Darko Watch

while he won't be Nowitzki, there offensive games will have similarities. Milicic likes to hang on the perimeter too, but he'll be closer in than Nowitzki.

Defensively, well it wont take Milicic long to be a better defender.

Hmmm... once again: Fatter than Jugs= barely able to hold yourself against the wind

I don't give a shit if i don't look like hercules, at least i can eat normal meals not like your hard boiled egg shits.

Seriously, lay-off the thin jokes.

and fat jokes.

Hey, we got to face the truth eventually. You're thin, I'm fat. We better get used to it.

Damn, I can never win against D-weaver.

Ah well.

Lol, I want more owls in this thread .

If not Nowitzki, how about Sabonis without the injuries?

Darko's Roland Rating in Orlando (http://www.82games.com)
1. Lebron James (+17.9)
2. Dwyane Wade (+17.2)
3. Kobe Bryant (+14.6)
4. Darko Milicic (+13.5)
5. Manu Ginobili (+12.7)
6. Kevin Garnett (+12.4)

Roland Rating is essentially a combination of the effect on the team when the player is out there (+/-) and the players production compared to his opponent

If not Nowitzki, how about Sabonis without the injuries?

Sabonis had teh best basketball I.Q. in the history of world basketball. Darko is still a long ways from becoming just that.

Actually, i reckon he'll be more like a combination of rasheed wallace and mutombo. Add some Vlade, stir well and u have Darko Milicic

Yeah with the passing of Magic Johnson, the cluch play of Jordan and the shooting of Bird. (or Burd, if you're ][]]ragon)

HE HAS SEEN THE LIGHT.

Yeah with the passing of Magic Johnson

Yea, he'll never be able to make such hard behind back pass like Bogut. Shame on him.

Sabonis had teh best basketball I.Q. in the history of world basketball

i hope this is a joke.

No, it isn't. He was gifted beyond approach in that area.

Yeah with the passing of Magic Johnson

Yea, he'll never be able to make such hard behind back pass like Bogut. Shame on him.

Are you retarded or is it just a language thing?

Interesting comparison:

Mcdyess: 7ppg, 0.49bpg, .47spg, 0.9apg, 4.6rpg, .493fg%, 19.8mpg
Darko: 6.8ppg, 2.2bpg, 0.6spg, 1apg, 4.8rpg, .652fg%, 19mpg

Sure, Darko's fg% will lower with time passed, but his other numbers will only increase with more experience and minutes. I mean, I know Mcdyess is leagues better for team such as Detroit, which needs veteran players with playoff experience, but still...

Lol @ "sick game"... at least he's lowered everyone's expectations.

It was intended to be an overstatement.

PHOENIX -- A half-dozen games into his career rebirth with the Orlando Magic, Darko Milicic doesn't just look like a sleeper. He looks like a keeper.

Veteran Grant Hill gives him two thumbs up.

While Hill's opinion counts a lot, Milicic's fate likely will be determined, in part, by young Dwight Howard.

All that matters is this: Can Milicic coexist alongside Howard and make the club's future centerpiece a better player?

The very early returns say he can.

Asked if he likes playing with Milicic, Howard's eyes light up.

"I like it," Howard said. "He plays hard. He's going to look for me inside. Don't tell anybody, but Darko really wants to be a point guard."

Milicic would be the world's tallest point guard at 7 feet.

Asked about playing with Howard, Milicic said, "I feel very comfortable. Dwight's strong player. It will get better between us. I'm just trying to find my role."

It's way too early to refer to Dwight and Darko as the "Twin Towers." The 20-year-olds are all but going through the "Terrible Twos" as relative NBA toddlers. Milicic is still in a honeymoon period with the Magic, who face the Phoenix Suns tonight. He has to disprove the Detroit doubters who questioned his desire and work ethic after he was traded by the Pistons.

Howard has been starting since his rookie season and has improved steadily, leading the league in rebounding this season. But he has yet to become a dependable offensive force or a go-to guy in the clutch. Howard had four turnovers in a 98-94 loss to the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday, two in a telltale fourth quarter. The Magic (20-37) needed to make a couple big plays but were outscored 34-24 in the period.

Howard fumbled a ball out of bounds with Orlando trailing 90-86 with 43 seconds left. He finished with 17 points and grabbed 12 rebounds but afterward was shaking his head about his faux pas.

He did, though, work nicely with Milicic in the second and third quarters.

What impresses Howard is Milicic's innate basketball sense, his ability to see the floor and pass the ball.

Getting the ball inside to Howard wouldn't seem like a difficult task. But at times this season, it has ranked right up there with deciphering quantum physics.

Sometimes teammates look for their own jump shot or give up when Howard is crowded by opposing players. Sometimes, Howard doesn't make a strong post move to be available for an entry pass.

Playing without the ball, Howard was working his way to the basket against the Warriors. He spotted Milicic driving to the baseline. Howard moved toward the rim, and in a flash, Milicic delivered the ball to him for the score. A perfect strike.

No other Magic big man can create that type of play off the dribble for Howard.

"They look really good," Grant Hill said. "Give them time to work together, and they'll be a good tandem for a long time."

Although this is Milicic's unveiling -- he seldom played with the Pistons the past two-plus seasons -- he has a promising multifaceted game to complement Howard's tower of power. Milicic actually is more advanced offensively than Howard, who arrived directly from high school.

Coach Brian Hill said Milicic's exposure to the fundamentals preached in the European game benefited him. "That's the coaching Darko got in Serbia," Hill said.

A left-handed shooter with long arms, Milicic showed an array of moves against Golden State. Howard also tried to expand his game and hit a 16-foot jumper and a running hook shot.

Maybe Howard can learn from Milicic.

"All that stuff is in my game," Howard said. "I've always been able to do that. I have confidence in myself."

And, it appears Howard has confidence in Milicic, too.

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/basketball/magic/orl-magic0306mar03,0,2024995.story?coll=orl-magic

26 minutes, 10 rebounds, 8 points. I'm glad his rebounding is improving.

I can't believe he isn't starting over Tony Battie. Hasn't he proven he is one of the biggest busts all time, or does he need to continue to suck to prove it?

I don't get it either. He's no Chris Bosh but they should be starting him. I mean the Magic aren't exactly going anywhere this season, it's not like their record would suffer.

Milcic is better for Howards development too, as he doesn't crowd the paint like Battie who just doesnt move off the FT line which makes Howard too easy to dbl team. Milicic is further out and can knock those shots down (miss his only deep 2 in this game)

8 & 10 is nice, a bit high on the TO's (4).

He's been with teh team, what, a week? He doesn't even know the offensive sets yet, for crying out loud.

So? He's already playing better than their starting C.

But oh no, lets keep him on the bench because if he starts Orlando might fall further into the lottery this isn't a play-off team, it's pointless screwing around with that kind of garbage.

OMG Jae are you sticking up for Darko? *re-reads*

I think I am lol.... but nah, he's playing well and deserves to start regardless of whether he knows the offense yet. He's no Andrew Bogut though.