ESPN's (Abbott) Darko vs Shaq bet

[re49gb_2gho32fp]

Prior to season start, as some of you know Henry Abbott had a little fun juxtaposing Darko and Shaq going into the season.

http://espn.go.com/blog/truehoop/post/_ ... icic-a-bet

The bet

So, here's the deal: I'm not saying Milicic will score more, play better D, have a better PER or anything else. I'm saying that over the course of this season, smart analysis will show he'll produce more at both ends of the floor, in total. In other words, heck yes we'll factor in defense, and heck yes, I'll take the advantage I'll get from the reality that he's likely to play more minutes.

And that may not be fair in judging the better player, but it's fair when we're talking about the value of signing this or that player -- players who can get on the floor are more valuable than players who can't.

If the two have similar production, at both ends of the floor, we'll appoint some kind of commission of stat geeks to poke into all the best available metrics -- PER, SCHOENE, plus/minus, WinScore, or whatever they want to use -- to break the tie.

Would someone kind and knowledgeable break down the bolded?

If so, would off been nice to update this so peeps can follow it regularly.

[teven_1]

yea I remember this. I haven't done the research, but I'm pretty sure Darko will be outplaying Shaq in most every category.

Tom Ziller has eased up on his Darko bashing from the start of the season.

[teven_1]

Also don't want to start a whole new thread for this, but if anyone can tell me how to shrink a picture down to make it my avatar that would be awesome.

[Tha Juice]

Also don't want to start a whole new thread for this, but if anyone can tell me how to shrink a picture down to make it my avatar that would be awesome.

if you upload your picture to tinypic you can click on the edit symbol on the right side of the page and then crop it to 80 x 80 pixels I believe. If not send me the link to the picture you want and I'll do it for you

[teven_1]

Also don't want to start a whole new thread for this, but if anyone can tell me how to shrink a picture down to make it my avatar that would be awesome.

if you upload your picture to tinypic you can click on the edit symbol on the right side of the page and then crop it to 80 x 80 pixels I believe. If not send me the link to the picture you want and I'll do it for you

thanks

[re49gb_2gho32fp]

What carks me is whether this 'smart analysis' he's taling about is just an expression or actually an instrument to gauge factors.

[teven_1]

What carks me is whether this 'smart analysis' he's taling about is just an expression or actually an instrument to gauge factors.

he left it broad because he clearly doesn't have much faith in Darko either. He clearly thinks neither of them will do much

[teven_1]

btw tonight will be important

[Krapinsky]

Shaq has such an easier role for the Celtics that it's hard to compare. I think both players have exceeded expectations though and the argument/comparison was sort of premised on Shaq not doing that. Right now I'd probably give the edge to Shaq, but it's close.

[shangrila]

If Darko doesn't outplay a 38 year old Shaq...well, I'd think it'd be time to start looking for a replacement.

[Saltine]

Comparison over here;
http://www.basketball-reference.com/pla ... i?id=cObXh

Code: Select all

Player G  MP  FG  FGA  FG%  FT FTA  FT% ORB DRB TRB AST STL BLK TOV PF  PTS
Darko 33 24.2 4.1 8.8 .467 1.0 1.8 .576 2.0 3.2 5.2 1.9 0.6 2.3 2.1 3.3  9.3
Shaq  24 21.5 3.9 5.8 .669 2.5 4.3 .567 1.5 4.0 5.4 0.6 0.4 1.0 1.6 3.5 10.2


[teven_1]

it's close

[[RCG]]

I think Darko edges Shaq due to the assists and blocks, but it's close.

[re49gb_2gho32fp]

Shaq has such an easier role for the Celtics that it's hard to compare.

This.

And don't also forget that the bet concerns both ends of the floor.

[teven_1]

I'm surprised by Shaqs numbers. You have to give the man credit, even at 38 he is hard to contain. Jesus.

Overall, I give it to Darko. It's interesting (because no one would ever try and trade for Darko) but there's not too many big men I'd give him up for (although there are a couple obviously, but not as many as you'd think and based on potential almost none).

Darko still doesn't get that much respect, how did his crazy pass last night not make the NBA highlight video of the Minny-Celtcs game? Darko's highlights almost never make the video and when they do the commentator rarely discusses them.

[Greco21]

I'm surprised by Shaqs numbers. You have to give the man credit, even at 38 he is hard to contain. Jesus.

Overall, I give it to Darko. It's interesting (because no one would ever try and trade for Darko) but there's not too many big men I'd give him up for (although there are a couple obviously, but not as many as you'd think and based on potential almost none).

Darko still doesn't get that much respect, how did his crazy pass last night not make the NBA highlight video of the Minny-Celtcs game? Darko's highlights almost never make the video and when they do the commentator rarely discusses them.

That's true about many Minnesota plays that should be top 10 but you see the same guys again, again... its like they have allready run a survey on the favourite guys and they keep throwing their highlights again and again...

As far as it concerns Shaq. He has nothing to loose. He plays for fun but he is dedicated. His teamates are great and had no problem to adjust to the game. Boston did a much better job than Cleveland on that

[Someone Else]

Darko still doesn't get that much respect, how did his crazy pass last night not make the NBA highlight video of the Minny-Celtcs game? Darko's highlights almost never make the video and when they do the commentator rarely discusses them.

Agree, NBA is one dimensional, only star player get attentions, not star moves.