I know Darko hasnt turned out to be the real #2 pick in the draft that everyone thought he should have been, but its mostly Browns fault for not playing him and that fact he played on a very good team with lots of depth. But if he turns out to be as half as good as he was hyped to be, i could only dream of a frontline of Dwight and Darko. Both very young players with high potential can be very good for this franchise. Not to mention Jameer playing along side them.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting smokrockz:</div><div class="quote_post">I know Darko hasnt turned out to be the real #2 pick in the draft that everyone thought he should have been, but its mostly Browns fault for not playing him and that fact he played on a very good team with lots of depth. But if he turns out to be as half as good as he was hyped to be, i could only dream of a frontline of Dwight and Darko. Both very young players with high potential can be very good for this franchise. Not to mention Jameer playing along side them.</div> You and me both. You gotta be optimistic with 2 guys under 21 years of age that were drafted no later than #2 in the draft that are both near 7 foot(or over in Darko's case). I think that this would be a great deal as long as we protect the 1st for top 3 or top 5. (just in case we win the lotto)
since darko's a magic I guess we will see dwight and darko on the same court. I think for atleast now he will be a good backup to battie, battie is playin very good of late. I hope this project works.. we need something to go right in the franchise other than dwight.
You guys sound like us Pistons fans 3 years ago. Enjoy airballs, balls boiuncing off his face and stupid turnovers and fouls.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Cdub100:</div><div class="quote_post"> You guys sound like us Pistons fans 3 years ago. Enjoy airballs, balls boiuncing off his face and stupid turnovers and fouls.</div> Enjoy Kelvin Cato in a suit. That's all you will get out of him this year.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting GatorsowntheSEC:</div><div class="quote_post">Enjoy Kelvin Cato in a suit. That's all you will get out of him this year.</div> Ya i'm sure detroit is really prying Cato plays....they don't care. They didn't get him for his playing, they got him for his expiring contract. Believe me, they won't lose any sleep if he stays in a suit for the rest of the year.
The rumors are that Detroit is shopping Cato for another point guard that could help them make a postseason run (similar to the Heat's Gary Payton player). Kelvin Cato may never play a single game for the Pistons.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting GatorsowntheSEC:</div><div class="quote_post">Enjoy Kelvin Cato in a suit. That's all you will get out of him this year.</div> I hope he never steps foot in the Palace. They can cut him out right or trade him for a back up PG. Only reason we have him is to save cap space Darko and Arroyo was taking up next year so we can resign Billups and Ben
That's why we love this deal, because we got both of them who will contribute for a guy that has been injured his 2 years in Orlando and a 1st next year. This is essentially a low risk, high reward type deal for us.
As I mentioned in another thread Darko isn't really lazy just really unmotivated, he never cares during garbage time because he is embarrassed just being out there against scrubs. Darko has a huge ego and still sees himself as some kind of great player. He also can't stay on the floor long enough due to fouls. I will be surprised If he can stay on the floor longer than 15 minutes. Due to picking up bad fouls. Once he realises how to stay away from going after the offensive player then he will be a better player. One thing he can do well is block shots. As for Arroyo, won't be long until Magic fans hate the guy. He works hard but makes terrible decisions and has bad shot selection.
The key for the Magic right now modeling their team after the San Antonio Spurs. I think the potential is there for Howard & Milic to be just as effective as Duncan & Nesterovic. Just looking at the stat comparison (I know numbers aren't everything) Tim Duncan (6'11/260lbs) 19.5PPG / 11.5RPG/ 2.0BPG in 35.7MPG Dwigh Howard (6'11/240lbs) 15.4PPG / 12.6RPG / 1.6BPG in 37.4MPG Rasho Nesterovic (7'0/270lbs) 5.3PPG / 4.3RPG / 1.3BPG in 21.5MPG Darko Milic (7'1/250lbs) I know the Magic and PJ Carlisemo flirted during the summer. I'd pursue him again this summer and fire Brian Hill. I know PJ wasn't a very good headcoach the first two times around, but with his experience under Popovich, he can mold the foundation of this young team. Howard is already defensive minded, and Darko has been seen first hand how to win with defense. I'm sure he learned a few tricks of the trade going against Ben Wallace in practice the last 3 years. Having these two as the cornerstones is a great starting ground to resurrect this franchise. Steve Francis is going to fetch the Magic something, ideally they get either cap relief or more defensive players in the trade. Then they can spin Grant Hill into the star perimeter player they'll need, 2007 has a lot of options available. DeShawn Stevenson has really improved defensively for the Magic, so also fits into the direction of building this team like the Spurs. I'm not sure if the Magic front office has the same vision, but this would be the direction I would steer this franchise towards.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting shapecity:</div><div class="quote_post"> I know the Magic and PJ Carlisemo flirted during the summer. I'd pursue him again this summer and fire Brian Hill. I know PJ wasn't a very good headcoach the first two times around, but with his experience under Popovich, he can mold the foundation of this young team. Howard is already defensive minded, and Darko has been seen first hand how to win with defense. I'm sure he learned a few tricks of the trade going against Ben Wallace in practice the last 3 years. </div> Could you please give us a substantial reason that Hill should be fired? "PJ Carlesimo studied under Poppovich!" is a terrible answer.
