FanPost

Why Kristaps is already better then Andrea Bargnani




Fear not Knicks fans Kristaps Porzingis is not Andrea Bargnani. Bargs was the number one pick in the 2006 draft taken by the Raptors, while KP was taken 4th by our beloved Knicks. Both players are European and really really tall and like too shoot the ball, and that's it where all the comparisons should stop.

Having watched Bargs play ( for way too long) there are a few things that come to mind. First was his disconnection with fans and teammates alike. While its normal for a foreign player to feel isolated at times, Bargs really seemed like he didn't want to have a relationship with anyone. You barley heard him speak and you never saw him hanging out with the guys. JR Smith's Instagram tells all, and not once did you see a pic or JR and brags. Smith had pictures with melo, shump, hardaway and stat but never Bargs. You never heard teammates come to his defense when he was injured. Actually it seemed like they were annoyed by him.

Fans also had a distaste for him. From the jump he was at a disadvantage because he could never replace the beloved Steve Novak but damn homie you coulda tired.

Second was his "soft" label he carried through out his time as a knick. Bargs wouldn't couldn't and shouldn't play thru a paper cut. He was injured more then he was healthy (playing in only 71 games thru two seasons).

Phil Jackson said it best " AB was and still is a big tease. When he was injured he refused to do simple non-contact activities like dummy our offense in practice. He seemed to be a malingerer and this had a bad effect on the team, and also on the way the Knicks fans reacted to him."

Phil you took the words right out of my mouth. So how did Andrea perform when he was on the court. Having played only 42 games his first season and 29 the second season he missed a lot of time. He shot 30% from 3 as a knick and 44% from the field which is terrible for a player his size. Overall he averaged 14 points 5 resounds and 1 assist per game. Poor numbers given the fact that he was brought in to carry the burden with me70. He didn't even do the little things that good/great players do. He wouldn't pass or rebound. His rebounding numbers were some of the worse ever for a player his size. Now let's not even talk about defense. He was often found on Shaqing a fool losing his defenders or jumping at air. Opponents knew this and would often target him on the pick and roll. He couldn't guard a light pole let alone any wing defenders. But what really pissed us off was the fact that he wouldn't even try. Defense and rebounding are effort stats and he showed very little off that during his stay at the garden.

Although KP's sample size is very small ( he has yet to play 1 NBA game), he has already shown he is superior to Andrea on many levels. For starters he is a better defender he uses his length to block shots and force smaller players into alternating there shots. He also defends the pick and roll because he has good foot work and he can keep up with quicker guards. He might get bullied on the block but he showed he can take the contact and he doesn't shy away from it. Most importantly he's taken a interest in the fans and his teammates. He's always in someone's Instagram ( O'Quinn, serphin, melo). His teammates love him and have taken him under there collective wings. Melo often talks about KP as if that were his younger brother. He interacts with fans posting photos with him in weird hair styles or doing a Q&A's on Twitter. He knows the culture and it makes him more beloved by fans and teammates alike. He's also shown the ability to want to play thru injuries ( something Bargs never did). All that is fine and dandy but can he play. He wasn't drafted because of his defense or personality. He was drafted because he can get buckets. During the pre-season he put together an impressive line (7 points 6 rebounds 2 assists 37%from 3 and 1 block in 19 mins per game), the kid can play. He can pass out of a double team he can shoot and when he's focused he can rebound. He's looking more and more like the player Andrea should have been.

So forget the fact that he's already better then Andrea he just might be the best rookie this year!!!!!


Updated stats from last night game
Kristaps- 16 points 5 rebounds 1 assist 1 block 1 steal and some pretty good defense.