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The 7 - Basketball - The King has Arrived or has he? Register and log in to post!
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tshman122
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#1 Posted on 24.6.03 2256.21
Reposted on: 24.6.10 2256.36
With the draft on Thursday night all of America allready knows who will be selected with the #1 pick. With Jordan retiring the NBA will try to fill his void with a new star one with more hype then any before him. Along with the hype Lebron will have to share the expectations. This is some pressure to throw on a 18 year old who graduated high school less then a month ago. Lebron must not fail. If he does not win multiple scoring titles, MVP's and championships he will fail. The bar has never been higher for any other first year player now can an 18 year old boy live up to the challenge or will he fail to be the Next one that he was allready crowned.
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Big Bad
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#2 Posted on 25.6.03 0317.06
Reposted on: 25.6.10 0317.19
Frankly, I'm more intrigued about this thing about Darko possibly not legally able to play in the NBA. If I'm Detroit, I might just say screw it and draft Carmelo Anthony instead.
It's False
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#3 Posted on 25.6.03 0329.06
Reposted on: 25.6.10 0329.36

    Originally posted by Big Bad
    Frankly, I'm more intrigued about this thing about Darko possibly not legally able to play in the NBA. If I'm Detroit, I might just say screw it and draft Carmelo Anthony instead.


If I'm Detroit, I do every damn thing I can to draft Darko. Move Wallace to the 4 position and you've created the NEW Twin Towers.
JayJayDean
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#4 Posted on 25.6.03 0906.01
Reposted on: 25.6.10 0906.25
    Originally posted by Big Bad
    Frankly, I'm more intrigued about this thing about Darko possibly not legally able to play in the NBA. If I'm Detroit, I might just say screw it and draft Carmelo Anthony instead.


You have no idea what you're talking about. They cleared up Darko's eligibility issues months ago. He's going to be a Piston and that's that. If it were a potential problem for Darko to play in the NBA, it would be a HUGE story right now, and there isn't even a murmur about it.

If you have ESPN Insider you should check out Chad Ford's report on Darko's workout for the Pistons. It makes him sound like a cross between Nowitzki and Duncan, and it's hard not to start expecting that not only will he be better than LeBron, but he'll dominate the league from Day One. (Which he won't, but...just read the article.)

(edited by JayJayDean on 25.6.03 0706)

(edited by JayJayDean on 25.6.03 0707)
Ubermonkeys
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#5 Posted on 25.6.03 1014.29
Reposted on: 25.6.10 1014.46
It makes him sound like a cross between Nowitzki and Duncan, and it's hard not to start expecting that not only will he be better than LeBron, but he'll dominate the league from Day One. (Which he won't, but...just read the article.)

As a Pistons fan skeptical of Darko

1. A cross between Duncan and Nowitzki? I'll take it.

2. That must be one good ass article.


Just a side question for anybody with the knowledge- is draft day the official first day of the offseason where teams can start making trades and signing free agents?
Broncolanche
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#6 Posted on 25.6.03 1020.12
Reposted on: 25.6.10 1020.24

    Originally posted by Ubermonkeys
    Just a side question for anybody with the knowledge- is draft day the official first day of the offseason where teams can start making trades and signing free agents?


July 1 is officially the first day of the free agent signing period. I guess you could call draft day the official first day for trades since that's when a lot of them start to go down (e.g., the Nuggets butt-raping New York last year).
JayJayDean
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#7 Posted on 25.6.03 1215.49
Reposted on: 25.6.10 1216.09

    Originally posted by Ubermonkeys
    It makes him sound like a cross between Nowitzki and Duncan, and it's hard not to start expecting that not only will he be better than LeBron, but he'll dominate the league from Day One. (Which he won't, but...just read the article.)

    As a Pistons fan skeptical of Darko

    1. A cross between Duncan and Nowitzki? I'll take it.

    2. That must be one good ass article.



Here it is...

Darko receives ringing endorsement

DETROIT -- Meet Will Robinson.

Robinson is the assistant to the president of basketball operations for the Pistons. He is the NBA's oldest scout, at the ripe age of 92. He has been inducted into 24 Halls of Fame. He has coached the likes of Doug Collins and Spencer Haywood. He was the first African-American head coach in the history of NCAA Division I basketball.

And if you listen to him, he invented such things as the full-court press and the fast break.

It's tough to find anyone who's been around long enough to dispute that.

You've heard of six degrees of separation? Robinson plays about three. Rumor here in Detroit has it that he cut the hole in James Naismith's peach basket.

