1. Welcome! Please take a few seconds to create your free account to post threads, make some friends, remove a few ads while surfing and much more. ClutchFans has been bringing fans together to talk Houston Sports since 1996. Join us!

Sean Deveney- Milicic continues to struggle with Pistons

Discussion in 'NBA Dish' started by Jonhty, Feb 7, 2005.

Tags:
  1. Jonhty

    Jonhty Member

    Joined:
    Sep 8, 2002
    Messages:
    1,704
    Likes Received:
    4
    Inside Dish: Milicic continues to struggle with Pistons

    By Sean Deveney - SportingNews

    Two weeks ago, it seemed Pistons C Darko Milicic was at his breaking point in handling the criticism he has received over two seasons with coach Larry Brown. Credit Milicic for continuing to work hard and for doing remarkably little complaining during his tenure in Detroit, which has been almost entirely free of playing time. The one outburst last month was followed by meetings with team president Joe Dumars and Brown, which assuaged Milicic--to an extent. "The best answer is, we don't have much choice," says Marc Cornstein, Milicic's agent. Milicic still wants to play, and Dumars has assured Cornstein that Milicic will not be traded and that he figures to be the cornerstone of Detroit's future (perhaps when Brown, known for preferring veterans, is elsewhere). Milicic is only 19, of course, and big men tend to take longer to develop--Bobcats C Primoz Brezec, Pacers PF Jermaine O'Neal and Bulls C Eddy Curry are examples. The thing that worries some scouts, though, is that Bro wn might be hurting Milicic's game. "Darko is not a back-to-the-basket center, and that's what Larry wants him to be," says one NBA scout. "Darko is not Dirk Nowitzki, but imagine if Larry Brown had gotten Dirk as a rookie and tried to make him a traditional center. Dirk would be exactly where Darko is right now.". . .

    Some time off is coming at the right point for Bobcats PF Emeka Okafor. He's the top candidate for Rookie of the Year, but he had shown signs of hitting the rookie wall before spraining his left ankle. In 13 games before going on the injured list, Okafor averaged 13.2 points and 10.3 rebounds (he had been averaging 15.7 points and 11.4 rebounds) and shot just 41.0 percent. The injury is not serious, and Okafor likely will return this week. . . .

    Raptors PG Rafer Alston continues to put forth a befuddling season in Toronto, which gave him a head-scratching six-year contract last summer. He has played well, averaging 14.0 points and 7.1 assists, though he has not been as much of a playmaker as the Raptors had hoped (that's the team's problem--Alston never has been a great NBA playmaker). But his behavior has been plain strange. He has threatened to quit twice. He has clashed repeatedly with rookie head coach Sam Mitchell, whose tough-love approach has chafed Alston. Says a source who used to work closely with Alston, "His problem is that he thinks he is better than he really is. So he thinks that everyone is against him, and he just lashes out." . . .

    The Hornets put together a better January, putting into jeopardy the team's quest to land in the record books--no, not the league's all-time record for losses. The Hornets' best bet at the books is for fewest free throw attempts--the team is averaging 20.8, slightly off the pace set by the 2002-03 Knicks, who averaged just 19.8 per game. The record might depend on the health of PG Baron Davis, who could sit through the All-Star break because of a bad ankle. When Davis plays, the Hornets average 24.1 free throws. Without him, they average 18.6. . . .

    It might make sense for the Celtics to trade G/F Paul Pierce, whose attitude and overall happiness have been subjects of discussion in Boston. If the Celtics could get a big man for Pierce, the team might make a move. But the team's ownership values Pierce, and it's unlikely that another team will give the Celtics an All-Star-caliber big man (such as Clippers PF Elton Brand) in return.


    http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_y...g=insidedishmiliciccontinu&prov=tsn&type=lgns
     
    #1 Jonhty, Feb 7, 2005
  2. PhiSlammaJamma

    PhiSlammaJamma Member

    Joined:
    Aug 29, 1999
    Messages:
    29,962
    Likes Received:
    8,044
    He needs some floor time. Otherwise his growth as a player will likely be r****ded. He probably is the future of the Pistons. Things change fast in the nba. But they need to get him on the floor so he's ready to take that role on.
     
