There's a love affair brewing in Minnesota...

[Roy Hobbs]

Perhaps stating his case to remain in Minnesota past this season, Darko Milicic believes that he and forward Al Jefferson are a good fit together.

The pair started alongside each other on Monday night against the Spurs.

"I think we work well together," said Milicic. "He's a righty. I'm a lefty. He's got left block. I got right block. He's a talented player. I got a long way to go."

Milicic has allowed Jefferson to move from center to his natural position of power forward.

"It's a lot easier having a guy like Darko because he's a shot blocker," Jefferson said. "He plays great D. He's more of a goaltender. We both can score on the block. I like one side, he likes the other, otherwise we'd be fighting over the same block.

"He's basically the left hand of Al Jefferson, is the way I look at it. Or I'm the right hand of Darko."

Link.

I've got to say, the reasoning makes sense.  Big Al needs to play next to a defensive center, and Darko needs to be somewhere where he can focus on the little things, rather than being a star.

[Roy Hobbs]

Hmm...  the title would have been a clever one if Kevin Love was involved here somehow.

[Drucci]

Does this love affair mean that Kevin Love will be shipped out of town?

I'm quite surprised to see Darko perform so well in Minnesota, and I didn't think of him as a good defender or a shotblocker but we've seen crazier stuff before so...

[boston.balla]

I'm quite surprised to see Darko perform so well in Minnesota, and I didn't think of him as a good defender or a shotblocker but we've seen crazier stuff before so...

How is that possible? He's been one of the best shotblockers in the league since his rookie season.

The Wolves should get rid of Jefferson and keep Love, he's the better player of the two.

Anyway, still not sure if Milicic can be converted into the defensive/rebounding role-player he should be. Everything he says - he often mentions touches, minutes, his role, in this interview he shows he sees himself as a lefty Al Jefferson in the blocks and hints he's expecting to improve as a scorer - sounds like he's still not interested in that role.

[Lucky17]

Hmm...  the title would have been a clever one if Kevin Love was involved here somehow.

I came here fully expecting this. Disappointed.

[stoyko]

I thought this was going to be about the new baseball stadium, Target Field.

[jdpapa3]

I smell a sitcom!!!

[LB3533]

Jefferson, if he is unwilling to be a dominant defensive player, will need to play along side a player in the mold of Ben Wallace or Dikembe Mutombo.

Darko is not gonna cut it.

[Neurotic Guy]

I smell a sitcom!!!

He's a righthander from America with a penchant for shifty moves in the post...   He's an underachieving loose-lipped Serbian southpaw...  And, he's the 6'10" real-life nephew of a Beach Boy!

Can these 3 play the same 2 frontcourt positions and not drive each other crazy?  Watch the madcap shenanigans in the series premiere of  "Al and Darko... with Love"  

[celticsclay]

Perhaps stating his case to remain in Minnesota past this season, Darko Milicic believes that he and forward Al Jefferson are a good fit together.

The pair started alongside each other on Monday night against the Spurs.

"I think we work well together," said Milicic. "He's a righty. I'm a lefty. He's got left block. I got right block. He's a talented player. I got a long way to go."

Milicic has allowed Jefferson to move from center to his natural position of power forward.

"It's a lot easier having a guy like Darko because he's a shot blocker," Jefferson said. "He plays great D. He's more of a goaltender. We both can score on the block. I like one side, he likes the other, otherwise we'd be fighting over the same block.

"He's basically the left hand of Al Jefferson, is the way I look at it. Or I'm the right hand of Darko."

Link.

I've got to say, the reasoning makes sense.  Big Al needs to play next to a defensive center, and Darko needs to be somewhere where he can focus on the little things, rather than being a star.

You know where Darko would really have fit in? New York next year as a defensive minded big alongside Chris Bosh. The fact D'antonio couldn't give him any burn on an awful team just shows me he cant use all talent well.

[RebusRankin]

Saw Darko play live a few weeks ago, not impressive.

[LB3533]

Perhaps stating his case to remain in Minnesota past this season, Darko Milicic believes that he and forward Al Jefferson are a good fit together.

The pair started alongside each other on Monday night against the Spurs.

"I think we work well together," said Milicic. "He's a righty. I'm a lefty. He's got left block. I got right block. He's a talented player. I got a long way to go."

Milicic has allowed Jefferson to move from center to his natural position of power forward.

"It's a lot easier having a guy like Darko because he's a shot blocker," Jefferson said. "He plays great D. He's more of a goaltender. We both can score on the block. I like one side, he likes the other, otherwise we'd be fighting over the same block.

"He's basically the left hand of Al Jefferson, is the way I look at it. Or I'm the right hand of Darko."

Link.

I've got to say, the reasoning makes sense.  Big Al needs to play next to a defensive center, and Darko needs to be somewhere where he can focus on the little things, rather than being a star.

You know where Darko would really have fit in? New York next year as a defensive minded big alongside Chris Bosh. The fact D'antonio couldn't give him any burn on an awful team just shows me he cant use all talent well.

D'Antoni doesn't view David Lee as a building block for the Knick's future.

That's all the evidence anyone needs.....

[D Dub]

I smell a sitcom!!!

He's a righthander from America with a penchant for shifty moves in the post...   He's an underachieving loose-lipped Serbian southpaw...  And, he's the 6'10" real-life nephew of a Beach Boy!

Can these 3 play the same 2 front line positions and not drive each other crazy?  Watch the madcap shenanigans in the series premiere of  "Al and Darko... with Love"  

TP - that's gotta be a post of the year candidate.  That title is classic!  ROFL

[guava_wrench]

I'm quite surprised to see Darko perform so well in Minnesota, and I didn't think of him as a good defender or a shotblocker but we've seen crazier stuff before so...

How is that possible? He's been one of the best shotblockers in the league since his rookie season.

The Wolves should get rid of Jefferson and keep Love, he's the better player of the two.

Anyway, still not sure if Milicic can be converted into the defensive/rebounding role-player he should be. Everything he says - he often mentions touches, minutes, his role, in this interview he shows he sees himself as a lefty Al Jefferson in the blocks and hints he's expecting to improve as a scorer - sounds like he's still not interested in that role.

Yeah. All Milicic has really shown in his career is defense, yet he doesn't seem to want to be that kind of player.

[Who]

Darko is a solid rotation player. He is a good defender, a good rebounder and a solid passer but a poor scorer. He has a positive influence on his team and has done so for several years now.

However, he'll never achieve his potential on a team like the Timberwolves (young, losing team, lack of defensive talent/mentality) so expecting him to show much more than he currently is ... is a losing strategy.

If Minnesota is content with Darko's current contributions, then fine, but if they're expecting improvement ... they need to think again.