Darko: I didn't work hard with Pistons

Foye · Post #1 » by **Foye** » Sat Dec 11, 2010 3:36 pm

Darko Milicic, the second overall pick in the 2003 NBA Draft, took responsibility for his failures as a member of the Pistons earlier in his career.

"I didn't handle it well in Detroit," Milicic said. "I was kind of frustrated because I didn't play. I didn't work as hard as I could. In this league, it takes a lot to become a good player.

"I did do a little bit, but not enough."

Read more: http://basketball.realgm.com/src_wireta ... z17olKhe8f

I love Darko. It takes nuts to admit those things. Hopefully, he can continue to improve for us.

shangrila · Post #2 » by **shangrila** » Sat Dec 11, 2010 3:44 pm

I take it you mean "guts", but I'm not that surprised after what Detroit did to him. It must have been tough being in a situation like that, especially at 19 and in a new country.

cpfsf · Post #3 » by **cpfsf** » Sat Dec 11, 2010 3:46 pm

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/basketball/knicks/2010/10/06/2010-10-06_knicks_struggle_with_amare_stoudemire_out_of_lineup_lost_final_european_exhibiti.html'

While D'Antoni used mostly backups in the fourth, Minnesota had three starters on the floor to conclude the game, including Ridnour and former Knick Darko Milicic. Beforehand, Milicic ventured toward the Knicks' bench and made peace with D'Antoni. Milicic accepted responsibility for not working hard enough once he fell out of favor with the team last season and apologized to D'Antoni and his brother, assistant coach Dan D'Antoni.

"I said 'It didn't work out,'" Milicic said. "I wished it worked out. I loved New York. I thought it was going to work out but when I got there and saw how it was going to be it wasn't for me. For me, last year I needed a lot of playing time to get my confidence back. Here it's different, this year I came in shape"

http://m.si.com/news/sp/to_nba_sports/detail/3151242;jsessionid=2C6BE56820F9A3699BF713F4821D35B3.cnnsi2

Milicic: I enjoy it a lot more. In the past, I kind of stepped away from basketball in the summer and I didn't play much. I didn't worry about basketball. I thought it worked but it wasn't even close. I've learned a lot of things. I came to Minneapolis for four weeks and I was working with [strength and conditioning coach] Dave Vitel and [assistant coach] Dave Wohl and we worked on balance and shooting and everything. Then after that, [assistant coach] Bill Laimbeer came all the way to Serbia for two weeks and then [assistant] Reggie Theus came for two weeks. We worked on everything -- footwork, shooting, everything.

http://www.startribune.com/sports/wolves/103799064.html

Milicic has lost 10 pounds since last season, when he reported to the Wolves after a February trade very much out of shape.

Post #4 » by **Klomp** » Sat Dec 11, 2010 9:16 pm

shangrila wrote:I take it you mean "guts", but I'm not that surprised after what Detroit did to him. It must have been tough being in a situation like that, especially at 19 and in a new country.

It takes nuts too.

sfballa13 · Post #5 » by **sfballa13** » Sat Dec 11, 2010 9:21 pm

Wow this is awesome guys.

I am a Pistons fan and an original Darko supporter.

I always said if we hired a full time retired big man to coach Darko it would make a huge difference.

To read the comments he made about Laimbeer and Theus and how the coaches were invested in him is great news. You guys are keeping Darko motivated and he will really show his true potential next year if he can get into even better playing shape.

This shouldnt be a problem as Kahn, Rambis, and the rest of the staff have really worked wonders for Darko.

Congrats you are finally getting value out of a player the whole league woulda picked #1 if Lebron wasnt available.

pumunga · Post #6 » by **pumunga** » Sat Dec 11, 2010 10:38 pm

I dont take this as a good thing. Sounds alot like Randy Moss to me. He didn't get playing time as a 19 year old foreign kid on a championship caliber NBA team, so he doesnt work hard? thats bogus-- he should have been working twice as hard to play, not half as hard .

shangrila · Post #7 » by **shangrila** » Sat Dec 11, 2010 10:49 pm

Klomp wrote:
shangrila wrote:I take it you mean "guts", but I'm not that surprised after what Detroit did to him. It must have been tough being in a situation like that, especially at 19 and in a new country.

It takes nuts too.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ApZRobOudQA&feature=related[/youtube]

horaceworthy · Post #8 » by **horaceworthy** » Sat Dec 11, 2010 10:53 pm

pumunga wrote:I dont take this as a good thing. Sounds alot like Randy Moss to me. He didn't get playing time as a 19 year old foreign kid on a championship caliber NBA team, so he doesnt work hard? thats bogus-- he should have been working twice as hard to play, not half as hard .

Acknowledging his past mistakes isn't exactly a Moss-ian trait. It's fairly well known that Darko didn't handle the situation in Detroit well. It's better that he acknowledges that than if he were to be delusional about it.

wilt · Post #9 » by **wilt** » Sat Dec 11, 2010 10:54 pm

pumunga wrote:I dont take this as a good thing.

I don´t take this as anything, we are 8 years removed from those days.

People change, he aparently did. He has a wife, kid (2nd one on the way) and is working hard after signing a longterm contract, i´d argue that´s not really comparable to what a 17 or 18 year old did or didn´t do.

teven_1 · Post #10 » by **teven_1** » Sat Dec 11, 2010 11:54 pm

horaceworthy wrote:
pumunga wrote:I dont take this as a good thing. Sounds alot like Randy Moss to me. He didn't get playing time as a 19 year old foreign kid on a championship caliber NBA team, so he doesnt work hard? thats bogus-- he should have been working twice as hard to play, not half as hard .