    #2 PhiSlammaJamma, Feb 7, 2005
  3. Rockets34Legend

    Rockets34Legend Member

    Joined:
    Jun 12, 2002
    Messages:
    23,365
    Likes Received:
    21,254
    One of the biggest busts since Portland's #1 from '84? Who the hell was it?

    :rolleyes:
     
    #3 Rockets34Legend, Feb 7, 2005
  4. mulletman

    mulletman Member

    Joined:
    Jun 17, 2002
    Messages:
    1,655
    Likes Received:
    223
    i remember reading an article before the draft where they speculated that milicic would have been drafted ahead of yao had he been available that year. thank god he wasnt.
     
    #4 mulletman, Feb 7, 2005
  5. DaDakota

    DaDakota Balance wins
    Supporting Member

    Joined:
    Mar 14, 1999
    Messages:
    129,148
    Likes Received:
    39,641
    What is he 20?

    Come on !

    Giving up on players at an early age is ridiculous.

    Ginobli did not blossom until 25+

    DD
     
    #5 DaDakota, Feb 7, 2005
  6. count_dough-ku

    count_dough-ku Member

    Joined:
    May 19, 2002
    Messages:
    18,210
    Likes Received:
    10,211
    Yeah, but wasn't Ginobli a rookie at 25? By the time Darko's that age, Detroit will have to have either given him an extension or traded him. If a player reaches the end of his rookie contract and still needs time to blossom, he's a bust.
     
    #6 count_dough-ku, Feb 7, 2005
  7. The_Yoyo

    The_Yoyo Member

    Joined:
    Dec 25, 2001
    Messages:
    16,683
    Likes Received:
    2,873
    If he has been able to play then I agree but the way Darko has been playing in Detroit is ridiculous. 2-4 mins at a time if that and usually in blowouts where the game doesnt matter anymore and the type of play isnt like a real NBA game. Had Darko played consistently and during meaningful parts of the game and still needs time I'd probably agree he is a bust. But look at what happened to J'Oneal. He saw no playing time at all in portland (and more than Darko does) and when giving a chance to play he has blown up and this was after his rookie contract had expired. I'll give up on Darko when het gets at least 24mpg and produces next to nothing. I dont understand why Brown doesnt play him giving their lack of depth of front now compared to last year. He had given delfino time, why not Darko?
     
    #7 The_Yoyo, Feb 7, 2005
  8. michecon

    michecon Member

    Joined:
    May 19, 2002
    Messages:
    4,983
    Likes Received:
    9
    It's detroit's scheme of dynasty to keep him on the bench, then re-sign him cheap. Let him take over when they really need him in the future. ;)
     
    #8 michecon, Feb 7, 2005
  9. DaDakota

    DaDakota Balance wins
    Supporting Member

    Joined:
    Mar 14, 1999
    Messages:
    129,148
    Likes Received:
    39,641
    This is why the NBA needs a true Minor league where the young players can come in and PLAY right away and develop.

    Until that happens there will be a lot more busts than successes.

    DD
     
    #9 DaDakota, Feb 7, 2005
  10. lalala902102001

    lalala902102001 Member

    Joined:
    Jul 4, 2002
    Messages:
    6,629
    Likes Received:
    445
    What?
     
    #10 lalala902102001, Feb 7, 2005
  11. DaDakota

    DaDakota Balance wins
    Supporting Member

    Joined:
    Mar 14, 1999
    Messages:
    129,148
    Likes Received:
    39,641
    Sam Bowie
     
    #11 DaDakota, Feb 7, 2005
  12. GreenVegan76

    GreenVegan76 Member

    Joined:
    May 14, 2003
    Messages:
    3,336
    Likes Received:
    1
    How can a player develop if he doesn't play?

