Darko Watch

[Blasphemy]

See when he gets more minutes hes good.

Dayum 5 blocks!

[Matt]

2-4 on 17ft + jumpers......the 5 blocks is real nice. A bit high on the TO's though, 3. Overall a statistically solid game.

[Fenix]

W00t, w00t! Nice to see him being consistent with his scoring.

[spreeul8r]

I reckon scoring will come naturally for him. Hes got the inside outside game going. Hes VERY mobile for a seven footer. He's also an awesome shotblocker (even at this early stage i think its fair to say that his blocking rating requires a significant boost in Live 06). I see Darko as one of the best shot blockers in the game within 2 seasons. The only thing he really needs to focus on is rebounding. That and just staying focused and working hard to form an unstopable twin towers duo with Howard

[gergerjai]

The Magics are playing Utah atm, and Darko has had 5 blocks!
To me he is like Camby with less rebound, but a better passing game

[Laxation]

hes like camby because he can block? that is the only similarity in their game...

[Matt]

well they both are thin C's too!

he's outblocking Kirilenko!!!!!!!

[gergerjai]

Yeh they are both thin Cs and play with finess,
They shoot Js from midrange( and both aint consistent on that)
and you know it, they block shots.

[axare]

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOO 5BLOCKS!!!!!! Keep it up Darko!!

[zmac]

Too many TOs and misses for Darko today.

[Fenix]

He missed only two shots.

[Laxation]

well he should have hit both of them...

[J@3]

Article @ RealGM

Milicic is already pushing for Magic coach Brian Hill to give him more minutes and especially more touches on the offensive end of the floor.

"I know what I can do. Coach understands that I'm new here and he's learning what I can do," Milicic said. "Like (Wednesday night), I play 25 minutes and have three shots. Three shots in 25 minutes is strange to me. (Hill) said he understands and he's going to give me more balls in the post. He's still trying to learn about me and how best to use me."

Jesus, this wanker won't be happy until he's playing 48 minutes and taking 35 shots per game. I'd bench him again, kill his ego a bit. I mean he goes to Orlando, he's finally getting some minutes and playing well yet he's STILL not happy. This is the second time he's been talking about court time/shots at Orlando and he's only been there like a month.

[Jugs]

He wants more balls!!! in the post!! OMG HE SAID MORE BALLS!

[Andrew]

His attitude really needs an adjustment. There's confidence and there's arrogance. Seems like he still wants everything served to him on a plate, that sense of entitlement that's been mentioned before. I too would be inclined to bench him for such a "me, me, me" attitude...or at least sit him down and make it clear if he doesn't shut up and get over himself, he's warming the bench. If he doesn't get the message, suspend him without pay. Anything to knock some sense into him.

You know, you think about players who were drafted in the second round and had to earn their minutes and place on the team and have worked hard, patiently earning the role they now enjoy - like Michael Redd and Gilbert Arenas - or the players who have battled to get into the league then made the most of their opportunity finally making it - John Starks is a great historical example - and then you have someone like Darko whining even when he is getting a chance and it's just digusting.

He may have more basketball talent than he's been given credit for, but it's looking more and more like he lacks the discipline, maturity and respect needed to succeed in the NBA.

[Matt]

he's still only 20, and not the first player with a shift attitude

[Andrew]

Absolutely. But those players weren't immune from criticism for their attitudes.

[The X]

as much as I like Darko & want to see him succeed, I agree 100% with Jae & Andrew....there's ways of doing things....I know I'm starting my new job in a week's time....I can tell you that within the 1st month, I won't be complaining about workload, I won't be complaining about pay, I won't be complaining about anything....I will put my head down & work hard....he has not earnt the right to have his opinion heard....it might sound harsh, but in the real world, he couldn't say these sorts of things....if I were the Magic, I would call him in personally & say that if he has a problem with touches, see the coaching staff, do NOT go to or tell the media....even if media blows things out of proportion or misquotes him, he still needs to keep his mouth shut....I guess that's what separates a guy like Darko to a guy like Sean Marks....Marks is a player of some talent level who can play solidly at the NBA level in the right situation, but he has never complained once, not once....& he's probably earnt a lot more right to complain than Darko....Darko better learn to not shoot off his mouth everytime something goes wrong or he'll lose even more fans

enough said....

[Fenix]

First of all, he doesn't say he wants more minutes, he only compares number of shots to the number of minutes he played and he makes a pretty good point. He only shot three times and that's to little. I agree with him 100%. He should get more shots. I don't see how this is sign of immaturity. We don't know what the reporter asked him. It was probably something like: "Why did you shot only three times?" and he gives a good answer - he's new on the team and Hill is learning how to utilize him. Saying that he demands more touches and minutes is overreacting.

[The X]

after reading what you said VanK, I re-read the quote & if he was asked that direct question, then he was quite right to answering truthfully....

the problem is that there is a perception out there on him, just like there in on Stephon....he needs to do something different to start changing that perception, & this doesn't have much to do with performing on the court, it's more to do with his dealings with the media & how he conducts himself....he is a professional & he should act like one at all times....he's still young, so he will mature & understand his role with the media better....I stand by the Sean Marks' professionalism comparison though, but I appreciate your quality response

[Andrew]

First of all, he doesn't say he wants more minutes, he only compares number of shots to the number of minutes he played and he makes a pretty good point. He only shot three times and that's to little. I agree with him 100%. He should get more shots. I don't see how this is sign of immaturity.

