Darko Milicic at the 2012 Celtics Media Day

[LEHGOCELTICS]

good stuff #99..doesn't look out of shape

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uu7OGzFS8jk&feature=share&list=PLYBZVOZ3FtW8zSj-Dox-9rEb2CfC8FURq

[GreenEnvy]

good sh!t #99..doesn't look out of shape

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uu7OGzFS8jk&feature=share&list=PLYBZVOZ3FtW8zSj-Dox-9rEb2CfC8FURq

Did he say "effing animals" when referring to the rest of his draft class? LOL.

I admittedly don't know much about Darko, having only seen small chunks of him over the years. I know where he was drafted obviously but don't know what exactly Detroit saw in him besides being a young 7-footer. Would he have went third overall if Detroit picked 'Melo/Wade, or would he have went outside the lottery completely?

I am sure every team he went to he got the fans hopes up only to disappoint, but I am excited to see what he can do in an environment like the one the C's provide.

I think KG (and Doc) will take it as a personal challenge to light this guys fire and max out whatever potential he has. Whether that is enough for him to make an impact and get meaningful minutes will be answered soon enough.

I'm glad we get to do the overseas TC this year, a lot of guys to integrate into our system.

He's saying the right things and I like his attitude (and sense of humor).


Thanks for sharing the vid, and TP for your hilarious avy.

[action781]

Did he just say if he has to get in the game and kill someone he will kill them? (@2:10ish)

[action781]

I admittedly don't know much about Darko, having only seen small chunks of him over the years. I know where he was drafted obviously but don't know what exactly Detroit saw in him besides being a young 7-footer. Would he have went third overall if Detroit picked 'Melo/Wade, or would he have went outside the lottery completely?

My recollection was that Lebron and Melo were really the top 2 guys in the draft and Darko was right behind them.  He was very much acclaimed to be "the next Dirk" and that was the allure for him.  As good as Wade is now, I think he was a little behind Lebron, Melo, and Darko in that draft class and only Melo could have gone 2nd (after an ncaa championship) and if so, Darko would have gone 3rd.

But particularly for Detroit, I think since their team/lineup was so established already, they were more interested in a project with the potential of a future Dirk rather than a 'Melo who had proven he can score already, but could potentially screw up the chemistry of a defensive-minded championship caliber team.

[rondohondo]

Did he just say if he has to get in the game and kill someone he will kill them? (@2:10ish)

haha yes! 

the serbians i know are pretty tough people/crazy people, my uncles one lol

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BDgcc5Sif3k

[GreenEnvy]

I admittedly don't know much about Darko, having only seen small chunks of him over the years. I know where he was drafted obviously but don't know what exactly Detroit saw in him besides being a young 7-footer. Would he have went third overall if Detroit picked 'Melo/Wade, or would he have went outside the lottery completely?

My recollection was that Lebron and Melo were really the top 2 guys in the draft and Darko was right behind them.  He was very much acclaimed to be "the next Dirk" and that was the allure for him.  As good as Wade is now, I think he was a little behind Lebron, Melo, and Darko in that draft class and only Melo could have gone 2nd (after an ncaa championship) and if so, Darko would have gone 3rd.

But particularly for Detroit, I think since their team/lineup was so established already, they were more interested in a project with the potential of a future Dirk rather than a 'Melo who had proven he can score already, but could potentially screw up the chemistry of a defensive-minded championship caliber team.

Thanks.

I really look forward to seeing what he can do beside KG and with Rondo feeding him. He looks strong and maybe not "athletic" per se but not a stiff either.

If he elevates his game, this team will be scary. I don't see any weaknesses beyond depth at C. If he can give 12 quality mpg, there's no stopping us.

[rondohondo]

I admittedly don't know much about Darko, having only seen small chunks of him over the years. I know where he was drafted obviously but don't know what exactly Detroit saw in him besides being a young 7-footer. Would he have went third overall if Detroit picked 'Melo/Wade, or would he have went outside the lottery completely?

My recollection was that Lebron and Melo were really the top 2 guys in the draft and Darko was right behind them.  He was very much acclaimed to be "the next Dirk" and that was the allure for him.  As good as Wade is now, I think he was a little behind Lebron, Melo, and Darko in that draft class and only Melo could have gone 2nd (after an ncaa championship) and if so, Darko would have gone 3rd.

But particularly for Detroit, I think since their team/lineup was so established already, they were more interested in a project with the potential of a future Dirk rather than a 'Melo who had proven he can score already, but could potentially screw up the chemistry of a defensive-minded championship caliber team.

Thanks.

I really look forward to seeing what he can do beside KG and with Rondo feeding him. He looks strong and maybe not "athletic" per se but not a stiff either.

If he elevates his game, this team will be scary. I don't see any weaknesses beyond depth at C. If he can give 12 quality mpg, there's no stopping us.

Yea looks strong to me and seems to have a mean streak like Perkins. Adds toughness down low for vet min

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GPNw9iqP92g&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yzho29iROVU

[GreenEnvy]

I admittedly don't know much about Darko, having only seen small chunks of him over the years. I know where he was drafted obviously but don't know what exactly Detroit saw in him besides being a young 7-footer. Would he have went third overall if Detroit picked 'Melo/Wade, or would he have went outside the lottery completely?

