes a democracy - anyone who feels like taking a shot can do so.

Last night's game had a different feel to it: More deliberate postups for Bargnani, more side pick and rolls for him, more center pick and roll for Amir. Great ball movement. Now if you build an offensive philosophy around that with Hedo providing facilitation and three point shooting, Weems and DeRozan provide mid-range shooting off of screens, and Jack and Calderon playing the shooter's role on the pick and roll, you might get an offensive structure that is hierarchical, effective, involves everyone, and we no longer suffer through the dreaded 10-seconds-of-silence-while-Chris-decides-whether-to-drive-or-shoot. It might even be more fun to watch.

Don;t get me wrong, if Bosh wants to come back, I'm all for it, and he can have his 20 shots, but for the other 60 shots, maybe we can have a bit more offence with purpose instead of offence looking for a purpose.

[Lionel Messi]

Well if Bosh isn't around there is no need for AB to spread the court for Amir Johnson so I assume that his game would move in closer to the basket and become more deliberate.

The problem with what transpired during Bosh's seven game absence just after the all-star break is that everyone took it upon himself to take his shots. It's not like we had a structural change, where plays were run for Bargnani.

Like I've been saying for months, Bosh was the only player the team deferred to, and when you remove him from the equation, there is no hierarchy or structure. The offence becomes a democracy - anyone who feels like taking a shot can do so.

Last night's game had a different feel to it: More deliberate postups for Bargnani, more side pick and rolls for him, more center pick and roll for Amir. Great ball movement. Now if you build an offensive philosophy around that with Hedo providing facilitation and three point shooting, Weems and DeRozan provide mid-range shooting off of screens, and Jack and Calderon playing the shooter's role on the pick and roll, you might get an offensive structure that is hierarchical, effective, involves everyone, and we no longer suffer through the dreaded 10-seconds-of-silence-while-Chris-decides-whether-to-drive-or-shoot. It might even be more fun to watch.

I completely agree, but at the same time in the Chicago game we clearly tried to get Bargs going more and gave him tons of plays and Iso situations as well and we got blown out.

He scored well in the first half, but then disappeared in the 2nd half, and since he wasn't doing the "other" things necessary to win, he became useless.

When Bosh's game is off, he still rebounds, rotates, passes, hustles and even draws double teams.

[Raps in 4]

I've noticed he plays worse when Bosh isn't in the lineup.

[Ripp]

Bargs definitely needs to be given a year before being written off. We've seen other guys in the league (Aaron Brooks) put up dramatically better numbers as their role on the offense was promoted. Let's see what happens next year...perhaps he will pick up his scoring and scoring efficiency. Hopefully there is some growth in rebounding and team defense, also.

[Jakay]

Funny you'd mention Brooks since his running mate Ariza suffered the opposite fate.

Anyhow, neither of those two are Bargnani. Definitely he needs to be fed the ball to be successful. I like how much offense is run through him now. He really sees the floor well and moves the ball well... and passes it inside better than anyone else on the team too.

I think ideally they could bring him in another few feet towards the basketball and run some high post offense through him, but this offense doesn't ever do that with anyone.

[Ari_Emanuel]

I'm very skeptical as there are too many "maybe's" in this analysis.

If Bargnani somehow blossoms after Bosh's departure, it says as much about Bargnani's inability to adapt and our coaches' ineptitude as it says about Bosh impact on his teammates. Also, if Bargnani blows up as a number 1 option, it will be a double edged sword for us because on the one hand, Bargs reaches his full potential, but on the other he simultaneously proves that he cannot thrive with a teammate with equal or greater offensive talent. If Bargnani can only perform at a top level when he has the majority of plays run for him and commands the most touches, what makes things any different for us than they are now with Bosh?

[Lionel Messi]

Funny you'd mention Brooks since his running mate Ariza suffered the opposite fate.

Anyhow, neither of those two are Bargnani. Definitely he needs to be fed the ball to be successful. I like how much offense is run through him now. He really sees the floor well and moves the ball well... and passes it inside better than anyone else on the team too.

I think ideally they could bring him in another few feet towards the basketball and run some high post offense through him, but this offense doesn't ever do that with anyone.

Other than Bosh.

Also, lets hope Bargs doesn't suffer the same fate without Bosh as Ariza did without Kobe.

If he does, the transition shouldn't be AS bad though, since Kobe/Lakers>Bosh. I honestly think Bargs will turn out fine though. He's always been a slow learner or a slow "progresser" (that's not a word is it...).

[Lionel Messi]

I'm very skeptical as there are too many "maybe's" in this analysis.

If Bargnani somehow blossoms after Bosh's departure, it says as much about Bargnani's inability to adapt and our coaches' ineptitude as it says about Bosh impact on his teammates. Also, if Bargnani blows up as a number 1 option, it will be a double edged sword for us because on the one hand, Bargs reaches his full potential, but on the other he simultaneously proves that he cannot thrive with a teammate with equal or greater offensive talent. If Bargnani can only perform at a top level when he has the majority of plays run for him and commands the most touches, what makes things any different for us than they are now with Bosh?

Well, he'll still be worse, allowing us to be bad enough to get a top pick...hopefully.