Well, the Pistons lost Elden Campbell on waivers (the Nets claimed him, don't know if he's playing for them or not) leaving the Pistons fairly shallow at the big positions.
I really wish they were playing him more, and letting him take a few lumps out there, so when the playoffs roll around they'll have him a little batlle-tested and ready for Shaq and any other big men the Pistons will be up against.
It's gonna suck when the Pistons get into foul trouble in the playoffs and they have to toss him into the fray with almost no meaningful game experience.
I really wish they were playing him more, and letting him take a few lumps out there, so when the playoffs roll around they'll have him a little batlle-tested and ready for Shaq and any other big men the Pistons will be up against.
It's gonna suck when the Pistons get into foul trouble in the playoffs and they have to toss him into the fray with almost no meaningful game experience.
thank you.
darko has no business being out there. who's he going to replace...ben wallace?
i admit rasheed has been subpar...but where are the minutes for darko?
From the Free Press
Circle April 10 on the calendar. That's when the Pistons play at Miami against a team that is about to get bigger and deeper.
Alonzo Mourning, a two-time defensive player of the year, is expected to sign with the Heat later this week, giving a team that boasts Shaquille O'Neal, another big man.
"That's a huge pickup," Pistons coach Larry Brown said Monday. "Shaquille has been unbelievable, but he's been hurt before. That gives them some pretty good depth."
Mourning, 35, has averaged 19.8 points and 9.6 rebounds over a 12-year career, but has played just 30 games since 2001-02 because of a kidney ailment.
Mourning played 18 games this season for New Jersey before being traded to Toronto in December in the Vince Carter trade. Mourning refused to report to the Raptors, and after the sides reached a buyout deal last week, the Raptors waived Mourning on Friday.
Mourning averaged 10.4 points, seven rebounds and 2.3 blocks with New Jersey, but that was playing an average of about 25 minutes. He likely will only have to play about half that amount in Miami. He is a terrific defensive presence, and his ability to score means opponents have to put a man on him.
"He's still Alonzo," the Pistons' Antonio McDyess said. "His presence on the court is still effective. Defensively, he's still effective, and offensively he can knock down open shots."
How does this affect the Pistons? Well, the Pistons ran into O'Neal in last year's Finals, and while Ben Wallace took on most of the burden of defending him, it helped to have a 7-foot guy like Elden Campbell in case Wallace got into foul trouble.
"It's always great to have somebody that size who is able to go in there and match up with a guy like Shaq or any other big guy in this league who is capable of making plays on both ends of the floor," Wallace said.
But here's the problem: The Pistons surrendered Campbell to get Carlos Arroyo, and released another veteran big man, Derrick Coleman, last month. That leaves only sparsely used, second-year center Darko Milicic in reserve, should anything happen to Wallace, Rasheed Wallace or McDyess.
Asked if he could see Milicic taking on O'Neal, McDyess erupted in laughter. "I don't know," he said.
The trade deadline is Feb. 24, but the Pistons have nothing left to dangle in a trade. On the other hand, Brown suggested that since New Jersey was finally able to acquire former Piston Cliff Robinson, maybe, as Brown put it, "They'll let Elden go."
Circle April 10 on the calendar. That's when the Pistons play at Miami against a team that is about to get bigger and deeper.
Alonzo Mourning, a two-time defensive player of the year, is expected to sign with the Heat later this week, giving a team that boasts Shaquille O'Neal, another big man.
"That's a huge pickup," Pistons coach Larry Brown said Monday. "Shaquille has been unbelievable, but he's been hurt before. That gives them some pretty good depth."
Mourning, 35, has averaged 19.8 points and 9.6 rebounds over a 12-year career, but has played just 30 games since 2001-02 because of a kidney ailment.
Mourning played 18 games this season for New Jersey before being traded to Toronto in December in the Vince Carter trade. Mourning refused to report to the Raptors, and after the sides reached a buyout deal last week, the Raptors waived Mourning on Friday.
Mourning averaged 10.4 points, seven rebounds and 2.3 blocks with New Jersey, but that was playing an average of about 25 minutes. He likely will only have to play about half that amount in Miami. He is a terrific defensive presence, and his ability to score means opponents have to put a man on him.
"He's still Alonzo," the Pistons' Antonio McDyess said. "His presence on the court is still effective. Defensively, he's still effective, and offensively he can knock down open shots."
How does this affect the Pistons? Well, the Pistons ran into O'Neal in last year's Finals, and while Ben Wallace took on most of the burden of defending him, it helped to have a 7-foot guy like Elden Campbell in case Wallace got into foul trouble.
"It's always great to have somebody that size who is able to go in there and match up with a guy like Shaq or any other big guy in this league who is capable of making plays on both ends of the floor," Wallace said.
But here's the problem: The Pistons surrendered Campbell to get Carlos Arroyo, and released another veteran big man, Derrick Coleman, last month. That leaves only sparsely used, second-year center Darko Milicic in reserve, should anything happen to Wallace, Rasheed Wallace or McDyess.
Asked if he could see Milicic taking on O'Neal, McDyess erupted in laughter. "I don't know," he said.
The trade deadline is Feb. 24, but the Pistons have nothing left to dangle in a trade. On the other hand, Brown suggested that since New Jersey was finally able to acquire former Piston Cliff Robinson, maybe, as Brown put it, "They'll let Elden go."
iamme
Lifer
- Jul 21, 2001
- 21,058
- 3
- 0
well, LB can save Sheed and Ben's legs by playing Darko some more, imo. Also McDyess has been playing very well off the bench, but he's always an injury concern. obviously, Darko's not going to start, but i think he can play about 10 minutes regularly every night.
Everything that you and others have posted here makes it evident that he was not ready for NBA play. He would have been better served by playing some college ball.
except i dont think he could of played college ball.....he was playing professionally in europe, which i believe means he has no elgibility.
Which brings up the question of why the Pistons even bothered drafting him if they weren't going to develop him. If they wanted a more ready talent, they could have picked Carmelo Anthony, Dwayne Wade or even Kirk Hinrich.
iamme
Lifer
- Jul 21, 2001
- 21,058
- 3
- 0
definitely risky. however, the Pistons were in great position to take that risk. if you remember, the Pistons got the #2 draft pick while they were an Eastern Conference Finals team. they got extremely lucky with a past trade for the draft pick.
unlike most teams in the draft lottery, there wasn't a need to draft a player that would make an immediate contribution.
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