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http://www.cbssports.com/mcc/blogs/entr ... 4/26832339

one day, can't say I disagree...

If that day ever somehow comes, a tear of joy will drop from my eye i think. Or even perhaps several.

Darko will prevent Darko from becoming an allstar, but he has all the tools to be an allstar in today's NBA.

When you look at the rubbish that is on the allstar ballot this year, it's not too large of a stretch to think Darko could get in at some point.

I have to agree with Kahn, I think he has all the tools to play close to if not an all-star level. I think he has still has some game thats yet to be seen as well. Also, interesting that Kahn is out on the East coast again.

C.lupus wrote:When you look at the rubbish that is on the allstar ballot this year, it's not too large of a stretch to think Darko could get in at some point.

Im not even necessarily impressed with the centers out west with Yao and Oden not around. You've got Gasol and Bynum, the rest are all really a tier below.

You know, if you neglect the initial 11-12 games of the season where Darko played awful offensively (or say atleast erase 7-8 of them) and doing likewise with the 3-4 games where he played 1-5mins, the result would likely be a .50+%fg avg and 13+ppg. Rebounding would remain below average though. IM not saying this is all-star numbers, but its pretty decent to achieve with a hook shoot as your dominant weapon and drawing only 1-2 fouls per game.

(can't believe how many typing errors im making inthe last few months, too friggin stressed)

Darko Milicic, a player whose name has become virtually synonymous with draft bust, but whom Kahn gave a massive contract to last summer. Here's how the conversation unfolded.

Really, massive contract? There are NBA teams that would pay 4 years 20 million just for a defensive center. Doesn't he realize he is talking about the NBA where there are tons of terrible contracts all over. Hasheem Thabeet is making about the same as Darko this year

You guys need to put down the crack pipe. The dude has been in the league for over 7 years, and he's not playing any better for us than he played in Orlando. A magical jump in his mediocre production isn't going to happen.

His per 36 minute stats right now are 13.8 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 3.4 blocks. I'm guessing if you ignore his piss poor start, that's more like 15, 8.5, 3.4.

So basically, right now all he needs is more minutes and he'll be putting up near all-star numbers for a center in the west. You put those numbers on a winning, surprising team, and he could get on.

I'm guessing if you take out any player's poor games, and pretend they play big minutes by ignoring that they don't play big minutes because they are a foul machine, their numbers will look pretty good.

I doubt it's, he's still got a big stride to take just to get up to Kaman/Nene level and those guys arent even all stars

LordBaldric wrote:I'm guessing if you take out any player's poor games, and pretend they play big minutes by ignoring that they don't play big minutes because they are a foul machine, their numbers will look pretty good.

In general i agree with you here. We can't discount the bad games and assume he is going to play more minutes.

But I also think its hard to deny that he has shown flashes of being an All Star talent. But many players have shown flashes as well throughout history, and the thing that separates All-Stars from Non- All Stars is usually consistency. This is what Darko is missing...he can go a 5 game stretch where he looks like an all-star...and then he will go 5 games where he can't put it together. Whether its by injuries, foul trouble, bad games, no touches, etc. All Stars consistently make up for those things.

To me the biggest hindrance to Darko making the all-star game will be his teammates. I see Beasley and Love having more star appeal and impact to get to an all-star game before Darko. Even a winning team rarely sends 3 players to an all-star game, let alone a losing or average team. Then maybe Rubio shows up and performs above average...he would be a lock if he was having a good season compared to others, given his international popularity. If that core stays together, and they all play well, Darko will become the 4th choice for all-star.

I don't get Kahn's man-crush for Darko, all the while he downplayed Al's and Love's game.

Darko is, and I think forever will be, inconsistent, while showing flashes of brilliance. Just enough for fans and Kahn to continue to say "Some day."

It could only happen if the coaches voted him in, but even I would vote for someone else before even considering Darko.

OT, but seriously Ming is winning? China + casual NBA fans = Ming in 2011

LordBaldric wrote:I'm guessing if you take out any player's poor games, and pretend they play big minutes by ignoring that they don't play big minutes because they are a foul machine, their numbers will look pretty good.

we aren't taking out his bad games, we are taking out his shaky start that can be chalked up to rust and getting used to his new role. Any bad games since that are included (there just don't happen to be as many of them). This suggests an improvement, improvement people hope and assume will continue.

His fouls are high, he rarely fouls his own man, he is usually fouling someone else who has blown past his man and is driving to the hoop. Big difference, it's not like he's having trouble containing his own man 1 on 1 (he's quite good at that).

Overall, central to his chances are his weak competition. He doesn't really have to play at an all star level to be an all star...

Woth metioning here --

Darko has done well against just about all the premier big men he has faced: Duncan, Bogut, Gasol, Amare, Brook Lopez.

How has this not made it to the General Boards yet?!

People love bashing Kahn. People love bashing Darko. This would be perfect for'em.
I'm half thinking of opening it up myself just to feed on their ignorant and envious posts

First thing I did was ran to the Knicks forum. Literally ran. It's a long haul.

But seriously, is CBS Sports even a legit sports site?

breatnach wrote:How has this not made it to the General Boards yet?!

People love bashing Kahn. People love bashing Darko. This would be perfect for'em.
I'm half thinking of opening it up myself just to feed on their ignorant and envious posts

seriously when I read the headline "Kahn thinks Darko can be an All-Star" I was like "NO KAHN! DON'T DO IT! EVERYONE'S STILL UP IN ARMS ABOUT THE DIVAC COMPARISON!"
seriously if Kahn had a publicist I bet he would have considered suicide when he heard about this.


also I don't think CBS is that legit, they are definitely very opinionated (see the bottom of the article: "NO WAY DARKO every gets voted in" although they have a point)

There is such a dearth of centers that a winning record and say a line of 14-9-2.5 is probably all it would take to deserve a reserve spot. Though the coaches might just vote in a bunch of extra PF's.
Darko is never going to be more deserving than Love or Beasley, but from a positional standpoint I can see the argument he can get there if develops some consistentcy and stays healthy.