They say Rome wasn't built in a day and the same applies for this Rome, Italy native Andrea Bargnani.
It has been a tough, up-and-down three-year ride for the Toronto Raptors big man.
Being the first pick in the 2006 NBA Draft has put a great deal of pressure on him and he's been under intense scrutiny by fans all across Canada, but he's finally hitting his stride and showing his promise on a somewhat consistent basis. The most important aspect of all of this scrutiny is the fact that the Raptors as an organization are now getting to see what Bargnani is all about as a starting center (The 5 man) in his third year as an NBA player with the absence of Jermaine O'Neal due to injury.
You can now establish what his level of play is and make a determination of his true potential and skill level for future decisions from this position. I'm a firm believer that in a player's third year you should be able to get a proper read on where he's going to go as a player long-term.
The recent developments with Bargnani are a positive sign that he's got a chance to be a good player long term. In the past seven games as a Starting Five man for the Raptors, he has put up impressive numbers for them (21 PPG, 6.6 RPG, 36 minutes PG, .541 field goal percentage, .628 three-point percentage).
Here are five areas that have shown me that he's making nice strides as a player.
1. Three-Point Shooting - I'm not sure you can find a seven-footer out there who can shoot the ball as well as this young man. His ability to stretch the defense out opens the post area up for his teammate Chris Bosh to operate and get single coverage. His shooting ability also creates better spacing in the offense consistently for teammates. He's a tough cover because opposing big men aren't used to covering a man 20 feet away from the basket consistently. He's a major weapon for a team.
2. Defensive Awareness and Toughness - I've seen a significant improvement in this area from Bargnani this season. He's playing hard all the time. He's gotten stronger and is working diligently on controlling other big men in the post. He's more than willing to bang in the post with other big guys (ask Yao Ming and Dwight Howard) and he's tough.
I haven't seen him back down from a challenge this year. He communicates well with teammates and is in the proper position most of the time on his assignments - a far cry from his rookie year. He's blocking and altering shots and is a good help defender in general. He is much more aggressive and alert to issues that arise and is more aware of what's coming next on this side of the ball. A big improvement.
3. Passing/Team Flow - He is a good high post passer and in general is more than willing to give the ball up to teammates for good shots. His passing has gotten better as he's settled into steady minutes and he knows he'll get his shots/touches. More importantly, the ball doesn't stick to his hands when he gets it like when you have two high end scorers like Bosh and O'Neal competing for touches in the offense. The offense flows better and Bosh is comfortable in knowing he's going to get good looks and has good spacing to operate within.
4. Rebounding - It's gotten better of late, but still needs work. He has to win more 50/50 loose ball battles but works hard at boxing out and being physical inside. He's more aware as a player so he's in the right s pot more often to put himself in a position to rebound effectively. There's still room for growth here.
5. Other Offense - Bargnani is very smooth putting the ball on the floor for a seven-footer and when he's making perimeter shots and you have to crowd him he can blow by you off the bounce. Has to be a little more under control at times when he drives the ball to prevent charging fouls but he's gotten better at that. His post moves are still a work in progress. With his added strength he's more adept at finishing inside and his footwork has improved. Not real fluid yet with pet moves and counters but he has potential to be effective here. His mid range game still has to come together by being able to take his opponent off the bounce to 10 to 12 feet and be able to get his shot off in congested areas (watch Dirk Nowitski operate-he's a master at this). There's much room for growth in this area.
Overall, I see a young man whose confidence is growing by leaps and bounds and is finally in the position I feel he'll play the most at and be most effective at for a long time as a pro after having his role/position changed on a few occasions. Less confusion means better play for this young man. Not sure if he's a franchise player like so many hope for when you draft a player first overall, but I think he's got a chance to be a good/very good player in the league for a long time. Caution: They'll be some bumps in the road going forward, but I think Bargnani has finally broken through. Remember, Rome wasn't built in a day!