Darko stinks

[Zanchief]

Are we still waiting on him, Xao?

[xaoshaen]

Are we still waiting on him, Xao?

Yep. While we're talking NBA, how about those Raptors?

"You want me to take the time to count ''em? No comment."
-- Jalen Rose, when asked how many of his Raptor teammates are question marks

[Zanchief]

Yep. While we're talking NBA, how about those Raptors?

If babs sticks to his plan he'll have 2 lottery picks (if denver continues to implode) along without whatever they get in the 07 draft (Oden?) and a ton of cap space to sign a near max and a mid lvl in the 07 off season.

Poor Raptors, they've only won 6 games this year. Let's hope we could be as good as Seattle and not have no hope in hell of being competitive for the next decade!

I guess folks like Simmons are right though Xao, babcock is the worst GM in the league. Imagine if we could have signed Brian Scalabrani and Dan Dickau instead of Mat Bonner and Jose Calderon (for less money), man then we could be set to for the future! Now THAT'S cap management.

"You want me to take the time to count ''em? No comment."
-- Jalen Rose, when asked how many of his Raptor teammates are question marks

Little did he know he was the biggest question mark.

PS Darko sucks, admit it. I know you want to.

[xaoshaen]

"I'd fire him."
-- Former 76ers owner Pat Croce, asked what he'd do to Raptors GM Rob Babcock if he worked for him.

Ask the Hawks how the whole "hoarding cap space" thing worked out.

[Zanchief]

I don't see Babs signing a mediocre swing to a max deal and giving up 2 1st round picks. Call me an optimist. But they aren't just hoarding cap space, they're clearing cap space and gathering young pieces. It's kinda like Darko, you have to give this young squad time to develop, only we have potential, where as Darko has a cool new 'stache.

Nice Croce quote, though his input on the subject is about as relevant as Donald Trumps.

Any other Bill Simmons quote of the day you have for me? I'd look further than ESPN if you're looking for insightful analysis north of the border. Or do you turn to Kornheiser and Wilbon for your NHL coverage?

[xaoshaen]

I don't see Babs signing a mediocre swing to a max deal and giving up 2 1st round picks. Call me an optimist. But they aren't just hoarding cap space, they're clearing cap space and gathering young pieces.

Right. Just like the Hawks did. How's that rebuilding plan going in Atlanta?

Any other Bill Simmons quote of the day you have for me? I'd look further than ESPN if you're looking for insightful analysis north of the border.

Blaming ESPN for all the denigration of Babcock's five year plan would be a lot more believable if any of the quotes had actually originated there.

Or do you turn to Kornheiser and Wilbon for your NHL coverage?

Ah, hockey. The sport where millionaire players and millionaire owners squabble over the table scraps from sports that people actually care about. How'd that whole strike thing work out anyways?

[Zanchief]

No time now, prepare for my retort in one hours time!

[xaoshaen]

No time now, prepare for my retort in one hours time!

With any luck I won't be here then! I shall however, be sure to make witty and snide comments on, ummm, Tuesday?

[Zanchief]

Right. Just like the Hawks did. How's that rebuilding plan going in Atlanta?

I like the Chicago comparesent better, but just because one inept franchise has failed at rebuilding over and over again, I don't think that means the concept is invalid.

Blaming ESPN for all the denigration of Babcock's five year plan would be a lot more believable if any of the quotes had actually originated there.

They did, even if that's not were google pointed you. I doubt very much that it's a coincidence that both those quotes were ALSO used by Simmons. One 6 months ago and one 3 months ago. Very relevant!

Ah, hockey. The sport where millionaire players and millionaire owners squabble over the table scraps from sports that people actually care about. How'd that whole strike thing work out anyways?

New CBA and things have never looked better (in canada).

[vonkaar]

The point remains...

Dark stinks.

[xaoshaen]

I like the Chicago comparesent better, but just because one inept franchise has failed at rebuilding over and over again, I don't think that means the concept is invalid.

And which comparison do you think is more apt? The Hornets, Warriors, Clippers, Hawks, Knicks, and Jailblazers all would argue the former. But hey, if .400 is your idea of a successful season, by all means, aim for Chicago (12-18)!

They did, even if that's not were google pointed you. I doubt very much that it's a coincidence that both those quotes were ALSO used by Simmons. One 6 months ago and one 3 months ago. Very relevant!

I think you're having trouble with the word "originates", Zan.

New CBA and things have never looked better (in canada).

Wow, that's a vastly more stinging indictment than anything I came up with. Well done!

[Zanchief]

The point remains...

Dark stinks.

[Lyion]

Huge megabump. He's made huge strides and actually looked decent playing Detroit.

I know he's over the hill... at 21.. but it'll be interesting to see of Orlando retains him, and how he matures.

[Phlegm]

Restricted free agent at the end of the season. He is playing for his next contract.

[Zanchief]

He still stinks. I maintain everything I've said. Also the Toronto rebuilding has gone pretty well. How's Seattle doing?

[vonkaar]

The Lebron James lottery...

Darko...
and then...


Chris Bosh
Dwayne Wade
Carmelo Anthony
Josh Howard
Kirk Hinrich
Boris Diaw
Leandro Barbosa
T.J. Ford
Chris Kaman
Mo Williams
Mickael Pietrus
Jarvis Hayes
James Jones
Marcus Banks
Jason Kapono
Luke Walton
Willie Green
Kieth Bogans

Those are all players who are either starting on their teams (most of them), playing 6th man roles, getting crazy amounts of bench minutes, playing in the all-star game, or getting MVP VOTES IN MASS QUANTITIES...

