We all thought we had it figured out.
A simple case of ‘don’t draft lanky Europeans with your first overall selection,’ a cardinal rule of GMology (the science of Chris Wallace). We looked at those averages (3.9 rebounds per game and 12 points off .300 shooting) and thought that it was a formality. 2006’s First Overall Selection, Andrea Bargnani, would be back at Treviso plying his trade with Starbury and Qyntel Woods, sneaking out for cheeky chinottos with Brandon Jennings, before you could say allargamento di contratto.
"Children, look my career, it doing this"
Then something happened. Something about as strange as seeing Brad Pitt age backwards in an Oscar contender.
The Sport Count has been prompted to make a call which makes our skin crawl — one which is intrinsically contrary to every single fibre of our collective cyber being (see the linked reading here, here and here).
Andrea Bargnani is for real.
In fact, he’s Vero.
Dr. Drea has been hurling Dante-esque infernos on the stat sheet; so much so that many are convinced that his first two years in the league were a Machiavellian trick. He’s been painting the stat sheet like the Sistine Chapel, and diving straight into stats like an Italian man on the soccer field. He’s been cured, like the meats he ritualistically enjoys each day in the locker room to the chagrin of Anthony Parker’s vegan sensibilities.
Last month we’ve seen numbers from Bargnani which are taking him well out of the Darko equation. We’ve seen 19 points, 2.3 threes, more than 5 rebounds at a .498 clip — stratospheric numbers for the lanky Italian. He’s 72% owned in Yahoo! fantasy leagues and there have even been reports out of Italy of a well known small goods producer releasing a limited edition sub brand, Bargnani’s Salamis. 2009 is the year of Bargnani.
The Raptors are suddenly starting to put some W’s together, and with the return of José Calderon this week, we should expect to see the Dinos make a relatively solid run at Eastern Conference playoff contention, despite their lacklustre first half.
With Bargnani fulfilling / exceeding his potential this calendar year, we’re excited about the prospect of yet another ridiculous looking man being great at basketball. I personally will be streaming as many Raptor games as is possible, grinning like an idiot at my screen as a 7-foot 7 year old spots up for another triple.
We might still be a way away from the NBA’s first Italian All-Star, but we’re heartened by the fact that we’ll be seeing Bargnani’s ridiculous grinning visage on our screens for years to come.
Posted By: James
