Quote:
Originally Posted by Gozer
Bargs is making less than $7M, that's well below the average salary for "superstar" big men.
Furthermore, I disagree with declaring Barg's problem is lack of effort.
Bargs isn't the type to jump out of the gym, he has athleticism but it's in the form of deliberate co-ordination.
Amare and Dwight Howard have terrific pure "pogo-stick" athletic ability and their rebounding is simply a function of effort and "Bball IQ." These two block shots with timing and jumping, Bargs relies on positioning for blocks.
Bargs jumps like he's trying to get out of a deep snowbank. For better or worse, that's the toolbox he's working with. This year Bargs has clearly made a concerted effort to knock the ball into the air if it's out of reach, just to keep it alive for himself or teammates. That tells me he is working hard and understands his style.
Perhaps this precludes him from being an elite center (or even a legitimate NBA center), but attributing his poor rebounding numbers solely to laziness is just a cop out.
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Good analysis. I'd be annoyed if he displayed great leaping ability on offense that he wasn't using on defense, but that's not the case. His best dunks are always off the drive, and he can get pretty vertical when he generates a bit of speed, but from a stand-still or one-step situation, he's not a natural leaper. I like his ability to read plays as a help defender (where he gets most of his blocks) and he's improving his low post defense, but he still struggles against big-men who play well away from the basket.
Anyway, I'm pretty sure I've heard Triano or other coaches praise his work ethic. He's one of those guys who tends to hang his head a bit when his offense isn't going, and that's a maturity thing, and when he can come in at the end of a game like the NY one where he's struggled all night, and make two crucial rebounds and a block in the last couple minutes, that's a sign that he's learning how he needs to contribute.