Just to keep things in perspective, this is from an Israeli poster:
"He (Drarko) scored because he managed to out-power the Israeli 6-9 C and the 6-6 PF for offensive rebound and then made easy lay-ups, or was fouled doing that and making his FT, or both….Yaniv Green is 6-9, and most of the time Israel plays with Gur Shelef as a PF and he is no more than 6-6. this game he didn't play much, but Cris Watson that replaced him isn't bigger than that, and anyway Shelef played at least half of the 4th quarter".


Next up is another smallish team (Latvia).


At least Darko is building confidence (along with his coach).

__________________

http://img207.imageshack.us/img207/6137/iverson2ue0.jpg

To borrow a baseball analogy, Darko is using these 6'9" Euroleague guys like a dumpy slumpbuster*

*Not that I think there is anything wrong with slumpbusters...

Somebody already mentioned, head-coach plays him in crunch time. Could be due to the foul-trouble Darko experienced during the prep.tournaments but in the final 15 min. yesterday Darko went without a single pf...

The thing I noticed about him yesterday is that he was pretty calm, even though the Israelis were tying the game and looking for a steal...he was actually looking for a body-contact down low, and he maintained his composure, was 5-5 from the line, hit a 18-footer, one put-back, made one basket when Jaric passed him the ball down low as he head someone on his back (quickly went up, turned around and laid it in), grabbed 3 huge off.rebounds that got him to the free-throw line, and blocked 3 shots...he was just amazing....

I only hope he continues like this, this is what the team needs...he is on the cover-pages now...

http://www.basket-plus.com/eurobaske...basket2005.htm

Gee, so I wonder exactly how that Israeli poster would explain the fact that these so short people were not being taken advantage of by Zelly and Krstic before Darko got into the game. Its hard to downplay a 20-0 run. Go ahead and try, but Darko flat out changed the game.

Actually Kristic also took advantage as he had a double double in that game.

__________________
Momma was queen of the mambo, Poppa was king of the congo, deep down in the jungle, I start banging my first bongo
Every monkey like to be, in my place instead of me, cause I'm the king of bongo baby, I'm the king of bongo bong
-Manu Chao

If Darko takes advantage of players shorter than him, I won't complain.

If Darko takes advantage of players slower than him, I won't complain.

If Darko takes advantage of players who haven't had his opportunities to learn from the finest defensive frontcourt on earth, I won't complain.

Guess that leaves very little for me to complain about.

But his team was not beating the other team, until Darko came in the game. Krstic was scoring and rebounding, but not winning. With Darko in the mix though, adding truly good defense, amongst other things, then some winning was occurring. Taking advantage was occurring. Before Darko was in the game, spinning of wheels with no forward motion was occurring.

I'm not saying Darko wasn't a major factor, but let's keep it real and the expectations reasonable. By all accounts, several guys played a very strong game for Serbia and to be honest, Israel is not a very good team.

It's a one game sample. Hopefully DMC continues this progress, but geez, he's still a long way from tournament MVP let alone his own team MVP.

__________________
Momma was queen of the mambo, Poppa was king of the congo, deep down in the jungle, I start banging my first bongo
Every monkey like to be, in my place instead of me, cause I'm the king of bongo baby, I'm the king of bongo bong
-Manu Chao

Gee Micro, although you said it in a backwards way, you are admitting Darko was a major factor in this game. Which is all I ever said. As far as keeping it real, look in the mirror.

I don't have to "admit" what I believe to be the truth. I just think it is small to diminish the other players on the Serbian and Israeli teams to make a point about how good DMC played.

No seriously, give the kid some breathing room. He'll turn out fine if people don't climb all over every basket he makes, or scream everytime he misses.

Just let Darko be Darko without trying to idolize or demonize him. He's just a basketball player, and one of 12/15 on the team.

__________________
Momma was queen of the mambo, Poppa was king of the congo, deep down in the jungle, I start banging my first bongo
Every monkey like to be, in my place instead of me, cause I'm the king of bongo baby, I'm the king of bongo bong
-Manu Chao