<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">SAN ANTONIO - Detroit reserve Darko Milicic, the No. 2 pick in the 2003 draft who has yet to play regular minutes for the Pistons, completed his second season Thursday night. Two years later, we still don't know enough about Milicic to gauge whether the pick was a wise one. Milicic isn't really sure where he stands, either, and that has resulted in deep frustration for the Serbian native, who turned 20 just this week. ''The first year for me was a growing process,'' Milicic said. ``I was watching the guys [play]. The second year, for me, I think I just lost my year. For me, the best way to improve is to just play. I just lost my year, and I can't get it back. I'm just going to go forward. 'I came here really young, and everybody said, `Be patient.' You know it's going to be a long time, but I just want to play right now.'' Milicic didn't get that opportunity this season, because the Pistons' championship-caliber roster did not lend itself to developing a young player. In his rookie season, 2003-04, Milicic played in 34 games, averaging 4.7 minutes. This season, his playing time barely increased -- he appeared in 37 games and averaged 6.9 minutes. He admits that playing alongside big men such as Rasheed Wallace and Ben Wallace in practice helps his development, but even that can't compensate for his lack of playing in live action. 'They say just, `Be patient, we believe in you, and just work hard,' '' Milicic said of his conversations with the Detroit brass. Asked if he believes next season will provide more chance to shine, Milicic remained unsure. ''There must be,'' he said, ``because there was none this year.''</div> Source
This summer is going to be a huge one for Darko, I think If Flip takes over as coach then you should see his minutes increase and have him as part of the rotation.
Larry is known to be a coach that dosent like to play rookies big minutes. With a new coach I think darko will do a lot better.
I dont blame the guy two years of bench duty isnt to great. I remember watching sportcenter and they were talking about hes better then lebron james, of course hes not but they should atleast give him a chance.
If Larry Brown comes back, I see Darko asking for a trade. They say he has the skills to be a solid NBA Player. He should get some time for the Pistons, and if not Detroit, some other team.
I think that Darko will play really well next season if Larry does deside to leave Detorit, and as much as he may hate to admit it, the reason will be Larry Brown. Larry does not play young guys, and at times that may hurt there confidence, but he is a teacher none the less. He really does teach young guys a lot without playing them. When he was in Philadelphia he had Samuel Dalembert in his rookie season I believe, but never played him due to the fact he had a season ending injury early in his rookie campain. However, when he came back and did well the season after Larry left he was quick to credit Larry for helping him with his game. I believe Darko in time will do the same. It is always frustrating for players when they are not playing, but a lot of great talents went through it Jermaine Oneal all those years in Portland and Tracy for a couple seasons in Toronto. So it is nothing to get down about.
T-Mac was never a bench warmer in Toronto... 17 mpg his first year 18 his second... but we all get your point that your tryign to get across.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Mr.Wade:</div><div class="quote_post">T-Mac was never a bench warmer in Toronto... 17 mpg his first year 18 his second... but we all get your point that your tryign to get across.</div> Yea, what I meant was that though he did play in Toronto he never got to really show case his talents for a couple seasons. Considering he played behind Carter, and 17-18 minutes a game is not really a lot of time to show what you can do. It took sometime for him to reach the level were he was getting big minutes.
I feel for Milicic, but its hard to go against Detroit's reasoning...I mean, they have made it to 2 Finals (winning one) with him playing sparingly...plus, when they drafted him, they had no clue that the PF tandem would be Rasheed Wallace and Antonio McDyess within the next two years...I mean, seriously, who are you gonna sit so you can play this guy?...
