Bad news for Darko, Hill wants to continue starting Battie(Denton blog)

[ball junkie]

quote:

Originally posted by emory889:

I agree with you in theory BJ. I just don't see how Battie starting helps us short term and I definitely don't see how it helps us in the long run. It sure looks like a lose/lose to me.

 

Otis probably wants it like this too if he feels like Tony is his most consistent guy.

 

I haven't seen many people post this but Otis is gonna take a lot of heat from the press if we don't make the playoffs since he had a chance at the trade deadline to give us a boost and he passed. At that time most people pretty much assumed we were a shoo-in to make the post-season.

[jack daniel 999]

I don't care if Pat plays ...we need to make the play-offs...

 

Whatever, Whoever, whereever..

 

We need to make the play-offs.

[DarkoHero]

quote:

Originally posted by jack daniel 999:

I don't care if Pat plays ...we need to make the play-offs...

 

Whatever, Whoever, whereever..

 

We need to amke the play-offs.

 

Short term goals can destroy long term goals. Would you take a playoff this year if it meant no championships in your life time or would you take missing the playoffs this year and winning a ring in a few years? I'm not saying starting Darko will cost us the playoffs, but you can't think of only the here and now.

[jack daniel 999]

Getting into the play-offs will only make us stronger next year and I really hope Darko can be a big part of that...

 

There are 15 players on this team ...and they all should contribute.

that's what makes this a TEAM EFFORT.

 

Pat was a joke ...but if he can help...That's cool to.

 

Whoever it takes.

 

Our new beginning starts now!!!

 

GO MAGIC!!!!!!!!!

[Emory889]

quote:

Originally posted by ball junkie:

quote:

Originally posted by emory889:

I agree with you in theory BJ. I just don't see how Battie starting helps us short term and I definitely don't see how it helps us in the long run. It sure looks like a lose/lose to me.

 

Otis probably wants it like this too if he feels like Tony is his most consistent guy.

 

I haven't seen many people post this but Otis is gonna take a lot of heat from the press if we don't make the playoffs since he had a chance at the trade deadline to give us a boost and he passed. At that time most people pretty much assumed we were a shoo-in to make the post-season.

 

I'm not entirely sure exactly how much say Otis has in the situation. If its true that Otis doesn't have the authority to fire Hill (as it has been speculated) then I seriously doubt he has the ability to tell Hill what to do with his lineups.

 

I don't think we will ever know what happened at the trade deadline. I was almost as disappointed as you were. It did sound from all the trade rumors that were swirling around (especially the LA ones) that Thorn was asking way too much. Assuming its true, there is no way Otis should give up Ariza and Darko to get Carter.

[SmackDaddy]

Precisely what I was afraid of. Yet another move by our coach that shows his preference to play veterans and undermine the confidence of our youth.

 

Management has said all season that they are patient and determined to build a championship contender. Their plan has been made obvious...To build a championship calibre team with the young players that we have in place. However, every move that the coach makes seems to destabilize that strategy.

 

It seems to me that management and coaches have now panicked. They didn't commit to developing our young players earlier in the season. That would have put them in a better position to succeed now. Therefore, due to the failures related to their plan, they are now in panic mode and willing to do anything to make the playoffs and ensure job security, regardless of how detrimental it may be to the long term goal.

 

For one, I am still not certain of how valid Darko's injury really is. It could be a ruse to cover up the coaches prefernce to play Battie.

 

Personally, I don't think that Battie was even remotely effective the other night. He fumbled several passes away, he bobbled numerous rebounds, and he didn't attempt a single jump shot. All of this likely resulted from his banged up finger and the fact that he hasn't fully healed. So therefore, with neither Battie or Darko being fully healthy the coaches preference is to play the older banged up player as opposed to the younger banged up player.

 

I just don't see the logic in starting Battie if the goal all year ong has been to get Darko into the starting lineup. 10pts, 7 reb and 2 blocks in 31 minutes is more than acceptable for your second option big man. Somebody please show me where Battie has ever averaged that in his entire career.

 

If Darko isn't healthy and ready to come back, then why not go with the smaller, more effective lineup that won the game for us against Utah? However, if Darko is healthy enough to play, then I feel it is a poor decision to give an injured Battie his starting spot back after missing 16 games.

[Joker]

If its true what Denton's writing then the Magic can kiss goodbye to Darko.The reason is because the kids gonna feel betrayed by coach Hill who not long ago said Darko would still be starting even when Battie returns from injury.Darko's gonna feel he's starting from scratch and that's not gonna sit to well for him.On the other hand Battie has the trust of coach Hill and Darko's yet to earn that trust from the coach.Battie does the little things better,but you can't just play around with a young players confidence just like that.You either develop him of just tell him he's just gonna be a back-up for both Battie and Dwight.I wouldn't be suprised if Darko's had a gutfull from the nba,and he might even be headed back to europe where he can chose what team he wants to play for,and will get those big euro's, tax free.O.Smith has to do whats better for the team ,they either gonna develop him or just trade him away where he can start.There are plenty teams after talented bigs.I thought the magic beleived Dwight and Darko are the twin towers combination for the next 10 years.Battie might break down soon from old age,then what.

