<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Lack of playing time often breeds discontent, and Pistons rookie center Darko Milicic isn’t feeling too patient or happy right now. Milicic said Thursday he is dissatisfied with his playing time and would like to meet with Coach Larry Brown to discuss the matter. Milicic has not yet requested the meeting, but he said he will when the time is right. He has played in 15 games this season, averaging 3.2 minutes and less than a point. The last time he played was Jan. 15, getting nine minutes against the Wizards. “(I will ask) what is the idea, what is the schedule they have for me?” Milicic said. “They don’t think I will start to play this year? I want to know that. “I didn’t think I was going to have big minutes, but I don’t care. I just want a few minutes. I just want to do something good. I want to show what I can do. Right now, I don’t have any minutes and I can’t do anything.” </div> http://www.detnews.com/2004/pistons/0402/06/h01-57434.htm I'm getting impatient as well. I want to see what all the fuss is about. I don't think going through the newspapers is the way to go here though. It may just cause lesser playing time than before (Is that possible??) Read the end of the article about Ben Wallace and the dentist. Is this not the toughest guy in the NBA(other than artest)??
ah, this might be the interview that Stony and Wojo were talking about (my thread). it's good to see Darko want to prove himself. i know that Joe Dumars and Larry Brown keep saying that he's going to take a while to develop. and Dumars has made enough good decisions during his tenure, that i do trust him. still, i really wish they'd at least find a few minutes per game for him. not just garbage minutes when we're up 15 points. meaningful minutes when the game is still competitive. i mean, sure, you don't have to start Darko, but a few minutes per game won't shatter his confidence. at least he'll have a gauge as to what he needs to improve in his game. his stamina looks to be a little better (from what little i've seen). early in the season and the preseason, it looked like he was going to pass out.
here's the Freep's version: Pistons plan to keep Milicic waiting <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">"Next year," he said, "I have to play." </div>
The situation with Darko is obviously upsetting for him, it would be surprising if it wasn't. He's a basketball player, of course he wants to play. Sitting on the bench doesn't help him to improve, and because of the language barrier he doesn't know what's going on. I'm not rooting for him to be put into big games at crucial times, but I'd like him to get more minutes regularly. He needs to play, that's for sure, but Brown isn't paid to think of what's best for Darko; he needs to do what's best for the team.
Well, at least Darko is requesting a meeting and not holding a press conference to blast Brown. Pistons don't do that... I understand what Darko is going through, I would be pissed as hell if I was in his position. I don't believe that there are really no minutes for Darko. Put him in at the 3 if you want, but there are minutes that he can play and that he should play.
I think give at least one game to prove him self and give a bit more than 3 min a game. I know that they said that Darko is like a quarterback and they are a Championship contender team and they don't wanna risk anything right now.And i would be impatient about getting more time than garbage minutes.I believe that Joe Dumar and Larry know what they are doing but just give him a chance. And Ben How could there be a bone in a boneless pork chop?
Larry Brown doesnt like developing younger players like this is what i have heard. DUmars thought he would be special which I think he will...I heard it was Dumars draft choice, not the teams.
I don't question him, I'm quiet, but eventually I too would go up and ask. I mean not to demean Larry Brown or anything, he plays favorites and only lets Darko play when it's in the bag, what kind of experience is that? He seems to be in the same situation that Nene and Yao were in, only it's not going so well. I respect the team's wishes though, I know it's difficult and that Dumars knows best. I just hope this doesn't last too long, it's not too fair on his part, especially since he was the No. 2 overall draft pick. I hope this gets resolved pretty soon.
This is what we should do to fix this situation. Pick a game against a team that we should be able to beat and tell Darko that he will play 20-25 minutes. Give him those minutes and see if he can produce. If he proves Brown wrong and has a great game, put him in the rotation. However, if we put him in and within 5 minutes he has like 6 turnovers, then he is gone for the rest of the season. Make it a bet between the Piston organization. Have some fun with it, release Darko!
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting PyroManiac:</div><div class="quote_post">Well, at least Darko is requesting a meeting and not holding a press conference to blast Brown. Pistons don't do that... I understand what Darko is going through, I would be pissed as hell if I was in his position. </div> I don't think someone would call a press conference to announce something so inconsequential. I just don't think that going through the media to air out your differences is not the way to go. Frustration is one thing but going through the media to air out your problems is another. It shows a lack of disrespect especially to the coach. I would chalk this one up to youth
I was just kidding about the press conference. He is not really doing anything different, as he and the other Pistons have been constantly asked when he will be playing. He just told them that he is going to ask Brown if he will be playing this season. Don't you mean a lack of respect or showing disrespect? I really don't have a problem with him going through the media, Brown plays favorites and has never really opened up to rookies.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting PyroManiac:</div><div class="quote_post">Don't you mean a lack of respect or showing disrespect? I really don't have a problem with him going through the media, Brown plays favorites and has never really opened up to rookies.</div> Are you going to correct my grammar? I thought correcting my spelling was bad enough...hahaha Disrespect, lack of respect, they are almost the same thing in my eyes. Please correct me if you see fit Its just the fact of bringing out your problems in front of the media. He could have easily come to Brown in private (like he said he would), instead of coming out and letting the media know about his problem with pt. I understand that he is frustrated but there are better ways to solve his problems. If I was a coach I certainly wouldn't want some rookie doing what he did.
Actually, you said a lack of disrespect, which is like a double negative. I don't ALWAYS point out problems in grammar, but it just seems so easy to do it to you. I understand what you mean about him bringing out his problems in front of the media. However, he holds private meetings with Brown and Dumars about his progress fairly often. Either that wasn't getting anywhere or he wanted a few fans to back him, almost like blackmailing Brown to play him. Too bad it won't work, now Darko is never going to play. If we were beating a team by 50 he won't be in the game.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting PyroManiac:</div><div class="quote_post">Actually, you said a lack of disrespect, which is like a double negative. I don't ALWAYS point out problems in grammar, but it just seems so easy to do it to you. </div> Next time try to focus on what I mean. Everyone makes grammatical errors in a message boarder. Its inevitabley Carmelo wouldn't do something like that, sorry just had to add that one in. No more Carmelo references from me
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting CourtVision:</div><div class="quote_post">Its just the fact of bringing out your problems in front of the media. He could have easily come to Brown in private (like he said he would), instead of coming out and letting the media know about his problem with pt.</div> Darko isn't going on his own and whining to the media; these guys are asking him. Every day he hears, "Darko, what do you think of your playing time?" "Darko, explain how Larry Brown is using you." I'm sure he had a lot of worse things to say, but he held his tongue, which shows maturity. Also, one of the articles said he meets regularly with the coaches in private to discuss this problem.
So you guys don't think there is a tad thing wrong with his actions? I'm pretty sure Piston fans wouldn't agree with me seeing how "Darko can do no wrong". This happens on other teams as well and it doesn't make it right there either. Ask PyroManiac, he knows what I'm saying (even if its not grammatically correctly) Example: Newspapers ask Jerome Moiso of Toronto constantly before about what he thinks of his playing time. He responds every time that he's not worried about it and he'll be ready to play when called upon. This is an example of being professional and mature.
