View Poll Results: How well did Milicic do in your mind?

**Austin Kent** · 07-19-2005, 09:51 AM

Player Evaluation - Darko Milicic
Second year as a Piston
6.9 MPG, 1.8 PPG, 1.2 RPG, 0.2 APG, .329 FG%

This is not a poll rating how good are players are. We've been talking about that for the last 3 years. What we're seeing now is how well the 2004-2005 roster lived up to our expectations.

**kamego** · 07-19-2005, 10:02 AM

He did what I expected. Limited minutes lead to limited anything. I won't make judgement until we see him play.

**Austin Kent** · 07-19-2005, 10:14 AM

I expected him to be playing by now, and showing why he was picked number two. Possibly my expectations were just too high. I'm not going to hold any resentment toward the guy until it's shown that he, in fact, is the one keeping his progress at such a slow rate. As of right now I will give him the benefit of the doubt.

**kamego** · 07-19-2005, 10:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lope31

I expected him to be playing by now, and showing why he was picked number two. Possibly my expectations were just too high. I'm not going to hold any resentment toward the guy until it's shown that he, in fact, is the one keeping his progress at such a slow rate. As of right now I will give him the benefit of the doubt.

As Marc Stein from ESPN said:

Quote:

Darko Milicic
Darko's summer-league performance in Las Vegas was so-so at best, but this news has to be a serious boost. Under Brown, he knew he'd never play. Maybe not even next season.

Now?

That will undoubtedly change under Saunders. Or whoever takes over.

Yet that means this news also puts serious pressure on Milicic for the first time in his NBA career, since Brown's forthcoming departure means his crutch will also be gone. If Darko plays next season, even in a limited role, there will be no excuse. He'll have to start showing some tangible progress.

Or a better attitude, at the very least.

The Pistons aren't demanding that Darko catch up to Carmelo Anthony, Dwyane Wade or even Chris Bosh in one season. They understand that two years of hopelessness under Brown clearly did more than dent the kid's confidence.

That said, Detroit could use a sign that Milicic wants to be in the NBA. His lack of aggression was an issue in every game in Vegas, and that can only be explained away for so long.

**Austin Kent** · 07-19-2005, 10:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kamego

As Marc Stein from ESPN said:

Nice hook up with the link, but I don't expect him to be as good as Melo or Wade. I'll settle for a LeBron James type season.

What makes me sick about Darko is how little enthusiasm he shows on the floor. Let's hope he can get jacked for some games and show it. If not we're going to have to start slipping him some testosterone pills before games.

**Brian** · 07-19-2005, 04:55 PM

Before the season I held out hope that maybe he could be somewhat productive this year. Not only did he not live up to that at no point in this season or in the summer league did he show me that he could be a productive player in this league. He is still young so maybe at some point he will be able to put it together but it doesn't look good. I suspect piston's management will push Flip to give him some minutes at least early on in the season to see where Darko really is talent wise. Overall though I really don't think he is going to get that many more minutes next year especially with Maxiell on the team now. I guess I could handle Darko sucking right now if he at least had a good attitude and he actually put forth some effort but I guess that is to much to ask of him.

**DetBNyce** · 07-19-2005, 04:59 PM

This may be the hardest guy on the team to judge. He doesn't really get any PT and when he does it's after sitting on the bench for 2 hours. Pretty much noone will look good in a situation like that, and it makes it that much harder for a 19 year old to look good in that situation. He did show some signs against the Hawks when given PT, but I'd have to see more of that for me to even consider him a good player.

Voted: What I expected. Because I didn't expect him to play at all this year and he didn't.

He must play next year though.

PacersguyUSA · 07-19-2005, 10:53 PM

"Played far above my expectations"

ian · 07-20-2005, 12:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian

Before the season I held out hope that maybe he could be somewhat productive this year. Not only did he not live up to that at no point in this season or in the summer league did he show me that he could be a productive player in this league. He is still young so maybe at some point he will be able to put it together but it doesn't look good. I suspect piston's management will push Flip to give him some minutes at least early on in the season to see where Darko really is talent wise. Overall though I really don't think he is going to get that many more minutes next year especially with Maxiell on the team now. I guess I could handle Darko sucking right now if he at least had a good attitude and he actually put forth some effort but I guess that is to much to ask of him.

You seem to really hate Darko... are you forgetting his first start, or his game against Miami on Christmas? When he was 19 years old for both...

Voted up to expectations, the middle option

**Austin Kent** · 07-20-2005, 07:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PacersguyUSA

"Played far above my expectations"

Do go on.

**kamego** · 07-20-2005, 11:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lope31

Do go on.

I am assueming he had no expections for him, thus meaing he played above them.

**Brian** · 07-21-2005, 05:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ian

You seem to really hate Darko... are you forgetting his first start, or his game against Miami on Christmas? When he was 19 years old for both...

Voted up to expectations, the middle option

I don't hate Darko and I knew he was going to be a project when we drafted him. That being said his attitude on the court is terrible and he has yet to show any glimpse on why he should have been the #2 pick overall. Had we drafted him #48 I probably wouldn't be on his case so much.

Biggestfanoftheknicks · 07-22-2005, 06:56 PM

You know seriously what is with the kid I mean what the hell is it gonna take. I'm kind of getting sick of waiting if this kid can't prosper under flip a guy who can use him than that's it I say he won't grow. There is NO reason this guy can't have a similar game to that of Jermaine O'neal! Hell they both LOVE shooting jump shots so what is the problem?? WHAT is with this damn float out to the mid range shot everytime you make a mistake crap?? WHAT is with him choosing to get position sometimes and not others?

Seriously I mean at what's it take to break this bad habits? How the hell does being around someone like Ben Wallace NOT inspire you to work on your game and play to your strengths? HOW the hell is skita doing better than you when you are a better version of him WITH post moves.

Far below my expectations. Far Far below. Darko needs to get it together and realize that you can't get by on talent alone. I mean seriously this kid could play himself into a max contract if he just got it together. Like I said earlier if Saunders can't fix this... I think I'll start turning against him.

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