[chosen12]

quote:

Originally posted by SmackDaddy:

Precisely what I was afraid of. Yet another move by our coach that shows his preference to play veterans and undermine the confidence of our youth.

 

Management has said all season that they are patient and determined to build a championship contender. Their plan has been made obvious...To build a championship calibre team with the young players that we have in place. However, every move that the coach makes seems to destabilize that strategy.

 

It seems to me that management and coaches have now panicked. They didn't commit to developing our young players earlier in the season. That would have put them in a better position to succeed now. Therefore, due to the failures related to their plan, they are now in panic mode and willing to do anything to make the playoffs and ensure job security, regardless of how detrimental it may be to the long term goal.

 

For one, I am still not certain of how valid Darko's injury really is. It could be a ruse to cover up the coaches prefernce to play Battie.

 

Personally, I don't think that Battie was even remotely effective the other night. He fumbled several passes away, he bobbled numerous rebounds, and he didn't attempt a single jump shot. All of this likely resulted from his banged up finger and the fact that he hasn't fully healed. So therefore, with neither Battie or Darko being fully healthy the coaches preference is to play the older banged up player as opposed to the younger banged up player.

 

I just don't see the logic in starting Battie if the goal all year ong has been to get Darko into the starting lineup. 10pts, 7 reb and 2 blocks in 31 minutes is more than acceptable for your second option big man. Somebody please show me where Battie has ever averaged that in his entire career.

 

If Darko isn't healthy and ready to come back, then why not go with the smaller, more effective lineup that won the game for us against Utah? However, if Darko is healthy enough to play, then I feel it is a poor decision to give an injured Battie his starting spot back after missing 16 games.

 

Smack, I am starting to think that my parents had twins, and didn't tell either one of us!! LOL. Also there is one more defining question we must never depart from, and that is the reason Darko's first extension was pulled off the table. The answer Otis gave was to take a full season to establish the kid's value! Well if he or BHill have made the decision to bench this kid, while we are making a run for our playoff lives......is this their way of Summing up Darkos value, and if so I think they just sent the UHaul trucks to his house!!!!

[Secretly Space Jesus]

Another point: We all know Darko basically carried us in our win over Chicago a while back.

When has Battie carried us to a victory this year?

[Secretly Space Jesus]

Smack, I asked you this once before but I missed it if you responded: What the heck is that animation supposed to be?

[SmackDaddy]

It's a little man trying to get out of the box.

[SmackDaddy]

quote:

Originally posted by chosen12:

Smack, I am starting to think that my parents had twins, and didn't tell either one of us!! LOL. Also there is one more defining question we must never depart from, and that is the reason Darko's first extension was pulled off the table. The answer Otis gave was to take a full season to establish the kid's value! Well if he or BHill have made the decision to bench this kid, while we are making a run for our playoff lives......is this their way of Summing up Darkos value, and if so I think they just sent the UHaul trucks to his house!!!!

 

There are a number of very relevant concerns that this move could trigger.

 

What really is managements motivation? Is it to make the playoffs this year to save their jobs? Or, is it to build a championship contender? Can they go hand in hand? Can we continue to undermine the confidence of our young players and still develop them into stone cold killers?

 

What really is Darko's value? He is 21 years old. Very inexperienced. Very inconsistent. Very lazy at times. Does this mean that he is a 5-6 million dollar player that should wait until he has proven himself to be rewarded with a big payday? Or, does his size and potential alone dictate that he is worth 10 million?

 

Has this team given up on Darko? Would management rather that we spend our offseason cap money on an all-star wing player and use our MLE to sign another big man to compliment Dwight? Does our coach have a perception on Darko based on his lack of desire in practice that fans are not aware of? If the team has given up on Darko (and putting him back on the bench in favor of an injured Tony Battie could be a clear indication of this} has Darko given up on the Magic and possibly the NBA?

 

If Darko isn't the answer at PF, who is? Can we expect to see Tony Battie starting at the PF position for the next few years until he finally pushes himself out to tip-off in a wheel chair? Should Tony Battie be moved back to his more natural backup role with the team in favor of a Udonis Haslem type player? Can Augoe or Gortat be the answer?

 

Whether or not this is a move that lasts one game or the remainder of the season, I think coach Hill may have just ushered in the exit of Darko. Darko has a very fragile psyche. He flourishes when playing international ball, but much like his teammate Carlos Arroyo, he hasn't taken the bull by the horns and dedicated himself fully to excelling at the NBA level. Darko is young and still has plenty of time left to prove himself, but I wouldn't blame him if he packed up his bags and went home after playing for 3 different coaches in 3 different years without ever being given a full chance at growing into the player that was expected.