Darko Appreciation Thread

[SD2042]

If anyone wishes to drop off any thx of appreciation to Darko for his two yrs as a Grizz. Feel free to do it here.


One thing I can say about Darko is that defensively he's solid and did held his own when that counted. Especially when he presented TD matchup problems when the Grizz played the Spurs. I just wish that his offense could've been utilized a bit more as he did showed he has the capabilities to spread it out a bit from his Orlando days. Good luck with the NYK Darko.

[GrizzledGrizzFan]

I was happy when Darko was signed and happy with his play, especially defensively, when he was healthy. The only disappointing part of the Darko experiment was his health.

SD - go on and get a Marc appreciation thread started. He will be traded sooner than later. No way the Grizz will spend more than MLE money on 2 centers. Thabeet signals the final chapter to the Gasol story in Memphis. The only question is whether it will be this year or next when the Grizz claim their baubles and trinkets...

[Knicksick]

Hey guys Knick fan here. I just wanted to ask you guys about some of Darko's strengths and weaknesses.

1.How is his man-toman defense?Can he hold his own against decent/good frontcourt players in the post or is he going to get destroyed by them?

2.How is his shotblocking?does he alter a few shots every game or not?

3.How is his help defense and weakside shotblocking?

4.How are his hands?Is he able to finish around the rim or does he blow layups,dunks?

5.How is his intensity level and hustle?Does he try or does he play with little intensity?

6.How is his shot?Decent or below average?

7.How would you rate his ability to run the floor and his athleticism overall?

An answer would be much appreciated.

[jefe]

Hey guys Knick fan here. I just wanted to ask you guys about some of Darko's strengths and weaknesses.

1.How is his man-toman defense?Can he hold his own against decent/good frontcourt players in the post or is he going to get destroyed by them?

His man-to-man defense is probably the best facet of his game. It's not the type of stuff that gets on sportscenter, but he knows how to get position and use his body to make opposing bigmen work for baskets - he hardly ever gets blocks on his own man (but who does?).

2.How is his shotblocking?does he alter a few shots every game or not?

His off the ball shotblocking is pretty good. In Memphis - because our perimeter defense was a sieve - he got quite a few blocks on opposing teams' drives to the basket - he also picked up alot of fouls trying to protect the paint from quicker guards.

3.How is his help defense and weakside shotblocking?

Decent enough. I don't really recall him blatantly missing rotations or coming to double too slow a la Stro Swift.

4.How are his hands?Is he able to finish around the rim or does he blow layups,dunks?

He has good hands, I don't really remember him being prone to bobbling passes. However, he almost never finishes with a dunk; it's always a soft little layup that he misses way too much.

5.How is his intensity level and hustle?Does he try or does he play with little intensity?

He usually has plenty of intensity - see if you can find the clip of him ripping his jersey in half down the middle like Hulk Hogan when he got whistled for a foul he didn't think he deserved. However, a few times when he came out and got two quick fouls, he seemed to disappear and play with little intensity for the rest of the game

6.How is his shot?Decent or below average?

His "shot" is terrible! He really only has one move/shot - a left handed hook that goes in 30% of the time. Honestly, his back to the basket repertoire makes Dwight Howard look like Olajuwan.

7.How would you rate his ability to run the floor and his athleticism overall?

Decent enough for a 7 footer - he's not a stiff.

A

[GrizzledGrizzFan]

1.How is his man-toman defense?Can he hold his own against decent/good frontcourt players in the post or is he going to get destroyed by them?
Ask Tim Duncan and Yao. Against slower/less mobile (yet still talented) bigs, his man to man is above average - when healthy.

2.How is his shotblocking?does he alter a few shots every game or not?
Decent - when healthy.

3.How is his help defense and weakside shotblocking?
Help, not so much. He's at his best man to man and not having to think or focus on anyone else - when healthy.

4.How are his hands?Is he able to finish around the rim or does he blow layups,dunks?
His hands are above average. His not wanting to finish with a dunk will quickly infuriate the Knicks fan base though. He will get cutesy with the Euro finger roll and blow point blank opportunity after point blank opportunity again and again. When he dunks, it's a site to behold. I've seen him change the tenor of games when he gets aggressive. Then "poof" he's a flower again. Oh, that's when healthy.

5.How is his intensity level and hustle?Does he try or does he play with little intensity?
Gives very intense interviews. He's the most consistently inconsistent player with his level of ability that I've ever seen. When healthy.

6.How is his shot?Decent or below average?
Decent, if he'd learn how to consistently finish with a dunk. When healthy.

7.How would you rate his ability to run the floor and his athleticism overall?
Runs incredibly well (when healthy) and is very athletic. Which makes his inconsistency all the more frustrating.

Bottom line - he is what he is. Well worth the price of admission to exchange for QRich for y'all.

[Knicksick]

Thanks a lot guys and good luck with Thabeet. Once starving for decent Centers you now have two good Centers and should be set there.......