bargnani and the media

[bill russell]

At the start of this season, all the guys covering the Raptors cited Bargnani's progress as a key to the team's fortunes. For various reasons, Bargnani hasn't made much progress this year. I don't want to get into another conversation about whether he'll ever develop into a reliable center, etc etc, but I would like to see some solid reporting on the nature of his problems.
The reporters have repeated what Sam has to say about Bargs. They've trotted out Colangelo's line about how it's too early to judge his development. But reporters are supposed to do more than stick microphones in front of team spokesmen and defend the company line.
It would be worth hearing what other players, coaches, scouts, and GMs think of Bargnani's progress. He's a former number one pic -- everyone's going to have an opinion on how he's doing. Are his physical gifts as good as everyone thought initially? What is his basketball IQ? Has he got a competitive mindset? Is he being used properly? Pushed hard enough or too hard? Is he playing the right position?
There isn't a lot that sets guys with press passes apart from the better contributors to this board. One of the major differences is that the guys with the press passes can get their calls returned by scouts, GMs, etc. It boggles my mind that they don't make the effort.
I like reading most of the guys who cover this team but it's time for them to do some homework.

[James699]

lets trade garbo and Bargs for Shareef abdur-rahim and Kevin Martin.

[tecumseh18]

He's done some interesting interviews with the Italian media. I particularly like the one where he answers the question about bottoming out in December with the point that maybe December will end up being his best month.

The problem appears to be that there's no-one in Toronto outside the organization who speaks Italian. Bargs must feel like Yi in Milwaukee (except Yi speaks decent English and can rebound.)

[from24ft]

He's done some interesting interviews with the Italian media. I particularly like the one where he answers the question about bottoming out in December with the point that maybe December will end up being his best month.

The problem appears to be that there's no-one in Toronto outside the organization who speaks Italian. Bargs must feel like Yi in Milwaukee (except Yi speaks decent English and can rebound.)

That is a little cocky isn't it? The media asks these questions because there is vested interest in his game here and abroad.

People want him to succeed. I may be a little hard on the kid, but I want him to prove me wrong. Some of his responses and body language on court just gives me the impression that he couldn't care less.

[cage]

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That is a little cocky isn't it? The media asks these questions because there is vested interest in his game here and abroad.

not sure how it's cocky. bargs was making fun of himself. i enjoyed that interview with him too, he's a funny guy. he has to be the least hyped/talked about number 1 pick ever, even in the city he plays in. learn some english bargs

[from24ft]

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not sure how it's cocky. bargs was making fun of himself. i enjoyed that interview with him too, he's a funny guy. he has to be the least hyped/talked about number 1 pick ever, even in the city he plays in. learn some english bargs

...ok I hear you, I was picturing it in a different context, because he never jokes in english interviews. Hard to see his sense of humour.

[hoophoophooray]

He's done some interesting interviews with the Italian media. I particularly like the one where he answers the question about bottoming out in December with the point that maybe December will end up being his best month.

The problem appears to be that there's no-one in Toronto outside the organization who speaks Italian. Bargs must feel like Yi in Milwaukee (except Yi speaks decent English and can rebound.)

Are you nuts? Toronto has something like the fourth largest Italian speaking population in the world with something like 500,000 residents able to speak the language. Obviously you are from away.

[tecumseh18]

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Are you nuts? Toronto has something like the fourth largest Italian speaking population in the world with something like 500,000 residents able to speak the language. Obviously you are from away.

You don't say? How could I have lived in this city for over 20 years and not realzed that? Mea culpa.

[Air_Surfer]

^ you dont leave the house... thats gross
how could you not notice all the Italians in the 06 summer when they won the world cup

[tecumseh18]

^ you dont leave the house... thats gross
how could you not notice all the Italians in the 06 summer when they won the world cup

I live in Greektown. Italians don't live East of Yonge.

[DIEHARD_005]

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I live in Greektown. Italians don't live East of Yonge.

So you've never heard of St. Claire West, Bathurst+College, or Woodbridge?

[asif9t9]

I mentioned a couple of days ago how I was happy that Leo was the one who finally decided to start being honest with fans. If you want to know how things are going, listen to Leo. As Leo says, it's not even about Bargs missing his open shots. He needs to box out and stop with the cheap fouls. That's the real deal scouting report.

[Mandrake]

lets trade garbo and Bargs for Shareef abdur-rahim and Kevin Martin.

you are soo pathetic. I know you live a sorry, boring, lonely life and I feel real bad for you.

[bill russell]

I mentioned a couple of days ago how I was happy that Leo was the one who finally decided to start being honest with fans. If you want to know how things are going, listen to Leo. As Leo says, it's not even about Bargs missing his open shots. He needs to box out and stop with the cheap fouls. That's the real deal scouting report.

That's one of the things that needs to be explored. leo gets credit for raising it, but is his failure to box out due to a lack of intelliegence or court awareness, a lack of experience, a lack of concentration, a lack of will and effort, or lack of physical skills. This guy needs some close study and frank discussion by some professional assessors of talent. that's what the guys covering the team are supposed to be able to arrange.

[disc0]

Bargnani looks lost out there on defense more often than not and puts barely any energy or effort to rebound, offensively or defensively. Maybe if maurizio was out there breaking his balls he'd take the defensive talks more to heart.

[Darrick Martin]

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So you've never heard of St. Claire West, Bathurst+College, or Woodbridge?

Put some thought in before you post.

[Harry Palmer]

It would be worth hearing what other players, coaches, scouts, and GMs think of Bargnani's progress.

Well, I doubt you'll get much there...teams are usually if anything more politic when it comes to other teams' players excepting playoff head games...but actions speak louder than words, and their actions involve doing things like guarding him with guys like Martell Webster.

[Voodoochile]

The problem appears to be that there's no-one in Toronto outside the organization who speaks Italian. Bargs must feel like Yi in Milwaukee (except Yi speaks decent English and can rebound.)

Here in Italy we never heard about stuff like that.
Those declarations are probably fake.

[bill russell]

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Well, I doubt you'll get much there...teams are usually if anything more politic when it comes to other teams' players excepting playoff head games...but actions speak louder than words, and their actions involve doing things like guarding him with guys like Martell Webster.

i don't think you'd have trouble getting people to talk off the record. they do it all the time. but even so, if the beat grunts don't want to report i'd be happy to see them answer some of these questions by close observation instead. i just want something more than "Brian says he'll answer that question in five years."

[bill russell]

OK. This is what I mean. From Doug Smith's blog this morning. I like Doug Smith's blog. "Asked Sam on the weekend about the kind of coaching Bargnani's getting and what they can do to help him out. Mitchell did suggest they might send Bargs to a big man's camp this summer, the one run by the legendary Pete Newell, I imagine, so he can learn the intricacies of being an NBA centre."

That begs some follow up questions. Like, you've got an NBA number one draft pic and he's been around almost eighteen months and now (!?!) you're maybe gonna get him some big man coaching? They're being really really patient with this guy's development. And what, precisely, does he need to work on in the big man's camp? Let's have some follow-up...