It's Week 21. Can you name #21 in the Basketball Card above?
Only 1 month left to go in the Regular Season.
Unfortunately, this week's hastily put-together OP is a short one with minimal content and zero analysis involved. I do however have the transcript from a special interview I was able to conduct a few days ago:
A BigFooty Exclusive!
So I’m sitting in a leather chair in the middle of a TV set.
By some stroke of luck I’ve managed to secure an interview with the recently waived Andrea Bargnani for a TV program called "The B-Ball Show" that airs weekly in Italy.
It's 1 hour before the show goes to air but the bright lights are already making me sweat. Looking out at the endless rows of audience seating before me doesn't help my nerves either.
I gulp and ask the Producer “So this show’s a pretty big deal, right?”
She nods and says “Everyone’s eager to hear what Andrea has to say about recent events.”
Soon Bargnani arrives and takes a seat across from me. He’s much taller in person but still sports that unkempt stubble on his face.
We exchange greetings and before I know it the Producer counts down to air time “3…2…1…”
I clear my throat and fire off my first question...
Hans Moleman: “Andrea, everyone here knows that you’ve been an Italian Basketball Legend for many years now…”
Andrea Bargnani: “Grazie.”
HM: “Some would say you’re the best Italian player to have ever played in the NBA.”
AB: “So would I.”
HM: “So tell us about where it all began in the NBA. In Toronto. The No. 1 Pick. The expectations.
You played well there for a while.”
AB: “Yeah, I had some good moments. I really thought Chris [Bosh] and I were gonna be the NBA’s most dominant frontcourt. But of course Chris decided to take his talents to South Beach.”
Hm: “I heard a rumour that LeBron actually asked you to join him in Miami. Is that correct?”
AB: “Yes, I was actually LeBron’s first choice to join him at the Heat. But I couldn’t do it because I had made a commitment to Primo Pasta.”
HM: “Primo Pasta? As in the food that you advertised in TV commercials?”
AB: “Yes that’s right, I had a very special relationship with Primo Pasta. I loved promoting their food and I loved eating it too. The Canadian Wheat makes it good.”
HM: “It’s an iconic Canadian product.”
AB: “Exactly. And that’s why I couldn’t leave Toronto for Miami...I valued Primo Pasta too much.”
HM: “But eventually, in 2013, the Raptors traded you to the Knicks. How did you feel about that?”
AB: “No hard feelings – I understand it’s a business. And besides, I think I left on good terms with Raptors fans.”
HM: “So you spent a couple of seasons playing for the Knicks and it seemed like you really struggled during your time there, particularly on defense.”
AB: “I’d disagree with that. Sure I made the occasional mistake but it’s all relative. I played alongside Amare Stoudemire – next to him I looked like the Defensive Player Of The Year!”
HM: “You’ve got a point. Let’s move on to your brief tenure in Brooklyn."
HM: "From being a #1 Draft Pick to recently being waived…Do you feel a sense of embarrassment to how it all ended?”
AB: “To be honest, I have mixed feelings about how things turned out for me.
I look at the guys in my 2006 Draft class…many of those drafted after me have made an All Star Team during their careers: Aldridge, Rondo, Lowry, Millsap and there’s another guy, but his name escapes me for the moment…”
Quiz Question Of The Week:
Can you name the other Player from the 2006 Draft class who has made an All Star Team. Hint: He is a 6’6” Shooting Guard who made 3 All Star Teams for the West in 2008, 2009 & 2010.
He was Drafted at #6, after Shelden Williams and before Randy Foye.
Brandon Roy
AB: “...But on the other hand, regardless of whether I make it back to the NBA, at least I had some good moments in my career.”
HM: “And of course, as we’ve seen in the news recently: Primo Pasta have just decided to end their relationship with you…”
AB: “Yes that’s true…that’s very hard to talk about.” [Andrea’s eyes begin to water]
It was a crushing blow to find out that Primo Pasta had left me…I couldn’t believe it.
I found out three or four months ago that something was going on. I had a hunch. I did some investigation myself, sat Nicky [the Primo Pasta CEO] down and we had a chat and she told me.”
HM: “Do you think Primo Pasta acted wrongly by terminating your contract and dumping you?”
AB: “Yes. It’s just wrong. Two things: You don’t touch a man’s wallet and you don’t touch his Primo Pasta contract.”
HM: “This whole saga must be very hard.”
AB: “The worst part is…[Bargnani is now fighting to hold back tears]
…The worst part is the effect it’s had on my son Andrea Jnr. He loves Primo Pasta and we usually get him a packet for his birthday.
But this year we couldn’t have a birthday party, couldn’t get him Primo presents…”
[Bargnani is now openly weeping]
HM: “Thanks for bravely sharing your feelings with us Andrea...
We’ll be right back after these messages!”
Model Of Efficiency
The graph below plots Adjusted Offensive and Defensive Efficiency (points scored and allowed per 100 possessions, adjusted for League Average) for the last 4 weeks. Basically the further in the top right corner you are, the better you are.
Once again, credit for the original idea goes to Bigfooty User Final Siren, who created the concept in the thread: The Race for the Flag in Squiggly Lines).
For those interested, here is the Efficiency Graph for only the games played after the All Star Break:
[Not The] Dunk Of The Week
It was a good week for spectacular dunks such as this, this and this. But here’s one you might’ve missed:
Quick Hitters
- I caught a glimpse of the Sacramento Throwback Jeresys and Throwback Court last weekend and they looked pretty sweet. Unfortunately it was also an 80’s throwback performance from the Kings in a sloppy loss to the Magic.
- The Mavericks are currently on a 5 game losing streak, during which they’ve allowed opposing big men to rack up big numbers: Cousins (22 & 13), Faried (25 & 20), Jordan (23 & 20), Drummond (25 & 17).
- So Beasley scored 33 points off the bench in 2 games over the weekend…I’m sure his Rockets teammates are rubbing each other's knees with glee at Beasley’s contributions.
- For those who bothered looking at the Post-ASB efficiency graph, the Thunder are one of the standouts: they’re 4-8 in the Post All Star period and are on the verge of losing the 3rd seed to the Clippers.
- We all heard about Lance Stephenson’s career best performance last week against the Pelicans, but I was just as impressed with Matt Barnes (the basketball player, not the man with perpetual anger issues).
- Barnes was active all over the court: quick to catch and move in half court sets while also crashing the boards and pushing the ball on the break on his way to a triple double.
- I hope you caught yesterday’s Suns/Warriors game: Brandon Knight looked like Stephen Curry out there for a while…but of course Stephen Curry also looked like Stephen Curry and the Warriors won what was a really fun game to watch.
- The player on the Basketball Card was Ricky Pierce, who was on the receiving end of this memorable play.
What To Watch For This Week
Mon: New York @ Lakers. 2 storied franchises...both currently shit.
Tue: Detroit @ Washington. It's Marcus vs Markieff. Which one will receive a beating in this matchup?
Wed: Clippers @ San Antonio. Why can't Doc Rivers just win Championships and use Samsung Galaxy S7? Because of teams like the Spurs (he'd probably still be able to use his Galaxy S7 though)
Thu: Minnesota @ Memphis. Because who knows what Lance Stephenson will do next.
Fri: Charlotte @ Miami. The battle for Eastern Conference Playoff positioning continues.
Sat: Boston @ Toronto. Grab a bowl of Primo Pasta and settle in...this could be a good one.
Sun: Golden State @ San Antonio. It's a long shot, but imagine if we had two 70 win teams in one season.