Acknowledging his past mistakes isn't exactly a Moss-ian trait. It's fairly well known that Darko didn't handle the situation in Detroit well. It's better that he acknowledges that than if he were to be delusional about it.

yeah and you really can't discount Larry Browns role in the whole thing. I put a lot more blame on a vet coach than a 17 year old kid. Bottom line is that Larry Brown didn't do enough nor did he try and get the best out of the kid. You can say he had bigger fish to fry but I think he probably just gave up or was to stubborn to work with him

Zeitgeister · Post #11 » by **Zeitgeister** » Sun Dec 12, 2010 4:48 am

shangrila wrote:I take it you mean "guts", but I'm not that surprised after what Detroit did to him. It must have been tough being in a situation like that, especially at 19 and in a new country.

Haha. I read another article where Darko said it's a load of BS that the coach in Detroit thought he needed to learn something in practice from his teammates. He thought he deserved more playing time by virtue of his draft position. He says he would have asked to be traded if he was more focused on basketball.

I'm glad that he admitted that he was at fault in Detroit though, that's a step in the right direction.

cpfsf · Post #12 » by **cpfsf** » Mon Dec 13, 2010 2:28 pm

Darko Milicic didn't arrive in New York from Serbia till last weekend, missing the entire series of pre-camp workouts. It was the first time Milicic had met Mike D'Antoni and Knick officials since the Draft Night trade in June.

On the surface, it was illustrative of Milicic's lack of dedication to his work – something he's been accused of during his underachieving career that began as the No. 2 pick in the draft by Detroit.

Yes, Mike D'Antoni wished the 7-foot Milicic had come early to join most of his mates. But he's given him a pass.

D'Antoni - "Gallinari showing signs of Darko"

When asked if he was surprised Milicic had reversed his career, D'Antoni remained defiant. "Nothing's reversed yet except he signed a contract," he said. "You can bust my chops later, but not yet."

As I mentioned earlier, Darko would go on to apologize to the Knicks staff.

"They go to him a lot, which is good," said Knicks' coach Mike D'Antoni, who excluded Milicic from the New York's rotation last season. "He went through a tough stretch early and got through that.

"Darko is a talented basketball player," D'Antoni continued. "No doubt about it. I'm happy for him. He's playing a lot better, and he needs to. It's good for him."

I feel all warm and fuzzy inside. Now if I can just get that taste of 5 hour energy out of my mouth.

funkatron101 · Post #13 » by **funkatron101** » Mon Dec 13, 2010 7:42 pm

Darko Apology Tour 2010 continues.

TheIceman82 · Post #14 » by **TheIceman82** » Tue Dec 14, 2010 11:13 am

Hi i'm new here and a longtime Darko follower since his early days back in Serbia.Not many people know that Darko wasn't very liked by his former teammates during his Hemmofarm days.He had a lousy attitude and was never a hard worker although very talented.He has lived without parent supervision since he was 15 and thus did what many teenagers do at his age and thats party hard..He should of stayed in europe till he was alteast 21 or 22,because when he went to the nba he was really just a raw talented bigman with not much experience.He never really earnt playing time in europe,although he did get quality minutes for someone who was 16 or 17.He thought by just turning up and bing billed as the next great big thing from europe was enough to crack the nba.I see now he has changed his way,he's matured got married and became a father.He's still young enough to become a solid nba role player,but will never turn out the warant a 2nd pick in the draft.Not because he's not talented enough,its because he doesn't have the hunger and dedication to become a great nba player.He might end up being a 12ppg,8rb,3bl,3ast guy in the nba and thats if he keeps working at his game.Time will tell.

re49gb_2gho32fp · Post #15 » by **re49gb_2gho32fp** » Tue Dec 14, 2010 12:10 pm

i think he should be able to average more than 12ppg. just work hard on your postmoves darko and use the hook less. Do some pump fakes, draw some fouls ffs. Can someone please tell him to go strong to the rim?

Welcome btw.

shangrila · Post #16 » by **shangrila** » Tue Dec 14, 2010 12:24 pm

I think 12ppg suits him and the team fine. No need to have 3 20ppg scorers in the front court.

re49gb_2gho32fp · Post #17 » by **re49gb_2gho32fp** » Tue Dec 14, 2010 12:26 pm

That might be one of the more awkvard things ive heard in quite a while. Im still trying to grasp it as i type this.

shangrila · Post #18 » by **shangrila** » Tue Dec 14, 2010 12:41 pm

Awkward?

Anyway, I'd rather he focus more on defence and facilitating then actually scoring. 12ppg means he's a threat to score but not the main option and ultimately that's where he's better off.

re49gb_2gho32fp · Post #19 » by **re49gb_2gho32fp** » Tue Dec 14, 2010 1:54 pm

First, what is definied under frontcourt is usually PF/C in my understanding.
And i honestly don't see how having three players scoring as much as possible can't hurt a team as long as all are devout to defense.
i think that, as long as hes a focal points on offense- meaning catalyzing the ball, his chances of improving are valid. I hope im not wrong. he's still shooting terribly for a big man, mostly due to settling for hooks (sometimes tough one, where id wish he would've just taken a regular jumpshot with two hands).

shangrila · Post #20 » by **shangrila** » Tue Dec 14, 2010 2:41 pm

Front court consists of the SF, PF and C positions. The back court is the PG and SG ones.

And having them all scoring 20ppg wouldn't necessarily be bad, it'd just mean the team would likely be getting zero production out of the back court, which you can't do in the NBA and expect to be competitive.