A lot of people were against DMC last year. To be honest, it was a rational opinion, you've got a HOF, Championship Coach, saying the kid aint ready, he's immature, ect. On the other hand you've got a lot of people who still believed the pre-draft Chad Ford, Darko greatest future Center ever, hype. Who needs Carmelo or Dwayne, Darko will save us.

I know its preseason, but saw this stat in an article, checked last years leaders, and was dumbfounded. Darko, may not be the saviour, but he certainly wont be a bust. And I wont be calling any new members band wagon ass cats.

"Detroit's Darko Milicic blocked a game high 6 shots tonight. After 7 preseason games, Milicic has 22 blocks (3.14 bpg)."

2004-5 Block leaders:
Name...........MPG......BPG...Bp48M
Theo Ratliff...31.3......3.61....5.53
Ben Wallace..37.7......3.04....3.87
Andre Kirilenko 37.1....2.76....3.56
Tim Duncan....36.6.....2.68....3.51
Marcus Camby 30.0....2.60....4.15

Darko Preseason:21.4..3.14...7 point freaking OH four

I want in. How do I sign up?

Chuck Nevitt had 8.08 blocks per 48 minutes in his first season with the Pistons.

Forget rates, that WAS Chuck's first season with the Pistons.

I'm not joining any HOF clubs.

I will say, though, that I think the kid is legit. He really can do some things on the basketball court that are unusual for someone his size.

There will be some growing pains this year that I hope everyone's ready for-and they'll be harder to deal with during a real game (ie not a preseason exhibition).

But I'm glad Joe didn't make the Harrington deal.

I agree that the Harrington deal would be a mistake... however I'm not ready to sign up for the HOF anytime in the near future... the kid really needs to improve his BB instincts.
By that I mean getting to loose balls... agressively going after rebounds (and finishing)... some of this will come with repetition but it's not happening as we speak today.
Look at Ben or Sheed as your main "big" contributors.. maybe Darko will show the moxy required to be a winner soon enough.

Before we talk HOF ... let's talk about getting past 1st base.

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With politicians the future lies ahead

I like Darko too. But I'm with T Bird & Mercury on this one. He'll have his moments this year...bad, good, and a few great ones too.

according to basketballreference.com he hasn't registered any HOF points yet. only 135 to go as a likely candidate.

he still has to prove himself as better than 'similar players' such as:
Reggie Smith
Rich King and
Brett Szabo

i think we should start a darko-meter ladder. we list players who played the same position, and as darko gets better he moves up this ladder.

ladder:
1. Wilt Chamberlain
2. Bill Russell
3. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
4. Shaquille O'Neal
.......
70. Rik Smits
.......
120. Luc Longley
.......
130. Dan Gadzuric
131. Nenad Krstic
132. Primoz Brezec
133. Darko Milicic

I fully expect him to move up to around 120 by the end of this season.

feel free to add to/debate this darko-meter ladder...

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16andFarmington,

I gotta give you props. You were the one guy in Darko's corner who was not drooling endlessly about jumpers, 3 point range or being the greatest passing big man ever.

From day 1, you had Darko pegged as a defensive contributor. And you were right.

I'm with DT, Merc and TBird. In hindsight I am happy Joe didn't make the Harrington deal (although I really wanted him to at the time). Want great things for Darko as long as he is a Piston, but I'll confine myself to being a fan rather than a fanatic.

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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."

I am adding Bad Boy Billy somewhere in the top 30 for sure. You can't rate him strictly on his numbers, which weren't half bad anyway. But is intensity, competitiveness in my mind were not too far below Zeke's which is saying an awfully lot.