TorontoSun.com - Basketball - Raps need Bargnani on defensive
Mitchell said he can live with Bargnani’s occasional bad offensive outing, but it’s the work on the other side of the court that the coach hasn’t been happy with, particularly his transition defence.

“If you can run, you can get back on defence,” Mitchell said. “I (just) think he’s worried about his offence, right now.”

Bargnani, in fact, has not played particularly well since Mitchell moved him to the bench after starting him in the first five games of the season. In four games coming off the bench, last year’s NBA all-rookie forward has averaged just 6.8 points (he averaged 11.6 as a freshman last season) and 1.25 rebounds, while still picking up too many early fouls.

Mitchell insisted, however, that he is not angry with Bargnani, only that he expects more from the 7-foot Italian.

“He is a young player. All young players go through this,” Mitchell said.

“I wish people would understand, it’s his second year. He hasn’t played 82 games yet. He missed a month last year. So the kid hasn’t played (a full season) and everybody expects him to be all-world.”