All of whom were picked AFTER Darko.

Darko sucks.

This is the reason Shawn Bradley sucked. Had he been picked 52nd, he wouldn't have been as 'dissed'. He was picked SECOND. Darko is Shawn Bradley times a million.

[Xaiveir]

He still stinks. I maintain everything I've said. Also the Toronto rebuilding has gone pretty well. How's Seattle doing?

Yeah......

How about them Mariners instead?

Errrr ummm wait....

Hmmm

Seahawks?

[Rotj]

Marcus Banks

lawls

[vonkaar]

[Lyion]

Have you watched him play in the playoffs this year, or are you just throwing up piles of names? You ignored my point. He is a much better player and head and shoulders above where he was just a year ago. If the same is true in another year, the bust label is gone. He certainly needs work, but he is showing flashes of brilliance.

Again, the kid is 21. We won't really know how much of a baller he'll become for another few years, but if he continues to play like he has in this series, he'll pass most of the people on that list.. Big IF, of course, but he has huge upside.

[Zanchief]

Still waiting on Darko. Let us bump this thread in another few years fall we?

[vonkaar]

Have you watched him play in the playoffs this year, or are you just throwing up piles of names? You ignored my point. He is a much better player and head and shoulders above where he was just a year ago.

I've probably watched him play in 30+ REGULAR SEASON games this year and I watch every single playoff game, so... yeah... I'm sure I've seen him more than anyone outside of Disney World. I don't know many people who watch as many NBA games as I do. I feel pretty confident in my abilities to make a quick 'in game' description of Darko:

He's mediocre... he has no hustle... he gets beat on the rebound by MUCH smaller, less athletic guys... he's good for 12 points on a GREAT night and 0.7 points on an off night. You never know what you are going to get with him, a stellar 18/3/0/4/0 game, or a stinker 1/2/0/1/0 - in 27 minutes. Oh, but he blocks a couple shots every night.

Holy fucking shit, I JUST FUCKING DESCRIBED SHAWN BRADLEY. If the same 'in game description' applies to both guys... it's NOT a good thing. Shawn Bradley WINS this battle, however, because his draft was stupid-shallow. But still, Penny Hardaway, Allan Houston, Jamal Mashburn (holy shit, it's the career-ending-injury draft!), Sam Cassell and Nick Van Exel would have been wiser picks over Bradley.

That's the thing that kills Darko. That's the point that YOU keep ignoring. Sure, he's got POTENTIAL, but for what? To SOMEDAY (by his 7th year? For fuck's sake!) become a 17/6/0/3 guy... Awesome. That's a 2nd rounder. You can't keep saying he has POTENTIAL unless that potential is to live up to his potential, which was to be the next (and better) Dirk. Dirk is a 27/10/4/1.5 MVP. Darko could hit those amazing (for him) numbers someday (17/6/0/3), and everyone will say how he's actually turned into a decent player... but by then, the guys that were picked after him will have likely earned 1 or 2 MVPs and about 50 2nd-5th place... along with about a hundred all-star appearances. THAT is the company to compare him to. Go back and read his pre-draft scouting reports and tell me he has potential again. They talk about him like he's Jesus.

Chris Bosh had 6 or 7 games this year pulling in more than 15 rebounds. He's probably going to finish 4th in MVP voting.

Darko is the biggest bust in professional sports history. Find me someone else picked in, "the deepest, most amazing draft class in sports history." Hell, figure out the 2nd or 3rd 'deepest class ever' and you won't find a bigger bust than Darko.

[Zanchief]

He got 11 points and 2 rebounds last night.

And that was a good night.

On top of everything Vonkaar said about him, he's got an attitude problem too. Atleast Shawn Bradley knew he sucked and try like hell to not.

[vonkaar]

And...

If the same is true in another year, the bust label is gone. He certainly needs work, but he is showing flashes of brilliance.

Again, the kid is 21. We won't really know how much of a baller he'll become for another few years, but if he continues to play like he has in this series, he'll pass most of the people on that list.. Big IF, of course, but he has huge upside.

What?? You watch 3 playoff games where the biggest-bust-ever puts up 11/2/1/1/1, 10/6/0/3/0 and 14/4/1/0/0 and suddenly he's 'capable'? What the fuck are you so excited about? Flashes of fucking brilliance? You can't sue that phrase to describe someone who averages 12 fucking points in a playoff series! So he pulled a spin move over an aged Chris Webber and got a nice dunk... that's Flashes of Brilliance? Good lord.

He'll pass nobody. He'll never live up his pick, let alone justify a first-round pick. Josh Howard was picked #29 (the last spot in the first round). You telling me he's going to pass Josh Howard? Watch the fucking games man.

If he continues on this BLISTERING pace with these flashes of brilliance, he might pass Kapono and MAYBE Willie Green (only because I see him imploding soon)... but nobody else. Bogans and Banks were a joke, but even they have 'honest' potential. MOST of the people on the list gets into the Bosh/Wade/Howard/Hinrich/Anthony territory... and that simply won't happen.

[Zanchief]

I don't see him passing Kapono. A guy who can hit the three as well as he does is much more valuable than a whiny big man who doesn't rebound. Willie Green and Jarvis Hayes, he could pass.

Also, you forgot Marqis Daniels. He's struggled this year but I don't think he's done yet. Still much better then The Dark.