<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Almost midway into the season, the Magic don't really have a handle on Darko Milicic. Promising one night, perplexing the next. It's time they put him in a new role -- that of starter --- and see how he responds. While Coach Brian Hill says that it doesn't matter if a guy starts or comes off the bench, it does --- it does to the player. The Magic need to find out exactly what 21-year-old Darko is worth. In his role as a reserve, we are seeing up and down performances. Maybe this is what he is at this age, still developing, still finding his way in what is really his rookie season. But why not find out what he can do as a starter, playing alongside Dwight Howard? Veteran Tony Battie can accept coming off the bench. He's a pro's pro, and frankly, he's probably surprised the move to Darko hasn't happened yet. Darko, at times, plays without focus. Maybe a change to the starting lineup will make him sharper, give him more fire and, as a good passer, he can execute the high-low game with Howard. He might thrive. He might whither. Either way, the Magic will find out more about him. It will help them decide what he's worth as he enters the summer as a free agent. And for a team that is seemingly regressing, maybe a change would do them good.</div> Source
<div class="quote_poster">GatorsowntheNCAA Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Start Darko.</div> second that
Figuring Brian Hill, he wont. There really wont be any harm done if he does start. Imo it might even improve and open up our game a bit.
Yes, Darko should be starting by now. We're well enough into the season I think. Let him show what he's made of.
Who knows, maybe if he plays alongside Dwight the majority of the game he will get more confidence and plays better?
Start him, Battie would be fine coming off the bench Darko provides great shot blocking presence and may indeed find more confidence and sharpness if given a start. Magic have had a recent slump if Hill allows him to start it might put them back on track what's the worst that could happen?
This sounds a lot like the Warriors of last year with Foyle starting and Biedrins coming off the bench. All the fans were begging for Biedrins to play more when the team was sinking into mid-lotto territory but good old Mike Montgomery refused to start Biedrins or even give him minutes or an equal opportunity as the starters. Enter Don Nelson, hes extremely blunt, has no problem just flat out saying that a player sucks to the players face or in the media and godamnit he starts whoever gives him the best chance of winning, not the veteran or the player with the biggest contract. So Biedrins is now top 15 in the league in rebounding, top 15 in shot blocks, leads the league in FG% and hes still only 21 years old. Darko seems to have a very similar situation. From what I've seen from him hes more talented, more skilled, and has a bigger, stronger body than Biedrins, but Biedrins has a much better motor and hes much quicker and more athletic (higher vertical leap than Bosh and Melo if you can believe that). Darko seems to have a problem with thinking hes entitled to getting minutes or being a starter etc. and thinks he doesn't have to work for it just because hes Darko Milicic and he was #2 in the draft a few years back. Maybe thats not true and its just what the media tells to the greater NBA audience but that could be one of the biggest things hurting him. Hes clearly got the talent and skill to be a good starting center right now but hes got to have a desire to play well, he can't just be handed the job. The Magic aren't dying for a good big man either since they've got Howard in there and Battie is solid, Darko could easily beat Battie if he wanted to but hes discouraged that he doesn't get to play big minutes instead of being motivated to earn those minutes.
I think confidence is a big part of the problem for Darko. When you have been labeled a bust by so many people, eventually you might start to believe it. The fact that Darko has never been able to hold down a starting job since entering the NBA probably has hurt his confidence a lot. He didn't get any playing time in Detroit because he was behind both of the Wallace's. Everyone thought he'd start easily over Battie this season but I guess he hasn't impressed Brian Hill enough to jump into the starting five. I think it's time to move Darko into the starting lineup because he usually finishes games anyway. If he's playing in the fourth quarter when the game is on the line, why not start him and raise his confidence? When Battie is on the floor, he usually just grabs a couple of rebounds and alters some shots. Darko on the other hand is actually an offensive threat and he can block shots rather than just contest them. Like Run BJM said, his work ethic is also questionable. Sometimes I wonder if this is the reason he has yet to be put in the starting rotation. If he worked as hard as Dwight or showed extra effort in practice and in the weight room, I think he'd definitely be starting. I agree that he feels he deserves minutes just because he's Darko Milicic and that's not the attitude he needs to have. I am worried that Darko will get frustrated that he's still coming off the bench and consider leaving this summer. He can sign with anyone this off-season and if another club is willing to promise a starting job, that could be pretty tempting for him.
we will see tonight. the much anticipated start of darko milicic should happen tonight or is the sentinel lying??? we'll just have to see
