Bargnani vs. Blatche

[Terry Silver]

Has Blatche recovered from that foot injury yet?

From the waist up, no.

[Brenice]

I see a lot of comparing the 2 in scoring, rebounding, and defense. Blatche is CLEARLY better in at least 2 of those 3 areas. What about assists/playmaking/court awareness? From what I saw from Blatche he is similar to C-Webber in those aspects. How good is Bargnani in those areas? I know Blatche is above average in those areas. He has some fine-tunning to do as he has not had as much opportunity to play as Bargnani, but the boy got game!

[dlts20]

Dray in HS
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0gAjjwkip1A&feature=related[/youtube]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_z3hAbv7Kn0&feature=related[/youtube]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zo7ByBMO99U&feature=related[/youtube]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S9IsrgjZCY0&feature=related[/youtube]

Dray this Summer, before the injury
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UrA3Ac-S7rQ[/youtube]

[Kabookalu]

Blatche has mad skill, what in particular I love about his game is his soft touch and his game looks so smooth. Bargnani in comparison doesn't have this; in a majority of his post up attempts last season, he was blowing shots right in front of the rim. What I hate about him (Blatche) is sometimes he thinks he's a shooting guard. It's nice to have those skills, but at the same time he's a much more talented player in the post than on the perimeter trying to create his own shot.

[J08]

both of them are big man, one plays like one and the other plays like a little girl

[Joel Embust]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=70fELZPMQpg[/youtube]

[tsherkin]

Optimistically, I'd project something like 20/7 from Bargs on 54-56% TS. Weak help defense, weak defense against quick guys, good man-up post defense and some occasional shot-blocking.

From Blatche, you're guaranteed to get a better rebounder and passer, and he seems to play better D by accident than does Bargs. In 36 starts, he was a 21/8/3.5 player, though it was on about 52% TS, which isn't very good (slightly under league average).

Tough to really evaluate who's better, especially since neither of them were primary players. This year should be a good point of evaluation. I'd tend to side with Blatche, but that's because I've put up with Bargs for 4 years and I'm tired of his specific weaknesses, so I'm biased. There really isn't a LOT separating these guys, at least at this point. Blatche flashes more potential, for what that's worth.

[nate33]

Just understand that that .524 TS% was as the one and only offensive option for his team. He faced constant double teams and had nobody to share the scoring load. The second-best offensive player on the team at that time was Shaun freaking Livingston, a guy they picked up off of waivers.

[tsherkin]

Just understand that that .524 TS% was as the one and only offensive option for his team. He faced constant double teams and had nobody to share the scoring load. The second-best offensive player on the team at that time was Shaun freaking Livingston, a guy they picked up off of waivers.

It's also a 36-game sample, and represents an improvement in a couple of areas over the 36 starts he had the year before. And he shot like 7% worse at the line as a starter. And he was pathetic at drawing fouls, which is typical for him, so his efficiency wasn't ever going to be all that high anyway, since he isn't an athletic marvel, just a pretty mobile tall dude.

In any case, I'm not holding his efficiency against him in a big way, I expect Bargs' to be not far from that this year with all the new defensive attention he'll have and having to work to create his own shot much harder.

And with Arenas back and Wall on the team, Blatche will a) probably not be asked to shoot as much and b) get a bunch of much easier looks on account of less defensive coverage (and the passing).

[nate33]

Fair enough. I'm just saying that I think Blatche will post a slightly better TS% this year with Arenas and Wall around to take off some scoring pressure. I'm hoping for something in the 54%-56% range.

He might start off a bit slow. He's recovering from a foot injury and still can't participate in contact drills.

[tsherkin]

Fair enough. I'm just saying that I think Blatche will post a slightly better TS% this year with Arenas and Wall around to take off some scoring pressure. I'm hoping for something in the 54%-56% range.

It seems probable he'll improve at least a little. I don't know how much higher a modestly jumper-based FG% is going to go, though, and his FT% doesn't project to improve a lot, nor does his DrawF. Plus, as you noted, he's going to stat slow... literally. Rusty, not in the appropriate shape because of the injury, and he's a mobility-reliant player.

I think 56% is a little overly optimistic. I'd be cool with 53% or 54% for now.

[Dr Positivity]

Well it's tradition to bump this thread every time the merry go round changes direction

Blatche 12 pts, 4 rbs, .41 TS%, 7 PER
Bargnani 21 pts, 3.5 rbs, .52 TS%, 18 PER

[Cruel_Ruin]

Well it's tradition to bump this thread every time the merry go round changes direction

Blatche 12 pts, 4 rbs, .41 TS%, 7 PER
Bargnani 21 pts, 3.5 rbs, .52 TS%, 18 PER

[SonicMcMahon]

I'm very curious to see who has the better season. I think it's a total toss up.

[Kabookalu]

I know people on this board are tired of hearing this "excuse", but I'm not even gonna lie, Reggie Evans literally steals rebounds from Bargnani. Not just from Bargnani, but his other teammates too. I forget which game but there was one play where both Bargnani and Evans had the ball in their hands, and it was clear Bargnani had more control of it because he was in better position and it fell straight into his lap, but Evans was going to tear the ball away along with Bargnani's arms if he didn't give it up. Bargnani let go of it and gave him this "what the hell?" look. There's another play where I remember Jack and Evans were fighting for the ball, and it looked clear that Jack was going to get the easy board because it was clearly going to him, but Evans knocked Jack to the ground to grab the rebound. There's more examples too in just these 2 games.

I'm not complaining or anything, because this mentality to grab the rebound ally and foe alike has allowed him to average 15rpg and 5orpg in this young young season, which is really good because Bargnani is our starting center, but for once, the "his teammates steal his rebounds" argument may actually be valid this season.

[vi3t]

yea man, Evans stole so many from Bargs especially the first game, i remembered one play specifically where off a missed ft, the ball bounces towards the Bargs but Evans comes from the other side of the rim to snatch it up and Bargs is just standing there watching like wtf man, you gonna let him take that from you

[TAI8]

Blatche is pretty darn good. I thought he was a scrub but this guy can play. He really epitomizes the zero to hero more than anyone.

[raptorforlife88]

yea man, Evans stole so many from Bargs especially the first game, i remembered one play specifically where off a missed ft, the ball bounces towards the Bargs but Evans comes from the other side of the rim to snatch it up and Bargs is just standing there watching like wtf man, you gonna let him take that from you

He's grabbed 27% of the available rebounds while he's on the floor. That includes offensive boards. He grabs 37% of the defensive rebounds available. Yeah he's stealing everyones rebounds, and rebounding enough for two guys.

[GhostsOfGil]

lol this thread wont die

[blkout]

DAMN THOSE RAPTORS AND THEIR REBOUND THIEVES!!!!! DAMN YOU CHRIS BOSH!!! DAMN YOU REGGIE EVANS!!!