He comes to work every day, watches game film and never misses a workout. Robinson has sat through the Pistons' draft workouts for the past 28 years, witnessing the auditions of Isiah Thomas, Joe Dumars, Dennis Rodman and Grant Hill.

Dumars, now the Pistons president, smiles when he sees Robinson walk onto the court Wednesday in preparation for Darko Milicic's individual workout. Call him a comfort blanket.

"Let me tell you something about Will Robinson," Dumars says. "He's seen it all. You can't fool Will Robinson. Nothing gets by him."

Robinson's a little early today for a reason. He's a late-comer on the international bandwagon. He has listened to the talk radio hosts and local writers imploring the Pistons to take Carmelo Anthony over Milicic with the No. 2 pick in next month's draft. Like the rest of them, he has yet to see the young Yugoslavian in person.

"In the past, when we brought in the guys from overseas, Will would sit there, shake his head and say 'Send him back ... he needs to spend more time in the oven,' " Dumars says with a laugh.

Darko Milicic has impressed the Detroit Pistons both on and off the basketball court.
Robinson takes his seat courtside, crosses his legs and stares Darko down as he begins warming up. For the next 45 minutes, his eyes never leave the 7-footer.

From agility exercises (Darko ranks in the top 15 percent) to tests that gauge lateral quickness (Darko ranks in the top 2 percent), vertical jump (a little above average) and upper and lower body strength (OK on the first, above average on the second), Robinson is watching Milicic's every movement.

It isn't until Milicic picks up a basketball and starts effortlessly draining NBA-range 3-pointers (remember, his coach in Yugoslavia wouldn't let him take European 3s, let alone from the NBA distance) that Robinson begins speaking up. He doesn't stop talking until well after the workout.

"We hit the jackpot," Robinson says with a smile. "Jackpot!"

Milicic moves into the post and begins hitting jump hooks, first with his left hand. Then with his right. Robinson can't tell whether Milicic is left- or right-handed. That's a good thing.

"How'd that boy learn to shoot with both hands?" he asks.

Interesting story. Milicic was born left-handed, but his parents and teachers encouraged him to do everything with his right hand. He shoots 3s with his left, signs autographs with his right and handles the ball equally with both.

"That's just unfair. Very few players can do that."

At one point, a clearly exhausted Milicic bends over and, for a moment, looks like he can't go on. He sips a glass of water, slaps his hands together and gets back on the court.

"Did you see the way he just gutted that out?" Robinson says. "That's the type of kid you want to coach. If I was coaching him, we'd go to the moon."

Soon Darko is running the floor, handling the ball on the break and finishing with thundering dunks.

"He's going to own the game. Own the game," Robinsons exclaims. "We're going to have to build a new arena. The only thing that could destroy a kid like that is a woman."

Another big dunk, and Robinson gets up from his chair and begins walking toward Dumars.

"I've seen all I need," he says.

"Take him," he screams at Dumars.

The Pistons aren't through with Milicic yet. After lunch with Dumars and Co., Milicic is back at the workout facility receiving his homework assignments from strength and training coach Arnie Kander.

Kander isn't taking the usual approach to tall, skinny Europeans. Over the few hours since Darko's audition, Kander has been devising a workout plan for the kid that will get him up to speed for minicamp.

Milicic and his agent, Semi Pajovic, have asked for the help. Until now, Milicic has been living on a steady diet of 200 push-ups and 300 sit-ups per day.

Kander's plan calls for no weight lifting, fewer push-ups and zero protein supplements. Kander is blown away by what he calls "Darko's tremendous gift of speed."

"He's got a naturally strong body," Kander says. "I don't want him to bulk up. If he does that, he'll lose that quickness he's been blessed with. I just want him to get a little stronger, work on his base and improve his flexibility. I love his body for a 17-year-old. I just want to let it grow."

Kander prescribes a number of exercises meant to give Milicic upper body strength, better balance and more explosiveness in his jumping ability.

He also gives him a tip or two about rebounding by pulling a page out of Ben Wallace's book. The key to Wallace's rebounding prowess, according to Kander, is the way he always keeps his arms bent. It allows him to free himself from defenders and get to the ball quicker. Kander shows Milicic exercises that will get him in the right position to rebound. Nothing like learning from the best.

"He has all of the physical tools to exceed," says Kander, who has been testing draft prospects for the Pistons the last 10 years. "My job is to teach him how to use them."