Darko and Arroyo if they stink we can trade them, but all we lose is a 1st rd pick, it doesnt matter that much we lost one this year. anything the can do whether it is make one shot or just go in to foul is more than cato did this season. i hope darko wants to play and sees himself playin with dwight to make a pretty badass frontcourt of the future.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Chuck:</div><div class="quote_post">Could you please give us a substantial reason that Hill should be fired? "PJ Carlesimo studied under Poppovich!" is a terrible answer.</div> I can definitely elaborate on the coaching suggestion. Brian Hill's only successful season was coaching the Shaq/Penny duo. Let's be realistic, any coach could have come in and looked great with those two on their roster. Still despite all the talent the Magic had, they never won the NBA Title and Brian Hill's post season coaching record is only 18-18. I think the only reason the Magic brought him back was his name and past history in Orlando. However, the Magic teams he coached during 1993, 1994, and 1995 were far more talented than the team he has now. If he couldn't win the title then, what makes you believe he can do it with less? The reason why I don't like coaches like Brian Hill is because they don't get the most out of their supporting cast. He doesn't bring out the best in his role players and place them in areas to succeed on the court. His coaching performance in Vancouver was a better indication of just how poor a coach he really is in the NBA. Great coaches don't go through seasons of 19 wins and 8 wins. I'm not saying PJ Carlisemo is the best choice, but he has learned a great deal coaching in San Antonio as an assistant the last few seasons. Having a coach who's won it all is a huge edge for developing these young teams. These coaches have the ultimate respect of players who want to win titles. Just look at some of the more successful young coaches in the league and track their career paths. The successful ones all have NBA Final experience and can pass on to the young players the type of commitment it takes to win an NBA Title. Lawrence Frank mentored by Byron Scott Mike Brown mentored by Gregg Popovich & Rick Carlisle Avery Johnson mentored by Gregg Popovich & Don Nelson Rick Carlisle mentored by Chuck Daly & Larry Bird If the Magic build their team using the San Antonio Spurs Blueprint for success, wouldn't you want one of the architects of their blueprint running the show? PJ Carlisemo would be the top canidate if they went that direction.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting shapecity:</div><div class="quote_post">I can definitely elaborate on the coaching suggestion. Brian Hill's only successful season was coaching the Shaq/Penny duo. Let's be realistic, any coach could have come in and looked great with those two on their roster. Still despite all the talent the Magic had, they never won the NBA Title and Brian Hill's post season coaching record is only 18-18. I think the only reason the Magic brought him back was his name and past history in Orlando. However, the Magic teams he coached during 1993, 1994, and 1995 were far more talented than the team he has now. If he couldn't win the title then, what makes you believe he can do it with less? The reason why I don't like coaches like Brian Hill is because they don't get the most out of their supporting cast. He doesn't bring out the best in his role players and place them in areas to succeed on the court. His coaching performance in Vancouver was a better indication of just how poor a coach he really is in the NBA. Great coaches don't go through seasons of 19 wins and 8 wins. I'm not saying PJ Carlisemo is the best choice, but he has learned a great deal coaching in San Antonio as an assistant the last few seasons. Having a coach who's won it all is a huge edge for developing these young teams. These coaches have the ultimate respect of players who want to win titles. Just look at some of the more successful young coaches in the league and track their career paths. The successful ones all have NBA Final experience and can pass on to the young players the type of commitment it takes to win an NBA Title. Lawrence Frank mentored by Byron Scott Mike Brown mentored by Gregg Popovich & Rick Carlisle Avery Johnson mentored by Gregg Popovich & Don Nelson Rick Carlisle mentored by Chuck Daly & Larry Bird If the Magic build their team using the San Antonio Spurs Blueprint for success, wouldn't you want one of the architects of their blueprint running the show? PJ Carlisemo would be the top canidate if they went that direction.</div> Excellent response. I wish more posters could pull this off; you're slowly but surelyswaying me to your side. I just have seen some flashes of really good team basketball with Brian Hill this year, and if he can get some fans back into the organization, maybe we can get that new arena we really need. However, I still believe Brian Hill should at least be given a chance to prove himself. I think he deserves at least one more year, (the rest of this season and a good portion of next season). Would you admit that he has brought some good out in players this year? DeShawn as an individual for example, and at least towards the beginning of the season he had the starters finally playing as a cohesive unit. Last year, we would pass once and shoot. That's a , but Hill has seemed to make progress with this problem, although we're regressing at this point.