Everyone seems to have a pretty good grasp on what's in store for Darko this season. I don't think we will need to play small ball like we did in the finals against SA. That's fer sure! I seem him as the first 5 off the bench. Double D will get more minutes than EC got last year. This is because Flip likes to use a full roster. DMC's confidence will grow rapidly upon increased playing time. He's definately in the rotation. He will start late next season, perhaps. All of the doubters are going to be eating crow by the All-Star Break.

BTW, OVEE99 is a disguise, my real name is "DPFANsince78"

What game or game situation will Darko get his first start of the upcoming season? Will he get it at all? Will it stem from an injury (hope not)? or from Wallace X 2 needing a break? Or maybe cuz the Hawks are in town? haha ....

There is little left to do but give the kid some playing time.

Sink or swim, put the decision in his hands. See if he has learned anything at all by sitting on the bench.

Of course, you could argue, that heart is not something that can be learned - and so far the kid has not shown any heart!

Play hard, Play determined, Play mean!

I think putting Alex Acker on the team was a good move on their part (thats if he makes it). Now Darko has someone around his age to mingle with and maybe he'll no longer hang out with Carlos Delfino and hear all the wrong things.

That was probably another problem...he was the youngest on the team and everyone was babying him. Basketball is his job and hopefully now he'll get that killer instinct that if he's not getting playing time, he'll work harder for it (maybe he's got it now, but Larry wasn't giving him a chance).

I'm gonna hope I don't see him sulking this season if he gets benched for doing something wrong. Its part of the learning process.

__________________

With Darko speaking DarKonian and Delfino speaking Delfinian, I would imagine Darko didn't learn to much besides some facial gestures like sticking out your tongue behind the coaches back and giving him the raspberry. Well, maybe a hand gesture involving the middle finger too.

at what point was did darko have oppurtunity to show heart?? he played well in meaningful minutes and didn't back down to anybody during those times. if you are referring to garbage time then you don't understand what garbage time is. in garbage time he just goes through the motions to get the game over. no he's not going to be trying to block everything or score every point. judge darko by meaningful minutes not by garbage time and that is the most accurate judge of a player.