Post#146 » by tsherkin » Thu Feb 14, 2008 9:17 pm
That's an interesting article; the comparison between Bargnani, Durant and Morrison is intriguing but highly unflattering.
Also, while it's been mentioned, it bears repeating:
Boone is averaging 7.8 ppg and 6.8 rpg on the season in 24 mpg over 46 games but in his 29 starts, he's averaging 10.2 ppg and 8.5 rpg in 30 mpg.
His per-minute rebounding average didn't change significantly between his overall seasonal average and his average as a starter, just around 10.2 RBD/36, which is fantastic production.
He's a VASTLY superior rebounder to Bargnani and, unlike a guy like Reggie Evans or Danny Fortson, he's actually got some iso skills. Not many, he's no Kaman or whomever, but he's got more offensive potential than specialist rebounders like the undersized Fortson and Evans (not to rip on them, I'd kill to have Reggie Evans on the Raptors, personally).
Bargnani is a vastly superior free throw shooter, though he doesn't draw many, and obviously a vastly superior set shooter from range (not just from 3, really from 15 feet and out, period). It's under the foul line, where Bargs is mostly incompetent and Boone is not, that things change.
Bargs is everything you don't want out of a seven footer... Boone is everything you expect from a seven-footer, including the poor FT shooting though it bears mentioning that his FT% is unduely effected by two ESPECIALLY bad months in November and December. He's shooting about 62% so far in the 8 games he's played in February and he shot over his seasonal average in January as well (though it was still a godawful Big Ben/Shaq-esque percentage just under 42%).
Ironically, he shoots worse from the line the more rest he has between games; 50% on the rear end of back-to-backs over 9 games, about 38-39% on 1 or 2 days rest, and 25% on 3+ days of rest. Odd.
Anyhow, Boone's free throw difficulties are of smaller concern compared to Bargs' rebounding, his lack of serious iso skills, his weak help D, etc. Berri was right to question Bargs' selection to the Rookie/Sophmore game over Boone and others because Bargs has been crap for much of this year and doesn't deserve to go to New Orleans.
