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A very interesting find that I wanted to share with all the RR folks to get your feedback on this on-point breakdown (in my mind) of Bargnani's skills & hype. Click on the provided link for myth breakdowns # 9 - 1.
http://www.wearingfilm.com/picketfen...drea-bargnani/
10. BARGNANI IS A TOP TEN CENTER
There was a poll recently on Raptors Republic that asked whether Bargnani is a top ten center. Half of the respondents answered yes, which was rather disconcerting. I’m not sure whether these people simply HOPE he’ll be a top ten center, or whether they just value offense over defense and rebounding, but the way Bargnani is right now, he’s not.
The main argument seems to be that Bargnani is such a great scorer that he’s obviously a top ten center. Well, not quite. First of all, according to ESPN, Bargnani was 6th among centers in scoring this season, a hair above Al Jefferson. It’s certainly not ridiculous to argue that he has a chance to be the top scoring center in the league this season. No center scored more than 20.2 ppg last season and without Bosh, it’s possible Bargnani could average more than that.
And while it’s certainly possible, although no probable, that Bargnani could end up being the top scoring center, does that automatically make him a top ten center? Well, no. Again, that brings us back to defense and rebounding.
Last season, Bargnani was 45th in the league in rebounding, despite being 42nd in minutes per game. 16 centers grabbed more rebounds than Bargnani did last season. All but 2 played fewer minutes than Bargnani. Per minute, Bargnani is even worse. He’s 79th overall or 30th in rebounding among centers. In fact, Bargnani was the second worst rebounding center in the entire league, ahead of only Ryan Hollins. And the only PFs who are worse rebounders are guys like Jeff Green and Rashard Lewis, who are naturally small forwards. Needless to say, Bargnani is a very, very poor rebounder.
Just looking at his statistics, Bargnani certainly isn’t a top ten center. John Hollinger’s PER is renowned for not paying attention to defense, and last season Bargnani was 27th among centers. However much I don’t like the PER rating, it does give a good idea of the on court production of a player. What I don’t like is that it doesn’t properly take into consideration defense. Of course, defense isn’t a Bargnani strong suit, either.
Bargnani is a pretty good post defender, in certain circumstances, but he’s certainly a poor defender overall. So if not even the PER rating, which mostly ignores defense, doesn’t place him in the top ten, why on earth would anyone rank him that high if you include defense?
Offensively, I’d say he is a top ten center. Overall, there’s no way.
Just for the record, here are the centers I believe are inarguably better than Bargnani. Notice there are more than 10. And keep in mind I only included legit centers, so no David Lee, Al Jefferson or even Tim Duncan, who probably is a center, but is generally listed as a PF.
In no particular order:
Dwight Howard
Brook Lopez
Andrew Bogut
Andrew Bynum
Greg Oden
Chris Kaman
Joakim Noah
Marc Gasol
Al Horford
Nene
Mehmet Okur
Yao Ming
Marcus Camby
Kendrick Perkins
Most are not the scorer that Bargnani is, but all are better defenders and rebounders than Bargnani is.END
Other Bargnani myths discussed on the blog link:
9. BARGNANI IS A GOOD INTERIOR DEFENDER BECAUSE HE BLOCKS A LOT OF SHOTS
8. BARGNANI IS A GOOD PASSER
7. BARGNANI SHOULD REBOUND BETTER WITHOUT BOSH
6. BARGNANI HAS IMPROVED EVERY YEAR IN THE NBA
5. BARGNANI IS A GREAT SCORER
4. BARGNANI HAS NOT BEEN GIVEN A CHANCE TO SHINE
3. BARGNANI IS LIKE DIRK NOWITZKI OR PAU GASOL
2. BARGNANI IS REALLY A POWER FORWARD
1. I HATE BARGNANI AND AM BEING TOO HARD ON HIM
http://www.wearingfilm.com/picketfen...drea-bargnani/
10. BARGNANI IS A TOP TEN CENTER
There was a poll recently on Raptors Republic that asked whether Bargnani is a top ten center. Half of the respondents answered yes, which was rather disconcerting. I’m not sure whether these people simply HOPE he’ll be a top ten center, or whether they just value offense over defense and rebounding, but the way Bargnani is right now, he’s not.
The main argument seems to be that Bargnani is such a great scorer that he’s obviously a top ten center. Well, not quite. First of all, according to ESPN, Bargnani was 6th among centers in scoring this season, a hair above Al Jefferson. It’s certainly not ridiculous to argue that he has a chance to be the top scoring center in the league this season. No center scored more than 20.2 ppg last season and without Bosh, it’s possible Bargnani could average more than that.
And while it’s certainly possible, although no probable, that Bargnani could end up being the top scoring center, does that automatically make him a top ten center? Well, no. Again, that brings us back to defense and rebounding.
Last season, Bargnani was 45th in the league in rebounding, despite being 42nd in minutes per game. 16 centers grabbed more rebounds than Bargnani did last season. All but 2 played fewer minutes than Bargnani. Per minute, Bargnani is even worse. He’s 79th overall or 30th in rebounding among centers. In fact, Bargnani was the second worst rebounding center in the entire league, ahead of only Ryan Hollins. And the only PFs who are worse rebounders are guys like Jeff Green and Rashard Lewis, who are naturally small forwards. Needless to say, Bargnani is a very, very poor rebounder.
Just looking at his statistics, Bargnani certainly isn’t a top ten center. John Hollinger’s PER is renowned for not paying attention to defense, and last season Bargnani was 27th among centers. However much I don’t like the PER rating, it does give a good idea of the on court production of a player. What I don’t like is that it doesn’t properly take into consideration defense. Of course, defense isn’t a Bargnani strong suit, either.
Bargnani is a pretty good post defender, in certain circumstances, but he’s certainly a poor defender overall. So if not even the PER rating, which mostly ignores defense, doesn’t place him in the top ten, why on earth would anyone rank him that high if you include defense?
Offensively, I’d say he is a top ten center. Overall, there’s no way.
Just for the record, here are the centers I believe are inarguably better than Bargnani. Notice there are more than 10. And keep in mind I only included legit centers, so no David Lee, Al Jefferson or even Tim Duncan, who probably is a center, but is generally listed as a PF.
In no particular order:
Dwight Howard
Brook Lopez
Andrew Bogut
Andrew Bynum
Greg Oden
Chris Kaman
Joakim Noah
Marc Gasol
Al Horford
Nene
Mehmet Okur
Yao Ming
Marcus Camby
Kendrick Perkins
Most are not the scorer that Bargnani is, but all are better defenders and rebounders than Bargnani is.END
Other Bargnani myths discussed on the blog link:
9. BARGNANI IS A GOOD INTERIOR DEFENDER BECAUSE HE BLOCKS A LOT OF SHOTS
8. BARGNANI IS A GOOD PASSER
7. BARGNANI SHOULD REBOUND BETTER WITHOUT BOSH
6. BARGNANI HAS IMPROVED EVERY YEAR IN THE NBA
5. BARGNANI IS A GREAT SCORER
4. BARGNANI HAS NOT BEEN GIVEN A CHANCE TO SHINE
3. BARGNANI IS LIKE DIRK NOWITZKI OR PAU GASOL
2. BARGNANI IS REALLY A POWER FORWARD
1. I HATE BARGNANI AND AM BEING TOO HARD ON HIM