Our Orlando pick

I just noticed that on ESPN.com, they show that Milicic is on 12.8% of fantasy rosters (down from 19%) while Dyess is on 4% and Delfino is on 0%.

Who are those 4%? The hardest of the hard core.

Hill would rather trade Battie before losing his enthusiasm.
Or maybe Battie has compromising pictures of management.

Looks like they are starting Darko tomorrow. We'll see how he handles the added pressure.

From the Freep:
Pistons president Joe Dumars was spotted with one of the team's scouts checking out Brandon Rush, a sophomore guard at Kansas, according to the blog of Lawrence Journal-World writer Ryan Greene.

Orlando Sentinel - You Won't Believe Brian Hill's Decision by

Looks like Brian Hill reneged on his decision.

Weak sauce.

He's afraid of offending his veterans by benching them even after they lost 8 of 9 games.


Flip Saunders has more backbone.

True dat.

Yeah, if they can't by Reddless Bucks, it's ova.

That's no way to play a "gangsta"

MoTown, I think I remember an old saying about who laughs last, or something like that.

And I think Battie is better than Davis.

Anyway, if the changes coming starting tonight, are what I think they are going to be, things might get better soon.

JMHO!!

I'm not sure if stating that Darko has better stats than Battie, and anyone off the Pistons' bench should be categorized as an excuse. It is even reasonable to say that Darko is keeping pace with Sheed on a minute for minute basis. And I'm not sure of Sheed's intangibles (cocky attitude, technical fouls which will result in missed games, and inappropriate 3-point shooting) give him the overall edge.

Meanwhile, Darko has reclaimed his #1 ranking on the Magic again in the +/- department... despite playing with the Magic's bench (Arroyo, Diener, Dooling, Garrity, and Outlaw). Do you realize how hard that is to do? I know a lot of you hate that stat, but it's probably because it is telling you something you don't want to hear.

Battie is 2nd to last in that category. 2nd to last on the Pistons = Flip Murray. So starting Battie over Darko would be like the Pistons starting Flip Murray over Chauncey Billups. We would all be very frustrated if that happened. (why does the +/- seem to rank the Pistons' player correctly, but not the Magic's?)

The suprising thing is that DM is able to do this after only 2K career minutes (just over 40 full games). For perspective, consider that Dwight Howard has played 350% more minutes than Darko in 1 less year.

You're all in denial. JD didn't cut bait because he though Milicic sucked, he did it because his coaches wouldn't play him and it was becoming a distraction. Darko demanded a trade and JD salvaged what he could from that awkward negotiating position.

LB gave us a Championship, so I'll refrain from blaming him. However, Flip Saunders had a great chance last year to incorporate Darko, and he went for the fool's gold of a 72 win season.

By the way, I know there is no way to win this argument when 30% of this forum thinks Tay doesn't pull his weight.

Sounds like you have a 70% chance of winning, by that reasoning.

i have 100% chance of winning this argument. we did not handle the development of darko well. from the looks of it in orlando he didn't need much development to become productive.


darko is good whether you want to accept it or not. orlando can still turn the season around and the first step is starting darko. he's better than battie. he is going to start after the all star break. hill can no longer hide him. he turns it over a lot but he also creates a lot of oppurtunities for his team. he also is better at handling double teams than howard.

Also, DM had 0 fouls while Bogut fouled out trying to guard him. His 11 FT's was the game high. That is 1 less than Chauncey shot tonight.

If you want to score points in the paint and someone to defend your own paint, then Darko is your man... and of course Howard is better. Together, they should be able to completely dictate the tempo of a game.

5 offensive boards as well.


I picked a freak night to compare him to Sheed (bagel). But this also points out that it is not only inexperienced players who are inconsistent. Big men can get into foul trouble or out of rhythm and look bad.

My problem with Sheed is that it is purely a lack of energy/ motivation.