http://realgm.com/src_wiretap_archives/431...s_out_bargnani/ <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Sam Mitchell stopped Andrea Bargnani outside of the weight room on Thursday to give him a mouthful for what the coach perceives of a lack of attention to basketball. "Without you becoming a better basketball player, all those other things won't be there," Mitchell was heard telling Bargnani. Bargnani has been spending a great deal of time giving interviews and participating in photo shoots, instead of putting in the extra time to improve as a basketball player, like fellow rookie P.J. Tucker.</div> Hmmm. If all this is true and Bargnani isn't working hard, then Mitchell most definitely did the right thing. But I'm really concerned about Bargnani's work ethic. Now, I understand that he's new to the US, he's the #1 pick, etc. Of course he's going to get a lot of media attention, and it's so great to him right now that he can't turn it down. But if it's to the point where it's affecting his work time, then that is a big problem.
No one can expect him to adjust immediately. He is from Europe, where it is mostly finesse. He is only 20, or 21, and now he is asked to bang inside as an NBA center. He doesn't have a frame yet, etc...He wont be productive downlow at all this year. We have to give him time. Im glad Sam is trying to encourage him though.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (CelticBalla32 @ Nov 10 2006, 02:26 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>http://realgm.com/src_wiretap_archives/431...s_out_bargnani/Hmmm. If all this is true and Bargnani isn't working hard, then Mitchell most definitely did the right thing. But I'm really concerned about Bargnani's work ethic. Now, I understand that he's new to the US, he's the #1 pick, etc. Of course he's going to get a lot of media attention, and it's so great to him right now that he can't turn it down. But if it's to the point where it's affecting his work time, then that is a big problem.</div> I think your making way too big a deal out of this. He's only been in the NBA a few months and has admitted to having issues with the media attention..etc..
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (austingriz76 @ Nov 10 2006, 05:01 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Pau Gasol did it, Andrew Bogut did it. Why cant he?</div>Andrew Bogut is a special case, he went to college here in the United States, and so I don't see him as one of your true foreign players like Gasol and Nowitzki. I'm agreeing that it's early on, and he has a big adjustment to make.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (valo35 @ Nov 10 2006, 04:09 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Andrew Bogut is a special case, he went to college here in the United States, and so I don't see him as one of your true foreign players like Gasol and Nowitzki. I'm agreeing that it's early on, and he has a big adjustment to make.</div>well to make Raptor fans feel better, Dirk sucked ass as a rookie also.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (austingriz76 @ Nov 10 2006, 05:20 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>well to make Raptor fans feel better, Dirk sucked ass as a rookie also.</div>He had a rough time, but I wouldn't say he sucked ass. He still averaged 8.2 points per game on 40 percent shooting as a rookie which isn't completely horrible. In comparison Kobe Bryant averaged 7.1 points per game on 41 percent shooting, so he was on the same level as Kobe Bryant was his rookie year. Admittadely he had a huge learning curb though, and hit the gym alot, and made himself better. If Bargnani has the work ethic of Dirk then he will be just fine in this league. If he doesn't, and his work ethic is as bad as this article is making him out to be, then things are not going to go good for him.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (BrewCityBuck @ Nov 10 2006, 05:06 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I think your making way too big a deal out of this. He's only been in the NBA a few months and has admitted to having issues with the media attention..etc..</div> I'm really not making this out to be a big deal, all I said was it could be a problem if he puts media ahead of work. Of course he's only a rookie and he's only been here for a few months, and I recognized that and said something about him getting adjusted in my opening post. It's not a big deal at this point, but if this continues it could be. And just because he's admitted to having media issues doesn't mean it's excused. First step is admitting the problem, seconds step is doing something about it.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (CelticBalla32 @ Nov 10 2006, 06:53 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>And just because he's admitted to having media issues doesn't mean it's excused. First step is admitting the problem, seconds step is doing something about it.</div>He's said he's had trouble with the media attention...being too much for him....
Andrea has a great work ethic... the article is basically saying that maybe Andrea is trying to foucs on to many things at one. Sam basically wants him to stick to basketball.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (MiﮒFi?? @ Nov 10 2006, 11:01 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Andrea has a great work ethic... the article is basically saying that maybe Andrea is trying to foucs on to many things at one. Sam basically wants him to stick to basketball.</div> You have the weirdest looking username.
Yeah, Italians are literally all over his nuts after being the 1st overall pick. I read the whole article yesterday, and I think I remembered reading that he does like 10 interviews a week, poses for Italian magazines, etc..Sam is right. He just needs to work on his game - his defense, and post game in particular.
I think the man need to be in the weight room. If you watch him he gets pushed around a lot and I believe its throwing his game off. At the same time I can understand why Mitchell was him to focus on his basketball game. Andrea is still adjusting to the speed of the game and I?m sure in time he will player better but that will come with more playing time.