Kander lectures Milicic on everything from posture to shooting form to push-up positions. Darko eats it up. He had nothing even remotely close to this in Yugoslavia. Kander promises that if Milicic faithfully follows the regime four times a week, he'll be in NBA shape by the start of summer league.

After the workout, Milicic measures out bigger than expected: 7-foot-1, 253 pounds.

Robinson has found religion.

"I've seen a lot of kids come through here in my day," Robinson says. "And none of them have ever played like that. That kid's going to be a star. He's a 7-footer that plays like a point guard. That kid's something special."

From the looks on the faces of the rest of the Piston brass and assistant coaches, they're on the same page.

"Welcome to the Pistons, young fella," Robinson tells Darko after the workout. "Ain't youth a wonderful thing?"

Yes it is. Like just about anything else Robinson says, it's awfully hard to argue with 92 years of experience.

In a league that can be swayed by the whims of trends and fleeting success stories, it's nice to have an anchor that keeps the ship from straying too far beyond shore.

Will Robinson is sold on Darko Milicic. The question, for the unbelievers still out there, is why aren't you?



tshman122
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#8 Posted on 25.6.03 1535.29
Reposted on: 25.6.10 1535.54
The expectations are too high for both Darko and Lebron. I would be shocked if Anthony did not win rookie of the year next season.
spf
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#9 Posted on 26.6.03 1641.18
Reposted on: 26.6.10 1641.24
Just all of you wait. Rookie of the Year - Dwayne Wade. He is going to come out more ready than anyone else to contribute immediately in the NBA this year.
Firecracker
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#10 Posted on 26.6.03 2237.12
Reposted on: 26.6.10 2237.20

    Originally posted by spf2119
    Just all of you wait. Rookie of the Year - Dwayne Wade. He is going to come out more ready than anyone else to contribute immediately in the NBA this year.


And who picked him up? My Miami Heat! ;-P
Big Bad
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#11 Posted on 27.6.03 0243.15
Reposted on: 27.6.10 0243.28
Rookie most likely to actually catch on fire before the season starts: Chris Bosh. The Raptors never draft well. There was some crazy rumour going around T.O. that they would deal the pick and Antonio Davis to Dallas for Nash and Finley (and then the Mavs would use the extra money to get Kidd). This was too good to be true, of course.
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#12 Posted on 27.6.03 1018.05
Reposted on: 27.6.10 1018.16
OK, since we're throwing out names for ROY, let me throw out Jarvis Hayes who was the 10th overall pick by the Wizards...If Georgia would have been able to play in the postseason, he'd have gotten the same push that Dwayne Wade and Carmello got...The kid can flat out play, and he has the perfect NBA game IMO...You guys probably haven't seen him play, but just trust me on this one :-)
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#13 Posted on 27.6.03 1653.54
Reposted on: 27.6.10 1654.41

    Originally posted by Firecracker

      Originally posted by spf2119
      Just all of you wait. Rookie of the Year - Dwayne Wade. He is going to come out more ready than anyone else to contribute immediately in the NBA this year.


    And who picked him up? My Miami Heat! ;-P



Well, we all saw how well Caron Butler did there... if Riley's gonna be patient enough to let the young'uns get some experience, they'll be a pretty good team very soon.

And of course, my team was just there. West's a nice pick, but he's not a WHOMP-ASS (tm) pick. He won't suck, but that's it.
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#14 Posted on 27.6.03 2151.07
Reposted on: 27.6.10 2156.02
Speaking of West....

I hope Jerry knew what he was doing last night. After seeing those bastard Warriors draft the guy we wanted so badly (and why the hell DID they do that?), I'm wondering if he just panicked and decided to opt for a deal with the Celtics. Dahntay's a good defender, Bell's a good scorer, but Bell's also a point guard, of which we have 3 already. Maybe Jerry's looking to deal a PG (I can only hope), or he might have plans for Bell at the 2 as well.

We need a lot more than that, though. Oh well. One more year floundering.... can we move to the Eastern conference? Please?

As for ROY, I figured that Pietrus WOULD be a darkhorse.... but you already know how I feel about the team he plays for. Maybe Darko, but I get the feeling he's just learning the ropes this year. For some reason, I'm tempted to say T.J. Ford. He'll be playing alongside Gary Payton (assuming he stays, which seems likely right now), so he should flourish. Of course, that's dependant on if he can take his team to the playoffs, and if they can get past the first round.

However... Reece Gaines. Heard it here first. (Heard it here last.)

Clean-up award goes to the Knicks, who get both players they wanted with the #9 pick. Man, it had to suck to be Lampe, didn't it?
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