Raptors need Garbajosa’s versatility for a healthy outlook
“We feel relatively comfortable,” is Gherardini’s only comment on the delicate state of affairs, but it is safe to assume that every awkward landing, every darting twist and turn made by the 6-9, 245-pound forward this season will see Raptors management with their hearts in their mouths. Why such an emphasis on a second-year NBA player who will turn 30 in December and averaged 8.5 ppg and 4.9 rpg last season? Gherardini — who watched Garbajosa throughout his impressive 11-year European career, including four seasons with Gherardini’s own Benetton Treviso — knows why. “A healthy Garbajosa gives you the opportunity to play in so many different versions, you can’t believe,” Gherardini said. “Having him on the court, he can play the 3, the 4, the 5; he has the knowledge of the game to play all those three positions and be a factor at those three positions. That is why he is such a key piece for us. “And his leadership is being felt more and more. Everybody appreciates he is a quiet leader, a player who leads by example. Everybody appreciates now that he knows the game. “How good could he be? All I can say is that it is too bad he got to the NBA this late. He can still be an impact player in this league but I would have liked him to be here two or three years earlier.”
Oct 14th, 2007 at 9:28 am
[...] sdp04 wrote an interesting post today!.Here’s a quick excerptGherardini — who watched Garbajosa throughout his impressive 11-year European career, including four seasons with Gherardini’s own Benetton Treviso — knows why. “A healthy Garbajosa gives you the opportunity to play in so many different … [...]