My recollection was that Lebron and Melo were really the top 2 guys in the draft and Darko was right behind them.  He was very much acclaimed to be "the next Dirk" and that was the allure for him.  As good as Wade is now, I think he was a little behind Lebron, Melo, and Darko in that draft class and only Melo could have gone 2nd (after an ncaa championship) and if so, Darko would have gone 3rd.

But particularly for Detroit, I think since their team/lineup was so established already, they were more interested in a project with the potential of a future Dirk rather than a 'Melo who had proven he can score already, but could potentially screw up the chemistry of a defensive-minded championship caliber team.

Thanks.

I really look forward to seeing what he can do beside KG and with Rondo feeding him. He looks strong and maybe not "athletic" per se but not a stiff either.

If he elevates his game, this team will be scary. I don't see any weaknesses beyond depth at C. If he can give 12 quality mpg, there's no stopping us.

Yea looks strong to me and seems to have a mean streak like Perkins. Adds toughness down low for vet min

If we can get anything like that on a consistent basis, this is a steal.

I can see his game rivaling Perk's, and for the vet min, that's excellent.

[Surferdad]

Did he just say if he has to get in the game and kill someone he will kill them? (@2:10ish)

Yeah I think so, lol.  He also did indeed say effin' animals about his draft class.

@action781, your recollection is correct.  Wade was considered not quite top 3 but everybody knew he could score.  Great example of a player who thrived in the NBA system, but I digress...I actually forgot that Darko won a ring as a towel-waver in Detroit.  Always nice to grab another champion off the scrap heap.   

[j804]

Did he just say if he has to get in the game and kill someone he will kill them? (@2:10ish)

I'm already a Darko fan and could see it, Lebron getting in a rhythm going to the basket at will in the ECF.

KG: Dark' I need you to lay this mother *bleep* out man

Darko: Nods his head

LeBron James is clotheslined on the ensuing play

[hwangjini_1]

darko is talented, i dont think there is a real debate over that. i think his problem to date has been a combination of:

(1) being drafted too high, thus jacking up everyone's expectations beyond his ability.

(2) he is not consistently motivated to play at his best at all times. i have not followed his game on a regular basis, but it seems to me that over a season he always provides a few games of great play surrounded by long stretches of standing around and simply being tall.

this may be why he has functionally been fool's gold so far. everyone looks at his skills and talent and height and thinks they have hit pay dirt. then darko proceeds to under achieve and disappoint teams and fans alike.

will darko play to his full ability and become an above average nba center for the celtics? i wish it would happen, but i will wait and see on darko before celebrating the mother load.

[SAS]

darko is talented, i dont think there is a real debate over that. i think his problem to date has been a combination of:

(1) being drafted too high, thus jacking up everyone's expectations beyond his ability.

(2) he is not consistently motivated to play at his best at all times. i have not followed his game on a regular basis, but it seems to me that over a season he always provides a few games of great play surrounded by long stretches of standing around and simply being tall.

this may be why he has functionally been fool's gold so far. everyone looks at his skills and talent and height and thinks they have hit pay dirt. then darko proceeds to under achieve and disappoint teams and fans alike.

will darko play to his full ability and become an above average nba center for the celtics? i wish it would happen, but i will wait and see on darko before celebrating the mother load.

The great thing is the C's don't really need, nor are they paying for, an above-average NBA center.  I think they'd be pretty happy with "a few games of great play" and "long stretches of standing around and simply being tall," which already seems worth more than the vet minimum.  Anything more that they can get out of him would be gravy on top of gravy.

[2short]

So what we are thinking is a guy who could perform at perks level, a guy who might be lax like paddy o or a still young guy who could develop

worth while signing at the price
I personally haven't seen enough of him to tell what he can give us, not so much the limited minutes but can he contribute if called on for real time.

[billysan]

I really think that a few lobs from Rondo for dunks and some badboy confidence building from KG and the crew will go a long way with this guy. Not saying revelations but its all about effort with him IMO. If we can get him setting some powerful and legal picks, passing out from defensive rebounds, being a big intimidator in the paint then we have a steal.

This guy IMO is a tough guy who thinks the image is important, probably taught that by family, and in reality has very little confidence in himself. He therefore doesnt put himself out there too far because he is deathly afraid of embarassment.

If he feels like the team has his back and gains some confidence he will be ok.

[Vermont Green]

I don't think Danny or Doc are expecting Darko to transform into anything all that much different than what he has been.  One thing that I believe you can expect from Darko based on his track record is durability (same for Collins).

If you consider what issues the Celtics have had with durability of centers (Perk, Shaq, Jerm,...) then you can see why durability is very attractive to them.  Over the last say 4-5 years we have done really well whenever we had even a decent center that was healthy and on the court (allowing KG to play PF).

Even during the Shaq run (when he was healthy) where we played so well, Shaq was not playing all that great.  Going further back, I think it is clear that Perk was not all that great either but until he got hurt, he was plenty good enough.

I am hopeful that Darko and Collins can stay healthy and I don't think they need to be all that good and can still make a big impact.

Just consider a scenario where Darko learns the defense and plays well enough to not give up offensive rebounds or turnovers, doesn't foul out, and finishes when he is left open.  That would allow us to put out a line up of Rondo, Pierce, Green, KG, and Darko.  How does anyone match up with that?  That will be a good team.