Paul Pierce to Teammates: Get the Ball to Darko

About two-thirds of the way through today's televised practice, Paul Pierce pulls aside a few teammates and gives them some advice: "You see Darko in the high post, get him the ball. He can pass that thing. Man. Darko flashes to the high post, you use him. He's smart."

Even with only one hand, Darko still isn't too shabby. It's also interesting to see the curtains pulled away on practice, and the support stars like Pierce are giving #99.

I don't have the video of today. But check out the pass in the above video at the 14-second marker.

(I also like that when Darko shoots, Dwight doesn't even make an effort to block it, cuz, you know, Dwight is 6-9, and Darko is at least 7-1)

Darko, Darko, Darko

 WALTHAM, Mass. – Darko Milicic didn’t sign with the Boston Celtics until Sept. 28, the day the 2012-13 season officially began. At the time, his signing wasn’t a news item. It was deemed an irrelevant move by most NBA analysts. Thirteen days later, chatter about his potential impact on the Celtics has replaced all of the jokes about irrelevance. He’s now being viewed as a valuable piece of Boston’s championship puzzle. That’s quite a change in less than two weeks, but the change is well deserved. Milicic has seemingly secured the role of backup center behind Kevin Garnett.

LINK

Yes, Darko, you caught us by surprise.

We knew the name, we knew the legend, we knew you'd been released . . . again . . . by yet another team.

But we didn't know the man or the player.

The videos started to give us an idea about the player (quite talented), and for you to continue to bounce back and move forward on your NBA journey tells us something about the man.

If you can stay healthy, play your assigned role, and give us even a modicum of offense now and again, you will not only be a valuable piece to the championship puzzle, you may become an indispensable piece, too.

Team Darko is Reborn

The 2010-11 NBA season was a busy one for Team Darko. Ninety percent of the Darko-related videos I’ve posted were from that season, and ninety percent were edited and loaded by Team Darko. Last season? A little bit more quiet. Rick Adelman assumed the reins of control in Minnesota, and took the Timberwolves in a different direction.

So it is good to see Team Darko picking up where they left off.   

The choice of music is even spot on – melodies of rebirth and lyrics of missed opportunities.

No missed opportunities this season, though.

Right, Darko?

Heat were also Talking to Darko

 

The Miami Heat are kicking the tires on a number of big men to round out its 2012/13 squad, one of whom is a member of the illustrious draft class that produced LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh. Darko Milicic's agent told the Sun Sentinel last week that the Heat have inquired about Milicic after he was released via the amnesty clause by the Minnesota Timberwolves. "We have had some conversation," Marc Cornstein said to the Sentinel. 

"We've certainly talked about it." Milicic's agent called the Heat's overtures just "preliminary conversations," but his status as an amnestied player gives Miami some help in signing him. The 7-foot Milicic offers a size advantage over Turiaf, but Miami could still go with recent draft pick Justin Hamilton or reserve center Dexter Pittman as well. 

"He's at a real pivotal point of his career, and this is a very big decision for him, and I think he's taking it as much," Cornstein said, "and I certainly don't think money will be the deciding factor.

LINK

The Darko Chronicles continue.

Milicic too much for Duncan; Spurs forced to Double Team

 St. Paul Pioneer Press (MN)
Copyright 2010 Saint Paul Pioneer Press

November 25, 2010

The Spurs' comeback countered impressive performances from Kevin Love, who had game-highs of 32 points and 22 rebounds, and Darko Milicic, who is becoming one of the NBA's top comeback stories. Milicic, averaging 22 points and 10 rebounds in the Wolves' previous two games, followed up with 22 points, eight rebounds, five blocked shots and four assists.

Milicic might have done more if he hadn't fouled out 10 seconds into overtime. One of the highlights for Rambis was seeing the Spurs forced to throw double-teams at Milicic when veteran all-star center Tim Duncan was unable to defend Milicic by himself.

The Darko and Dooling Moves Continue to Intrigue

As the Darko story continues to unfold, I still find the backstory from over the summer a bit puzzling. Darko was amnestied by the Minnesota Timberwolves on July 12, 2012. Danny Ainge was the first GM to call. Yet Milicic didn't sign with the club until the end of September. Indeed, he had flown back to Serbia, and was entertaining thoughts of playing in Europe.

What took so long for Darko to decide?

What was the tipping point?

Had he already made a commitment back in July?

Also curious was the timing of Keyon Dooling's retirement, coming within 24 hours of the Darko signing. This makes it seem like Darko, Doc, and Danny had reached some sort of tentative understanding in July, and Dooling, who had just re-upped on July 31, agreed in advance that he would exit should Darko decide to join the C's.

Hopefully, someone in the media will piece this together at some point.

Darko v. the Magic (scoring on Howard in variety of ways)

Darko's Impressive Performance against Blake Griffin and the Clippers (including diving for loose balls)

I've been posting these videos now for what, three days? This one is like the others. The usual assortment of dunks, flip shots, and rejections, including many against 2nd Team All NBA Blake Griffin (I'm losing count, but I think we saw Darko impress against Bynum and Gasol yesterday).

But what really got me was when he dove for a loose ball.

Now we're talking nitty gritty, Celtic basketball.

Darko v. the Lakers (scoring 4 times on Bynum, then drawing a charge)