That's EXACTLY what Flip did. Play the best player.

Ain't that the reason you hate Hunter? If shooting is his flaw, why ain't you calling for him to take his azz to the gym and PRACTICE. Instead of fishing?

The standard "misery loves company" position. Try to deflect attention from the real culprit. J-Max had a MUCH BETTER rookie year than did Delfino. Plus J-Max ain't somewhere fishing instead of working on his game.

The standard "LB, Flip, and Joe are plain ole meanies" position. A-kin to the "Free Pass Wavers" crew. You're on a roll 16!

Speaking of the "riff" between Mo and Delfino, it's quite clear to me what it was about. Mo was kickin his azz in practice.

I can almost see Delfino now. Going to Flip and Joe with a tear in his eye saying "Mo won't let me shoot Flip, Joe. Why is he being so mean?" "If you guys won't let me play I'mma go back to Europe!"

Just a couple questions Mad.

If Mo was the better player, why did Joe trade him and not CD?

Wasn't CB a sub .400 shooter the first few years of his career, until he got consistant playing time, though Hunter has never been able to cross the Mendoza line?

In what way did JMax have a better rookie year? Before his injury Delfino was playing about 15 mpg, as a legitimate member of the bench. JMax has yet to play non garbage time, and there are only 8 months between them. I know everyone thinks I dislike JMax because I like Darko. But the reality is I just don't think he is at best a sub par NBA player, like Michael Curry, Darvin Ham, and Maurice Evans (though he's probably better than Mikki Moore).

And if LB was such a good judge of player talent, why are the players that he thought sucked (Okur, Mike James, Darko, and soon to be Smush and Delfino) getting or about to get such big contracts?

BTW, the Knicks youngsters gave the same whine about Larry as Delfino and Darko, and they played horribly under Larry this year. If you watched any of the summer league, these guys under Isaiah, a players coach, have absolutely torched every team they played, including our boys.

@16, I don't have time to address all of your points, and am happy to accept an agree to disagree for now.

But Isiah is coaching guys who played a ton as NBA regulars and even at times starters in the SL. I wouldn't read too much into this. After all, Cheikh Samb and Maxiell gave a near MVP (Stoudemire) all he could handle...

Darko may not have made himself a lot of money. With Ben bolting, his window for a payday in Detroit next season was wide open as was PT. In Orlando, he's in the uncomfortable situation of a young team with several talents they have to commit finances to in the near term.

You may not think much of Mo, but Lakers fans are pretty high on him. While some may think this is ridiculous, dare I say that Delfino has not been traded because he doesn't have as much trade value as Maurice?

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Nov 13 LW Milan Lucic had an active night. He scored his first goal in eight games since his Oct. 25 hat trick and also pounded Michael Komisarek in a third-period fight. Lucic cut his hand in a fight with Michael Komisarek. "I'll be fine," he said. "(X-rays are) negative, but there's so many broken bones in there from before you can't really tell."

That would mean Delfino has a pretty slim trade value.

haha, yea, I was just thinking that. I cant think of much less that we could get in a deal for Delfino than we did for Mo. Joe dumped him because he's high on delfino and wants him to get a chance. Didn't you hear Joe's interview on the radio after the season?

16, Roscoe took the words right out of my mouth re trade value. However, I always though Delfino had more "upside" than Mo...it just did not translate into performance. One thing is for certain. Mo will never be called a "whiner" or a "crybaby." Why would you endorse any player with that label?

In his rookie year, Delfino did what he's doing now. Vacationing. He has NEVER been called a "hungry rookie." In fact, he's never been called a "hungry 2nd year player" either. That tag is reserved for youngsters who play like they want it. Have you seen the stat line for J-Max today? Against a proven pro no less. Since when did Delfino ever produce such stats against "inferior competition," much less proven pros?

If Michael Curry, Darvin Ham, and Mo Evans are "sub par NBA players" as you call them; and ALL of them played ahead of Delfino, what does that make Delfino? When you answer that, come with something better than the "mean ole coach/GM" excuse.

Besides, the trading deadline is a long way away. What will you say when Acker and/or Amir beat out Delfino for PT? Certainly it can be said that they have a head start. Now, if you don't like players who "can't shoot," a-la Curry, Ham, Hunter and Evans (according to you), what makes Delfino exempt from that? Why not be consistent, regardless of the player? Why the free pass?

Have to agree.
One nice thing about next year, their arent any HOF or hater clubs left (except for Flip, and I think everyone is pretty unanimous in their contempt for his performance last season). Whether I think JMax is an NBA player or not, I really like the kid, and hope he proves me wrong.

As for JMax, Amir, Acker, and Delfino next year, it's win now baby, put up or shut up. The only "potential" left on this team are Blalock and Samb, and Samb will be in Europe.

As I get older, I keep expecting to know how things will play out, and they don't go that way. Lesson? Prepare to be surprised.

That's what Joe said the year before.

If I believed everything Joe says on the radio, Larry Brown would still be a Piston, Darko would still be a Piston, Ben would still be a Piston and we would be spending the offseason building a team 8 deep.

Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.

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Nov 13 LW Milan Lucic had an active night. He scored his first goal in eight games since his Oct. 25 hat trick and also pounded Michael Komisarek in a third-period fight. Lucic cut his hand in a fight with Michael Komisarek. "I'll be fine," he said. "(X-rays are) negative, but there's so many broken bones in there from before you can't really tell."

Those are just how he wanted things to play out. Some work out, some don't. I'm sure in his best case scenario, LB and Ben would still be here, and Darko would be developed and playing here. Unfortunately, other factors stood in the way. (Bill D's ego with LB, Ben's ego with Ben, and Bill D's bank account with Darko)

This is a different situation. It's a little too coincidental for me that about a week after Joe was on the radio talking about really being disappointed that Delfino didn't play more, the thing standing between him and PT (Mo Evans) was traded for virtually nothing. With Darko, Joe never really came out and said that he thought he deserved more PT. It was always "he's not ready", "He's still young", or "He has to earn it". By the sounds of it, he thought Delfino already did earn it.

I try to avoid replying to you, but this was too funny.... What the hell do you think Max is going to be doing from this point untill training camp? You know, while Delfino is training everyday with the Argentina NT. For a much longer period than the 2 weeks of Summer League. Sorry, but don't use this as an argument unless you're with both of these guys every day of the week and know what exactly they're doing all summer long. Not knocking Max (I'm a fan, obviously), but you don't have a clue what exactly these guys are/will be doing.