Watching Kwame Brown take the reigns at the center spot in LA while Andrew Bynum is down got me thinking: I am absolutely tired of hearing the number 1 pick in ‘06 is a bust.

Andrea Bargnani's numbers are down from last season, his rookie year, while many expected him to have a breakout campaign. Watching those offensive skills he exhibited for a good stretch of the regular season sent some serious shivers down the spines of fans.

Was that a flash in the pan? Are we talking about a Michael Olowokandi or Joe Smith here? Not even close. Bargs has not regressed. His goods are still very evident at the offensive end. So, why hasn't he taken off like people predicted? There are many, many reasons for that.

Bargnani is starting at center for the first time in his life, not his NBA career, in his life. He was a small forward for much of his youth and has played the last few years as a power forward. It's not kosher to compare him to Brandon Roy, the stud taken in the same draft that has been handling the ball for all of his career. Bargnani is playing at a new position in a much different style of game. He hasn't adapted well to the less physical style of the NBA. It takes a lot more for a big to foul a player in Europe and Bargnani has been plagued by committing touch calls while guarding highly athletic fours and fives (the likes of which he's never seen before).

While backing up Rasho Nesterovic last season, Bargnani had the luxury of playing against team's second units. Il Mago's minutes are virtually the same as last year, but that time was spent playing against guys he could easily hang with. He started only 2 games in ‘06-'07 and his numbers are down minimally: 11.6 vs 9.4 PTS, .427 vs .390 FG%, and half a board. That is all while playing against better players.

As for the rebounding criticisms, Il Mago does not have that knack of getting after it on the boards. It's not in him at this poi...

Read the full post at The Basketball Jones

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