Darko, in todays Herald.....!

[Meadowlark_Scal]

It was printed in todays Herald that Darko officially left because of NO playing time....so doc puts kg at CENTER..where he said he DOESN'T want to play....has a good center..doesn't play him at all....then look at Nate Robinson...playing great....sat out here....Tony Allen starter for Memphis....he sat a lot here..perkins.....all players all over the league that SAT here....go on to become impact players under different rule......We had no reason to lose darko, TA, Nate.....

[Lucky17]

It was printed in todays Herald that Darko officially left because of NO playing time....so doc puts kg at CENTER..where he said he DOESN'T want to play....has a good center..doesn't play him at all....then look at Nate Robinson...playing great....sat out here....Tony Allen starter for Memphis....he sat a lot here..perkins.....all players all over the league that SAT here....go on to become impact players under different rule......We had no reason to lose darko, TA, Nate.....

Darko quit the team after 11 games. I think he probably would have landed on another team if he had much to offer.

[Roy H.]

Doc should have played Darko more -- the need for a legitimate center was glaringly apparent -- but I doubt his presence would have changed the outcome of our season.

But you're absolutely right, Doc isn't shy about putting guys into his doghouse.  Whether that's a good thing or a bad thing is probably in the eye of the beholder.

[MBunge]

I seriously doubt that Darko was the difference between a first round loss and and raising another banner.  But whether it was Krstic a couple years ago, Darko to start this season or Wilcox and Shavlik Randolph in these playoffs, Doc has fallen into a habit of just abandoning bigs.

Mike

[More Banners]

I seriously doubt that Darko was the difference between a first round loss and and raising another banner.  But whether it was Krstic a couple years ago, Darko to start this season or Wilcox and Shavlik Randolph in these playoffs, Doc has fallen into a habit of just abandoning bigs.

Mike

We weren't going to ride Darko to a title, but it would have been nice to see small ball with Darko at C when KG was out, instead of Bass at C.  And I think KG/Darko would have come together nicely in time.

Too bad Darko didn't give it time.  We should've held onto him...short money anyway.

[CelticConcourse]

I don't really care

[AB_Celtic]

I don't really care

Then don't comment.




To the OP - I agree that Doc should have played Darko more. He showed some GREAT play in the preseason. He was passing well, making short jumpers, and rebounding. Almost like a mini Marc Gasol. And goodness knows I love Marc Gasol.

[Who]

I was surprised Darko didn't join another team. I expected him to sign with someone in Europe for good money. But he sat out the whole season. Surely he would have offers both here in the NBA and abroad in Europe.

For that reason, I am inclined to believe Darko left due to personal reasons (sick mother?) and not because of playing time. Since he choose not to sign for anyone else.

[CelticConcourse]

I don't really care

Then don't comment.

Classic me.

*** I don't care about Darko because I never liked his style of play anyways. Had he played for us, we wouldn't have played Sully as much, or Bass as much and it's good to get them some game experience. He never seemed to gain Doc's liking and he would only have been a waste of a roster spot. I'll take Shav or TWill or even DJ White/Jarvis Varnado over him.. he's a bust and always will be one; that's why no other teams picked him up.

[Celtics4ever]

Darko is so overated.   

[Monkhouse]

Why does everyone talk about Darko as if he would've saved our season?

Yes this is Doc's biggest faults for NEVER utilizing any of the bigs, but then again, what would Darko have accomplished? And supposedly, I've heard rumors that the chemistry between him and all the teammates were very low.

It never is ever a good way to show negative reinforcement by benching players, who need time and experience to grow. It only hinders them. In Darko's case, I don't know if it deeply affected him. But we should've used him for garbage minutes to give KG some needed rest.

[quidinqui33]

Did anybody else catch celtics training camp on NBA TV before the season started?

There is a clip of pierce talking to some of the other teammates and saying (I am paraphrasing, but this is pretty close) "Guys, if you guys get in trouble, get Darko the ball at the top of the key and he'll bail you out.  He plays smart."

That was our captain, a celtics legend, saying that about Darko.  If he saw what Darko could do, how could Doc miss it.

I love Doc, but to me that his greatest weakness.  His dependence on vets and his lack of trust on young or newer guys.  He knows he runs a complicated system.  He has to let guys figure it out while playing in the regular season rather than totally crushing their morale by doghousing them at the first sign of trouble.  Docs list is long: Nate, Darko, Baby, Troy Murphy, Wilcox, even bradley initially, etc.

Not saying using darko would mean we win a ring, bit i do believe we would have had a better season and healthier KG.

This is not the clip I am talking about but it gives you an idea at the 1:24 mark. Plus you get to check out molly mcgrath. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eauuEvTz62s

How did Doc go from there, to not playing him at all!?!

[scaryjerry]

docs doghouse certainly annoys the crap out of me, especially when Jordan Crawford shows up and should've clearly been in the doghouse and was awful for the team yet wasn't. annoying.

[RJ87]

Did anybody else catch celtics training camp on NBA TV before the season started?

There is a clip of pChrisierce talking to some of the other teammates and saying (I am paraphrasing, but this is pretty close) "Guys, if you guys get in trouble, get Darko the ball at the top of the key and he'll bail you out.  He plays smart."

That was our captain, a celtics legend, saying that about Darko.  If he saw what Darko could do, how could Doc miss it.

I love Doc, but to me that his greatest weakness.  His dependence on vets and his lack of trust on young or newer guys.  He knows he runs a complicated system.  He has to let guys figure it out while playing in the regular season rather than totally crushing their morale by doghousing them at the first sign of trouble.  Docs list is long: Nate, Darko, Baby, Troy Murphy, Wilcox, even bradley initially, etc.

Not saying using darko would mean we win a ring, bit i do believe we would have had a better season and healthier KG.

In defense of Doc, Darko ended up sitting out the entire season - no other team was willing to pick him up even for the vet min. Honestly, Darko could've stayed and proved himself to get into the rotation, he chose not to. Look at Sully, he wasn't getting huge mins to start the season but he worked his butt off and got into the rotation

As far as Doc not playing certain guys, you're right.  He doesn't play guys who don't earn and deserve playing time. Nate had some nice moments when he was here, but he also had tons of mental lapses and boneheaded plays. Same for Glen Davis. Troy Murphy was unbelievably useless whenever he saw the court. And I still contend Avery wasn't ready for prime time - had he ever had an off-season to work on his game, maybe his breakthrough would've come sooner.

For every player you say didn't get playing time, there's players that did. Keyon Dooling, Mikael Pietrus, Leon Powe, the aforementioned Jared Sullinger, Marquis Daniels, last season's  Chris Wilcoz - those are new/young guys that did get playing time under Doc. If we were rebuilding, maybe those other guys & some of the other binkies (JJJ, Giddens, Lester Hudson) might have played more but as a playoff team, it's only natural Doc plays the guys he trusts.

[Celtics18]

I had some hopes for Darko at the beginning of the season, but I'm not interested in a guy who pouts off after just eleven games because he's not getting playing time.  If that was indeed the reason he left, I say, good riddance.