    Practice and scrimmages can help development, but there's simply no substitute for playing time -- especially for a 19-year-old kid. None.

    The Pistons are wasting a valuable resource; he's rotted away on the bench his first two years. They control him for essentially the next two, but the current Pistons depth chart portends no immediate chance for Darko to play then either. So even if Darko does develop (a big if), the team that has him for season 5 and beyond will enjoy all the benefits. And that team is likely not going to be the Pistons.

    If Darko sucks, trade him and let him be someone else's headache. If he truly has potential, play him or trade him for something that fits in your team plan. Otherwise, the Pistons are just wasting their resources.
     
    #12 GreenVegan76, Feb 7, 2005
  13. dragonsnake

    dragonsnake Member

    Joined:
    Sep 4, 2002
    Messages:
    316
    Likes Received:
    1
    NBA does want to have Minor league system, it is players union who does not want to do that.

    And young players don't like the idea of playing in so-called development league either even they are buried in the bench.
     
    #13 dragonsnake, Feb 7, 2005
  14. Kayman

    Kayman Contributing Member

    Joined:
    Mar 19, 1999
    Messages:
    724
    Likes Received:
    0
    #2 Darko , #3 Carmelo definetely had the feel of #2 Bowie, #3 Jordan, except that the chances of Melo becoming the next Jordan don't look too good now...
     
    #14 Kayman, Feb 7, 2005
  15. KaiSeR SoZe

    KaiSeR SoZe Member

    Joined:
    Mar 23, 2003
    Messages:
    8,395
    Likes Received:
    39
    they were never looking good
     
    #15 KaiSeR SoZe, Feb 7, 2005
  16. DaDakota

    DaDakota Balance wins
    Supporting Member

    Joined:
    Mar 14, 1999
    Messages:
    129,148
    Likes Received:
    39,641
    The players would not care as long as their contracts were guaranteed.

    Since the CBA is up this year I hope they address this issue.

    D
     
    #16 DaDakota, Feb 7, 2005
  17. xiki

    xiki Member

    Joined:
    Jun 18, 2002
    Messages:
    17,847
    Likes Received:
    3,194
    Bowie wasn't a bust, just busted up. I assume the question was about the immortal (Lash) LaRue Martin.
     
    #17 xiki, Feb 7, 2005
  18. meh

    meh Member

    Joined:
    Jun 16, 2002
    Messages:
    16,184
    Likes Received:
    3,399
    Even so, 2003 was a very deep draft. After Melo, #4 was Bosh. #5 was Wade. #7 was Hinrich. Anyone one of those would end up being much better picks.

    I know hindsight is 20/20. But it certainly looks now that Detroit was an absolutely the worst fit for Darko. The guy would be much better served getting picked by teams like Charlotte or Atlanta, where he can take his lumps in actual games.

    4-5 years wasted on the bench doing nothing is a HUGE cost for today's NBA franchises. Even if Darko turns into Yao Ming from age 22 on, that's still a TON of years wasted for a #2 pick. And that's the best case scenario.
     
    #18 meh, Feb 7, 2005
  19. Invisible Fan

    Invisible Fan Member

    Joined:
    Dec 5, 2001
    Messages:
    45,954
    Likes Received:
    28,048
    Darko needs a Nellie type system to allow him to show his skills and give him confidence. Jermaine O'Neal was considered a promising bust in Portland. T-Mac had to move in order to dominate with a system made for him.

    Darko is not a bust. His grading is still incomplete.
     
    #19 Invisible Fan, Feb 8, 2005
  20. choujie

    choujie Member

    Joined:
    Sep 12, 2002
    Messages:
    7,389
    Likes Received:
    77
    From what I heard, the guy is just not a hard worker. He has loads of talent, but he's not working hard enough to improve his weakness.
     
    #20 choujie, Feb 8, 2005
(You must log in or sign up to post here.)

Share This Page