I never said he doesn't benefit from practices. From all accounts, he is getting a lot better now. However, he still needs real in game experience. I just brought up the crowd as an example, and professionally in the states and professionally in Europe have a large difference. The crowd isn't over 15,000 during a Europe game. The point is for Darko to become better he needs not only practices but NBA game experience. Also, I don't think that he has a lack of effeciency, I'm sure he'll be more effective that Zelly and probably Elden if given the minutes.
Bah. I can't help jumping in. Carmelo Anthony is an "All-Star" because he was picked by a team that lacked star power. With no competition at his position, he walked in and became the primary option on the team. He's a 6-8 slasher in the mold of Paul Pierce or T-Mac (not that he's going to be as accomplished as either, just that he's that type of player). That mold was first created (for most of the readers here - I'm assuming you're all too young to remember anything prior to the Bird/Magic era) by Michael Jordan. Jordan was an exception, however; a player who by force of will could take a team to a title. You think about those Bulls teams and other than Pippen there wasn't another scorer or great defender anywhere on those rosters. Jordan was special, and naturally Portland has been dogged for years for taking Bowie. But think back. Who did Portland already have at that SG/SF position? Another high-flying scorer by the name of Clyde Drexler. So in essence (though there's no comparing the players, as it's far too early) we have the same situation. Portland passed on the slasher/scorer Jordan to take the imposing Bowie because they already had Drexler. Detroit passed on the slasher/scorer Anthony because they already had Prince, who'd really shown us something in the playoffs. Detroit is a 100-game winner over the last two seasons. If you're a winner already, playing in a center-weak conference, do you take the 6-8 slasher or the 7-1 left-handed (don't underestimate the importance of this trait) post presence who can also shoot from 25-feet? Nothing a Pistons fan can say at this point will change the mind of others around the league so long as Darko toils on the bench. Would I prefer he get those 10-15 mintues a game that are being given to the likes of Ham or Rebraca? Of course. Would that change anyone's mind? Probably not. Fact is, we're not going to know the answer for a couple of years. After season one, I don't think anyone was dogging Portland for the Bowie pick, not after he averaged 10/9 and 2.5 blocks as a rookie. Seven years (and a Chicago championship or two) later, Bowie had missed most of two seasons with injuries (though he was still a 13/8 guy with the Nets in the Bulls first championship year), Jordan was one of the greatest of all time, and the Blazers were insane. No one argues Anthony is having a terrific season. But knowledgable people (Dumars, Pistons' scouts, ESPN's Chad Ford) have seen Darko play, and they think he has what it takes. I'll take their word for it until it's proven otherwise on the court.
Are you really comparing Tayshaun Prince to Clyde Drexler in terms of talent level? I don't really think Tayshaun is a hall of famer. And isn't Darko playing the same position as Ben Wallace and Memo Okur? And is Darko someone who hasn't proven anything in international play or an NBA court? I'm not gonna discredit Dumars or the Pistons scouts...Chad Ford is a little on the iffy side IMO. The worth of Darko is not going to be known until 2 to 3 years later down the road. In terms of talent level....I can't see Darko doing anything better than Carmelo at this point. Its all speculation so its best to let it go.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting CourtVision:</div><div class="quote_post">Are you really comparing Tayshaun Prince to Clyde Drexler in terms of talent level?</div> Of course not. What I said was: <div class="quote_poster">Quoting michiganjblog:</div><div class="quote_post">But think back. Who did Portland already have at that SG/SF position? Another high-flying scorer by the name of Clyde Drexler. So in essence (though there's no comparing the players, as it's far too early) we have the same situation.</div> I would never compare Drexler (who I admired as a player, and felt could've been much more popular had he played in a bigger market) to a soph like Prince; what I'm saying is the Pistons have a player at that position who they feel can be a great contributer. What they lack is a scoring post-presence, and that's what we hope they drafted. No, there's no real sense in discussing it until Darko gets the minutes to show he's a boon or a bust. But others enjoy bringing it up every third thread (it seems) and I felt an obligation to pipe in. UPDATE: A final thought - it's interesting to note that many of Darko's detractors compare his talent level to Carmelo's, then dog Pistons fans for trying to compare since Darko hasn't been seen for more than a six-minute stretch. How's saying 'Melo was the better pick based on the same (non-)info any different? We just don't know yet. It's more along the lines of, do you trust the judgement of Dumars and his scouts?
I'm just wondering if you are really comparing a Tayshaun Prince to a Clyde Drexler. Do you really think he will be a hall of famer and considered as one of the top 50 players ever? You can't really bring that example up in the first place because Darko plays the same position as Ben Wallace and Okur. Comparing the two is unfair due to playing time but....do you think Carmelo would get more PT in Detroit regardless of what position he plays? There is a reason Darko is overlooked when Larry Brown looks over to the bench to sub.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting CourtVision:</div><div class="quote_post">I'm just wondering if you are really comparing a Tayshaun Prince to a Clyde Drexler. Do you really think he will be a hall of famer and considered as one of the top 50 players ever? You can't really bring that example up in the first place because Darko plays the same position as Ben Wallace and Okur. Comparing the two is unfair due to playing time but....do you think Carmelo would get more PT in Detroit regardless of what position he plays? There is a reason Darko is overlooked when Larry Brown looks over to the bench to sub.</div> I am by no means comparing Prince to Drexler. At the time of the Bowie/Jordan draft, did the Blazers know they had one of the all-time greats at SF/SG? Doubtful. Did they know they had a terrific SF/SG already and thought they'd be better served drafting the big man? Certainly. Did they have any clue Jordan would end up as one of the greatest of all time and Bowie would struggle with injuries? Of course not. What if Houston had drafted Bowie first, and Olajuwon had fallen to the Blazers? You'd have a much different story. No one faults Houston for taking Hakeem first ahead of Jordan. And I can bring the example up because I'm pointing out the thinking when the Pistons drafted Darko. They have what they feel is a very good SF - they do not have a very good scoring big man. So they drafted accordingly. Time will tell if they were wrong.
