whoever said that clearly has not seen darko...or he has basically copied what joe dumars said about darko... but interested to see how he does...infact how all the top picks do this years draft is very deep!!
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting "Knicks":</div><div class="quote_post">the guy was expected to be a 15-20 pick the guy was expected to be a 15-20 pick CHICAGO -- There he was, 7-foot-5 of long, strong proof that the legend of Pavel Podkolzine, the Siberian Shaq, the Ivan Drago of basketball, was, indeed, very much a reality. In front of about 100 representatives from all 29 NBA teams, Podkolzine went through a private workout here at the Gold Coast Multiplex health club Friday. He showed he could handle the ball. He showed he could shoot the ball. He showed he could get up and down the court with stunning speed and ease. And mainly he showed he is every bit the 7-5, 295 pounds of hoops prodigy that had the league buzzing with intrigue all year. Darko Milicic, the 7-1 Serbian 17-year-old, may be the toast of the international players in the draft -- almost certain to go No. 2 to Detroit. But Podkolzine, an 18-year-old from remote Siberia, Russia, is gaining fast. After an impressive showing Friday, he may wind up as high as No. 4. Or who knows, maybe higher? "He is big," said Toronto Raptors general manager Glen Grunwald, whose team just happens to pick fourth. "He showed pretty good athleticism and he is skilled. For 18-years-old, he obviously has a bright future. Just seeing him here, he can move pretty well, his feet are pretty good. It looked like he had decent hands. "His size is," Grunwald smiled before pausing. "Well, you just can't really teach that." This was truly something else. Watching Podkolzine go through a work out run by CBA coach Bill Bayno left mouths agape across the league. As these events are prone to be about, there was no competition and nothing was attempted that could put the big Russian in a bad light. But it was a sight to see nonetheless. Before the workout Podkolzine was little more than a rumor to most NBA execs. "He was a 7-foot-5, 300 pound figment of imagination," said one Western Conference scout. By the time he showed light feet, skilled hands and a decent jump shot -- not to mention Shaqesque size -- he had turned almost the entire draft on its ear. If last year's was about the arrival of mammoth Yao Ming of China, then Russia, the other old communist empire of Asia, is poised to answer this time around. "He reminds me of Yao because he combines skills with that size," Bayno said. "I think he is heavier and stronger than Yao although Yao is more skilled. He has a great lower body. He could be in shape at 350 down the road. And he can really run. He is faster than he knows." One thing that is appealing to scouts is that Podkolzine is a true, massive man. Although he says Tracy McGrady is his favorite player, there is no would-be shooting guard trying to break out of his shell. This is a guy who is willing to bang Shaquille O'Neal on the blocks. In two years he could be a serious offensive force. "A lot of European big guys like to stay on the perimeter, you can't move them into the post," said Bayno. "He likes it inside even though he likes to shoot the ball." Podkolzine hails from the city of Novosibirsk, the capital of Siberia and home to about 1.5 million people. The teenager said through his translator that it was, yes, very cold there. It was a tough place to grow up and poverty is extreme in the harsh region of a depressed empire. He played the past two years for Varese, an A1 team in the Italian Professional League, which is where he gained a cult following from scouts. But for a variety of reasons he often saw only limited playing time. So no one was completely certain about him. Friday he became the talk of a draft that had been searching for a fourth pick after the lock top three of LeBron James, Milicic and Carmelo Anthony. Podkolzine could now be that guy. In one half-hour workout he blew American big men Chris Kaman and Chris Bosh out of the water. "That is why he just made (the league execs) jobs tougher," said Bayno. "If you look at potential, I don't know how you can pass on him." Despite all the fuss and pressure of Friday afternoon's workout, Podkolzine was relaxed and smiling. He doesn't speak much English but he obviously has personality. It's sort of like the likeable Yao. "I was very surprised to see this much people (at the work out)," Podkolzine said through a translator. "I thought less people. All the famous players, the GMs in the history of the NBA. I am only a young prospect but I will work very hard to be a player. I hope one team signs me for this project." Can you imagine the marketing possibilities here? Somebody get Sylvester Stallone out of mothballs and film a Rocky IV remake as a Sprite commercial. At this point anything is possible. He has only seen minimal coaching and only played three years of competitive ball. His upside is immense. Which is why the top half of the lottery was reshuffled after one very simple workout on a rainy Chicago afternoon. Big is always big in the NBA. And Podkolzine almost redefines the word big. "He works hard, he is coachable," said his U.S.-based agent Justin Zanik. "The kid is a blank slate. He could go as high as top 10, top five. The sky is the limit." Have you seen his videos? I don't think so</div> good post. ddu write that?
how do u know so much about how good a player darko is allnet? he sounds cool and has a nice name, but have u seen him play a bunch of games? have u seen pavel play a bunch of games? until u have i dont think u can say darko is a ton better than pavel. along with lebron and darko. of course right now they probably are much better than him. but pavel is 7-5 300lbs, the others are not. when ur that big, if u are talented now and can get much better than that makes u much more valuable than players 6'7-6-10 or 11. 99% of the draft every year is players in these sizes and smaller. thats why when a giant person has really good skills theyre valued more. if a team wanted a great player for one year, they would take darko, lbj and carmelo, but whos to say that 3 years from now that pavel wont be the best center in the league. and everyone could look back and say why did we take darko/lbj/carmelo over pavel! how stupid were we! also i like all these foreign players, most of them seem so nice and humble. except for a couple like tony parker and peja stojokavic, sometimes, also it makes me mad that the americans give them all nicknames, how many peja's are there gonna be in the league in 5 years, just call people by their real name!
Yes i have seen darko play...quite a few times.I have a few mates have seen pavel play also and they say his skill level isn't close to what darko's is.He has very good size that could be a very good rebounder and shot blocker...but darko is and should be the better player.He has the skill,talent and overall game..pavel just seems like another 7'5 guy that the NBA has seen alot over the years..so i'm not convinced about him yet....he might be really good who knows...
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting "allnet":</div><div class="quote_post">Shawn Bradley was a top 5 pick too you know... how many guys that are 7'4 hae been any good? none really..ming is the only guy who could become a force at that kind of height...my bet is that he will be a wasted pick as guys that height do nothing in the NBA..because of the lack of quickness..time will tell</div> Rik Smits was a pretty decent 7'4 guy...
