Darko was 14th in the NBA last season in blocks per game despite playing only 23.8 minutes a night. Evened out for minutes and he's 7th in the league.
He's been a top shot blocker everywhere he's been. When he was in Orlando he blocked more shots per minute (by a wide margin) than Dwight Howard. Darko is a top shot blocker.
There's a reason why Darko only played 23 MPG or so over the last 2 years and came in 14th in the league in BPG both year. That reason is that he isn't good enough to earn more minutes per game hence being unable to increase his BPG numbers. If his other skills make him a liability to be on the floor for more than 23 or so MPG, can you really make an argument that he would be one of the best shot blockers in the league if he got just as many MPG as the guys who are amongst the best in the game because of their numbers? For me, I don't think so.
In 23 minutes a game he's one of the best shot blockers in the league. Just like Alonzo Mourning has been in Miami and like Diop is for Dallas. He was 14th in the NBA in blocks per game while playing those minutes.
In Orlando Dwight blocked 156 shots, Darko blocked 140. Dwight played more 50% more minutes than Darko played. He still almost matched Dwight Howard and in far less minutes, no matter how you want to slice it, Darko is an excellent shot blocker.
He might be very good at blocking shots but the original statement wasthat he was one of the best shot blockers in the league. When I think best in the league I don't think 14th. I think top 5 maybe, top 10. What I don't think of is a guy who comes in top 8 in blocks per minute.
If I did look at things that way then I would need to consider J. R. Smith in Denver one of the best scorers in the league or Joel Pryzbilla and Nick Collison two of the best rebounders in the league or Anthony Carter one of the best passers in the league because they are all top 10 in those per minute categories.
I'm not arguing that the boy can't block shots. He can. He's just not one of the best in the league at it.
Okay ... different definitions of one of the best.
As an aside, I would consider Pryzbilla an excellent rebounder and he was one of the best rebounders in the league last year. Easily top 10. I think he was top 5 in rebounding rate, and the difference he made to Portland on the court versus off the court on the backboards was nothing short of extraordinary. He's not just a guy who solely grabs rebounds either, he's a space eater who boxes out well and keeps the opposition off the glass. He was one of the finest rebounders in the league last season.
I wouldn't consider Collison an elite rebounder, or JR Smith an elite scorer, they'd be another level lower. JR Smith is a 20+ point per game player given minutes, I can't wait to see him unleashed with Iverson out of the way. Smith's scoring isn't well rounded enough and is streaky, why I wouldn't consider him an elite scorer. Also why I would consider Paul Pierce an elite scorer if he doesn't score 20ppg, well rounded, consistent, can do on demand at an incredible rate.
Smith is a good bet to lead the league in three pointers too
(something like - 15 makes outside the top 10 in only 18mpg).
I draw the line at players who I don't think can sustain their level of performances in extra minutes
(sometimes a reasonable allowance for drop off and if they're still there - Smith three pointers). An example of which would be Anthony Carter who I do not consider an elite assist man. Also that they can perform at a comparably high level in several different situations.
14th in blocks in only 23.6 minutes to me is one of the best shot blockers in the league. I regard Darko as an elite shot blocker. To me, he's better than very good, very good is Tyson Chandler .... and Darko is a substantially superior shot blocker than Chandler. For my money Darko is one of the 10 best shot blockers in the league today.