Crawford and maggette might be better basketball players RIGHT NOW, but, for this team I think Marco is better and deserves to be playing over them. Pretty good write up by Kawakami except I think people are leaving out Turiaf’s efforts. He was an absolute beast. But back to Marco, with his improvement of late we can’t drop his minutes! Besides I heard Maggette is going to be traded once his injury is healed anyways?? hopefully!

Marco has been playing extremely well at both ends this season and the Celtics game was an example of how he has helped the team out.
Although many people assumed his defense would be bad from when we drafted him (and to be fair, it wasn’t great last year), it shouldn’t be too surprising to see him defend well as he was used as a defensive specialist at one point when playing in Italy.
Let’s hope he continues in the same way in the coming games.

isn’t that a cheap shot … and A BIG FLAGRANT ONE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NVDOxgDQwTA

Here is a Belinelli’s interview found on an italian newspaper translated by babelfish and badly fixed by me.

EMANUELE RIGHI from BOLOGNA

After many frustrations during his first year in Nba, finally Belinelli is proving his value, and the past night, scoring 22 points, he has been determining in Golden State win against the Boston Celtics.

Belinelli, did you beated the champions of the world?

"Effectively it maybe. I understood it at the end of the game. Not properly because it’s normal to play against the Boston Celtics. But if you considerate how much we play, with which frequency, at last you do not take care the adversary".

A great game for you as a protagonist.

"In the dreams I could not imagine it, I understood I had made something special just at the end".

What happened?

"During the game I had a crash with Kevin Garnett. In those moments Garnett it is worth as any friend of the little field of the parish. You are playing, you want to win, I am marking to my man and he make the hardest block making me fly to the soil. I said to him the same words that I used to say a time on the field of the parish of S. Giovanni in Persiceto, in my home".

Something not to be written.

"The first words I learned in America are not properly by gentlemen, you can imagine in a basket game. Let me say that me and Garnett have exchanged the auguries in an original way. After the game Garnett has come to me to congratulates. He said to me I played in an optimal way and gave to me his hand. For the first time from when I am in NBA I felt myself a big player. Clearly just a moment, otherwise you say that I’m carrying on".

However Belinelli today is in GS quintet (starting five).

"Yes, I am in a good moment. I play and I succeed to score too. Beautiful period, but I am not deceived".

What does it means?

"Approximately six weeks ago a crossroad has been in front of me. I do not know if indeed they wanted to yield to me, but the names of Toronto and New Jersey were made. Then suddenly against Charlotte I have been granted a fragment of game: 10 minutes with 13 points. It has been the corner towards the right direction".

You scored 22 points to the Celtics: There has been a shot more difficult than an other?

"Theoretically, to be able to score a single point to the champions of the world would have to be complicated, but I recall now how much weighed me the ball between the hands 4 minutes from the end : we were + 4. I had gotten rid from my adversary and had received in the heart of the area of the Celtics. I found face to face with Garnett against me. I thought he could stop me or however he could make to me a poor figure. But I went up and shot. Boom, one basket (a tchoff!). I think they has been the 2 points that made to understand to Boston that Golden State would have won. Scoring it in Garnett’s face is umbelieveble. I say that not for presumption, but because I appreciate a champion like he is".

And now?

"My brothers (Enrico and Umberto, both proxies. ndr) they are happy and say to me if I keep on this way I become a 30 million dollars player. I don’t care of the money. My challenge is to become a player of the Nba. Then I will be able to say that my sacrifices have been repaid. It has not been easy to find my space on the pitch. I always made all that GS asked me. I have renounced to the National team in summer because they wanted an aimed training. Today I collect a part of the fruits, but I do not want to be stopped".

Merry Christmas and thanks for the gift made to the Italians that love the basketball.

"I made the gift to myself. Sincerely, for the first time, I did not feel the Christmas time. We are playing every two days and when not playing we are travelling. Merry Christmas behind schedule to all. Under the tree I have prepared 22 points for the champions of the world. I can also do not put the ribbon on it".

is bellinelli better today? NO. Will he be better in future? Possibly.

What i do know is i’d much rather have bellinelli and his contract than other 2. I think marco is a better team player and plays better defense. I really think he has potential to be like gionobili.
Remember ginobili was 25 when he came to the nba, marco is still 22. but i see similaries in there annoying defense. Playmaking ability, shooting ability. Obviously ginobili is better…. i think marco will develop into a great nba starter. He wont be kobe, but he can be a #3/4 option who plays w/in his role