It's Darko's Time...

It's Darko's time to shine baby.  I've been waiting for Darko Milicic, still just 20 and 7 feet tall, to walk into the NBA and be the next Toni Kukoc.  Hasn't quite happened the way I figured.  He was drafted by Larry Brown and the Pistons who sat him right on the end of the bench and was never given a chance.  Hard to challenge Larry Brown, and now with Flip Saunders at the helm for the Pistons, being NBA Champs two years ago and being one of the top two teams in the NBA the past couple years. 

Darko was drafted # 2 in the 2003 NBA drafted behind Lebron James and ahead of Carmelo Anthony, Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh...among others.  Mr James has gone on to be an All-Star the past couple years, been Rookie of the Year and average's 25.8 points per game.  The Denver Nuggets have been helped by Carmelo Anthony's smooth 22.2 points per game.  The Miami Heat have enjoyed Wade's 22.4 points.  How about the Toronto Raptors and Chris Bosh?  I didn't think he'd be averaging 16.3 points. 

 Step out of the shadow's Darko....

Then we have Darko.  He's won an NBA title.  Yet, he's never seen the light of day of an All-Star game or the All-Star weekend for that matter.  He's averaged a whopping 1.6 points per game.  What do we have that to base that on exactly?  Two minutes at the end of a half or at the end of a game when Coach Brown stuck him in to give Rasheed Wallace a breather?  Give me a break.  I'm sorry, but if you are going to draft a guy # 2 in the draft, give the guy a shot.  I understand how good Rasheed Wallace, Ben Wallace and Antonio McDyess are, but that's just wrong.  Larry Brown said he questioned Milicic's 'work ethic and desire' in his first two years in Detroit.  That's crap.  He never gave rookies any chance of playing.  He wanted them on the bench to learn the ropes. 

"He's a young big guy with a lot of potential,'' said Otis Smith, Magic assistant general manager. "If you're going to take a run at a player, you want to make that run at a 7-foot player.''  I see it too Otis.  Give him a shot.  That's all I'm asking. 

Playing alongside Dwight Howard in the front court of the Magic line-up is very intriguing and I'm hoping they can mesh together well, but what are the chances of Steve Francis given either of them the ball?  Slim to none. 

Mark my words Eastern Conference foes...Darko will shine.