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting shapecity:</div><div class="quote_post">I can definitely elaborate on the coaching suggestion. Brian Hill's only successful season was coaching the Shaq/Penny duo. Let's be realistic, any coach could have come in and looked great with those two on their roster. Still despite all the talent the Magic had, they never won the NBA Title and Brian Hill's post season coaching record is only 18-18. I think the only reason the Magic brought him back was his name and past history in Orlando. However, the Magic teams he coached during 1993, 1994, and 1995 were far more talented than the team he has now. If he couldn't win the title then, what makes you believe he can do it with less? The reason why I don't like coaches like Brian Hill is because they don't get the most out of their supporting cast. He doesn't bring out the best in his role players and place them in areas to succeed on the court. His coaching performance in Vancouver was a better indication of just how poor a coach he really is in the NBA. Great coaches don't go through seasons of 19 wins and 8 wins. I'm not saying PJ Carlisemo is the best choice, but he has learned a great deal coaching in San Antonio as an assistant the last few seasons. Having a coach who's won it all is a huge edge for developing these young teams. These coaches have the ultimate respect of players who want to win titles. Just look at some of the more successful young coaches in the league and track their career paths. The successful ones all have NBA Final experience and can pass on to the young players the type of commitment it takes to win an NBA Title. Lawrence Frank mentored by Byron Scott Mike Brown mentored by Gregg Popovich & Rick Carlisle Avery Johnson mentored by Gregg Popovich & Don Nelson Rick Carlisle mentored by Chuck Daly & Larry Bird If the Magic build their team using the San Antonio Spurs Blueprint for success, wouldn't you want one of the architects of their blueprint running the show? PJ Carlisemo would be the top canidate if they went that direction.</div> Excellent response. I wish more posters could pull this off; you're slowly but surely swaying me to your side. I just have seen some flashes of really good team basketball with Brian Hill this year, and if he can get some fans back into the organization, maybe we can get that new arena we really need. However, I still believe Brian Hill should at least be given a chance to prove himself. I think he deserves at least one more year, (the rest of this season and a good portion of next season). Would you admit that he has brought some good out in players this year? DeShawn as an individual for example, and at least towards the beginning of the season he had the starters finally playing as a cohesive unit. Last year, we would pass once and shoot. That's a , but Hill has seemed to make progress with this problem, although we're regressing at this point in the season.
<u>Positives of Brian Hill</u> According to Swish15's interview with players, they all had the same response about Brian Hill's impact. He immediately brought in a defensive approach to the game, and every player interviewed felt they had improved defensively. Steve Francis wants to remain in Orlando despite possibly being traded to a playoff contender. This dispells all rumors he's unhappy in Orlando. Brian Hill has always had a knock on him not being able to get along with his superstar players. Maybe he's learned from those mistakes and has adapted to being more flexible in handling his superstar players, without creating double standards with the rest of the players. I think a good test for Brian Hill will be how he handles Carlos Arroyo. Here's a player who was on the brink of becoming a star and then found himself getting phased out by 3 respectable coaches, Jerry Sloan, Larry Brown, and Flip Saunders. If Brian Hill can get Carlos Arroyo playing like he was for Team Puerto Rico in the World Games a few summers ago, then you have to give Hill more time on the Orlando bench. Same goes with Darko Milic. Now in Orlando these two players aren't playing under the same pressure and circumstances. Orlando is not contending for a title and isn't good enough to be a playoff caliber team. I like what Brian Hill has done with DeShawn Stevenson. For the first time in his career Stevenson is playing defense. I think Brian Hill should coach the remainder of this season and stick around if you start seeing some strides taken by the Magic in the second half. Right now it's all about building positives that will carry over the summer and into next season. In the back of my mind though is this. I'm not convinced Brian Hill is the coach to bring this team a Championship down the line, even if he does all of the above. I think you have to be part of winning a title before you can win one yourself as a coach. I agree, Brian Hill at least deserves a chance for now.