That's no surprise. You never do see a downside with Darko.

He needs to earn his opportunities the same as everyone else. Furthermore, he's not first in the pecking order right now so he's not going to get 15-20 shots per game. Instead of meeting with the coaches, he starts whining in the media, suggesting he should be taking more shots and whatnot when he's only been on the team for a month and has not done nearly enough in the NBA to have a team bend over backwards for him.

I think I've explained before how it's immaturity but just briefly again: he's not handling it in a very mature way. He seems to believe the world revolves around him and he's entitled to whatever he wants simply because it's something he wants, not something he's earned. Instead of addressing his concerns privately or seeking out the coaching staff, he starts bitching in the media.

Like X pointed out, that's something you couldn't do in a regular job without reprimand. And it's certainly something other players are criticised for. Why should Darko get treated any different when he acts in a way that is generally frowned upon? If Darko can be completely excused for making those comments - whether he was asked a direct question or not - then Stephon Marbury can be absolved in his war of words with Larry Brown and Allen Iverson's comments about practice are also above criticism.

[Fenix]

Me and my homerism will run away now.

Darko Milicic making presence felt
The forward/center shows a knack for blocking shots that surprises the Magic and many opponents.

Brian Schmitz | Sentinel Staff Writer
Posted March 17, 2006

For the Orlando Magic, it's learn as you go with Darko Milicic.

Their latest discovery?

Darko knows defense.

Well, at least in the form of blocked shots.

The 7-foot Milicic has blocked five shots in each of the past two games and has 29 in the 12 games he has played in Orlando.

That's an average of 2.4 blocks -- or more than when Kelvin Cato was upright for 23 games this season.

Who knew?

Nobody but the Detroit Pistons.

And the Pistons -- while dazzled enough by Milicic's potential to pick him No. 2 in the 2003 draft -- couldn't carve out a spot for him.

The Pistons sent Milicic and point guard Carlos Arroyo to Orlando for Cato and a protected draft pick.

With the Magic, Milicic is unveiling the glimpses of promise that persuaded the Pistons to chose him over the likes of Carmelo Anthony, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh.

The Magic figured he had a skilled offensive game after playing in Europe, but Milicic's defense has been a surprise.

"This is all stuff we're finding out about him," Magic Coach Brian Hill said. "Nobody other than the Pistons had a feeling for what he can do."

Playing with the defensive-minded Pistons, especially in practice against former defensive player of the year Ben Wallace, couldn't help but rub off on Milicic.

"I learned from Ben and [Antonio] McDyess and Dale Davis. Those are guys who are all-star players and have been in the league 10 years," he said. "So I have to learn from them."

Hill said Milicic, 20, has "the length" to be a shot-blocker as well as the instinct and timing.

His long arms are seemingly everywhere, and he is what Hill describes as a "quick jumper." With a 7-foot-5 wingspan, Milicic reminds you of Doc Ock, Spider-Man's multitentacled foe.

Unlike many young players, he doesn't get caught up in the air often with every ball fake.

"It's just natural," Milicic said after Thursday's practice at RDV Sportsplex. "If you have a feeling for that, you know when to jump and when to stay on the ground."

Milicic said he blocked 10 shots in a game playing for his Serbian national team last summer.

He isn't muscle-bound or fiercely demonstrative like Wallace, who screams after some blocks and wears his hair in a large Afro at times, thus giving birth to his "Fear The 'Fro" slogan.

Milicic looks rather docile and unassuming when he plays -- and might be lulling opponents to sleep. Not many have an updated scouting report on him.

He still tends to get overpowered defensively. Milicic watched a physical game from the bench late in the fourth quarter against the Utah Jazz on Wednesday night.

"I thought he was getting pushed around underneath a little bit, but so was everyone else," Hill said. "I just wanted our two best defenders [Dwight Howard and Tony Battie] who were on the same page and knew exactly how we were guarding all the situations."

Milicic still isn't in top shape. He seldom played in Detroit and gradually became disillusioned with the game.

Although he weighs 250 pounds, the Magic want him to increase his strength and stamina. They hope he can become a presence in the low post next season, working toward becoming a complete player and continuing to surprise his doubters.

Darko Milicic already has gone on the defensive.

Brian Schmitz can be reached at bschmitz@orlandosentinel.com.

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/basketball/magic/orl-magic1706mar17,0,5105197.story?coll=orl-magic

[J@3]

I think you guys are missing some key quotes...

"Like (Wednesday night), I play 25 minutes and have three shots. Three shots in 25 minutes is strange to me.

He's giving an example... so it's not like the interviewer asked "What do you think about taking 3 shots in 25 minutes?", Darko's come out with an example. Furthermore, "three shots in 25 minuets is strange to me"... wtf... how could it possibly be strange to him, he's never had any minutes let alone shots.

The example is flawed anyway, he's been averaging 6 shots per game and that's taking into account his first two games where he played like 2 minutes or whatever.

(Hill) said he understands and he's going to give me more balls in the post.

So this is saying he's actually gone to the coach and said he wants more shots... just put things into context. Whether or not he should be getting more shots, the fact is after like a month he's already complaining about the shots he does get.

I was starting to warm to Darko a bit, but now I'm back to disliking. Awell, at least there's still Yao

[Laxation]

i thought everyone knew he could block after preseason when he lead the league in blocks...

[J@3]

He's taken 6 shots in 8 minutes against Boston, look out Kobe