<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Darko or Batman? Sounds like a superhero comic-book duel, doesn't it? Actually, it was a competition between Tony Battie and Darko Milicic for the Orlando Magic's starting power-forward spot. And with almost all precincts reporting, the winner is . . . Batman. It's something of a surprise, considering Milicic, 21, finished strong last season after arriving in a trade from the Detroit Pistons. The pecking order between Battie and Milicic might change at some point. But heading into next Wednesday night's regular-season opener, Battie -- the 30-year-old veteran with the Batman tattoo on his arm -- has kept the job he has held the past two seasons. Battie will start alongside center Dwight Howard. "I'm very comfortable with all three of those guys, with any two being on the floor together," Coach Brian Hill said. "At the same time, Darko still hasn't got that game experience." Milicic still should receive ample playing time this season -- something he didn't get during two-plus seasons with the Pistons. "He'll get that," Hill said. "He's going to play extensive minutes with Dwight, without question." Any chance Milicic had to unseat Battie disappeared after Milicic bruised his lower back last week in a preseason game against the Atlanta Hawks. Milicic hit the floor hard when it appeared Hawks forward Shelden Williams pushed him with a forearm while Milicic was in the air trying to block his shot. Milicic's stellar 30-game cameo with the Magic fostered hope that he'd immediately pair with Howard to form what Battie called "the new millennium twin towers." With Battie sitting out with a sore right knee, but mostly biding his time until the regular season, Milicic made three preseason starts in a four-game span. He averaged 9.5 points, 5.0 rebounds and 3.0 assists in four games, playing 25.8 minutes.</div> Source
Battie said in Usa Today that he doesn't expect to be the starter very long and that Darko has to be more accertive on both ends of the court. It also mentioned that Battie is a mentor to Darko and Dwight.
<div class="quote_poster">TheHighness Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Battie said in Usa Today that he doesn't expect to be the starter very long and that Darko has to be more accertive on both ends of the court. It also mentioned that Battie is a mentor to Darko and Dwight.</div> Not a suprise at all. That's why he wanted to come back, to give us some quality minutes(either starting or off the bench) and help Dwight/Darko learn the game. He's such a classy act and I'm glad we decided to keep him.
Battie is really a stand up guy and believes in this organization. I'm glad to have him back either as a starter or bench player.
<div class="quote_poster">d-money12 Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">giv ehim time...im hagnin out with him tomorrow (sunday)</div> Hanging out with who? Darko? How'd that go?
