Darko gone from celtics squad

from Reds army:

http://redsarmy.com/2012/10/04/doc-darko-doesnt-exist-anymore/

"The name alone is enough to give you chills:

Darko.

Even for me, when I heard the Celtics signed him, I skipped the analysis for a little bit and just sat to let the anguish of the moment wash over me.

We signed Darko.

Of course, when you look at it objectively, veteran minimum deals are inherently no risk because the league pays a good portion of the salary and you can just cut the guy if he’s a problem. Darko’s a tall, strong body who can rebound and block shots. And if he wasn’t named Darko… if he wasn’t the guy drafted 2nd overall… we never would have thought twice about his addition.

Doc knows that. And that’s why Darko doesn’t exist anymore.


“I tell him every day, ‘You’re no longer Darko. You’re a Celtic,’ Boston coach Doc Rivers said. “And one day, we asked him what his name was and he said, ‘Celtic.’ And everyone just started laughing. All I’m trying to do is get him to forget about trying to be something he isn’t — and just be someone for the team.”

Rivers added, “He’s got a lot of stuff on his shoulders and we’re trying to unload all of that. You go in front of Carmelo and all you’re going to do is hear that. That can get old. We’re trying to get him to move out of that.”

I love it.

It’s time for all of us, and that definitely includes me, to get past what Darko was, or was supposed to be. It’s time to just look at him as a seven-foot tall Serbian gangster who may or may not commit homicide at the team’s behest. And he’s got one advantage in Boston that he hasn’t had before: KG.


“Right now, he probably lacks a little bit of self-confidence,” Garnett said. “And I will help with that. I’ll do as much as I can to influence him and encourage him. But it’s going to take something from him, too. He’s never been around a team like this. He’s never been around guys like this. He’s never been in a situation where there is so much energy and encouragement.”

I’ll translate what KG just said:

“He’s never been anywhere with this kind of structure. He might be down on himself right now, but if he doesn’t pull his head out of his ass and become the best player he can be in Boston, then he’ll never do it anywhere.”

It’s up to Darko now. Or whatever his name is."

Mattys thoughts:
1: this is further proof that this is the best team in the NBA, Doc and KG are both linked in the articule as trying to help a guy overcome what has been a disapointing career thus far... their giving a guy another shot.. Boston has really been there for a number of guys in recent yrs, Delonte West, Daniels, Green, ect... athough the others had health issues, Dar.. I mean Celtic's issues can affect a person as well... low self esteem can follow you outside the workplace and into other area's of life.

2: If Doc & KG can get Celtic's mind past the fustration of his past and work on what they beleive is there beyond what we know he isnt a bad rebounder and shot blocker.. if he can improve in other area's we've got ourselves a winner of a pickup.

3: If Celtic wants to kill someone out on the court.. I beleive the Heat and lakers are already in the sights of another Celtic known as JET.. Let JET be the sniper and Celtic go in for hand to hand combat.. those two teams ought to be entering the reguler season with 15 targets.. i mean players each.. get at 'em.

4: darko training- http://redsarmy.com/2012/09/30/darko-trains-like-a-beast-no-really-is-willing-to-murder-someone/

In conclusion.. goodbye Darko, hello Lakers/Heat enemy #1

What's next, "My name is Celtic and I am a shooter!!!" ??

gyso wrote:What's next, "My name is Celtic and I am a shooter!!!" ??

next? tell him his name is william f. russel... that his job is to get 15-20 pts a game, 22 rebounds and 5 blocks or so a game.. oh, and losing games is a mistake.

I don't care what they call him, as long as its not Shirley.

Pete

Seems like Darko is buying into the "new him" concept whole heartedly, now let us just hope there was stuff inside him people have not seen yet.

And even if not he is still 7ft and 6 hard fouls.

Darko's gone and Celtic is here. This is too funny. Soon it may be MettaWorldCeltic. LOL I sure hope he does't kill anyone. Jungle Jim never did and he was very effective.

Mulcogi,

watchign the live blog from the Celtics site with marc Damico and the very beautiful molly mcgrath..

in 11 minutes Sully came up with 8 pts and 5 rebounds- 3 offensive

and a question was asked, who loked better on the floor, Celtic or Sully..

both marc and Molly said Celtic was doing more- but the small things that dont show up on a stat sheet...

molly also pointed out that apparently KG really likes Celtic...

so theres some positives coming from Celtic

Darko's immediate impact



October, 8, 2012
Oct 8
11:02
AM ET



By Greg Payne | ESPNBoston.com

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AP Photo/Michael Dwyer


Celtics center Darko Milicic has made a big impact early in the preseason.It
took less than 19 minutes of floor time, but Darko Milicic showed on
Sunday exactly what he can be for the Boston Celtics this season.


In a game that saw the Celtics put forth a balanced box score -- six
players scored in double figures -- Milicic stood out through terrific
defense, a focus on rebounding, and an overall court presence that
opened things up for his teammates, as Boston ran past Armani Milano,
105-75.



Milicic scored just two points, but hauled in a team-high nine
rebounds to go along with a team-high four blocked shots, showing
considerable strides on the defensive side of the ball, compared to
Boston's first preseason outing in a 97-91 loss to Fenerbahce on Friday.




Friday saw Milicic slow on his rotations, particularly against
Fenerbahce's dynamic point guard, Bo McCalebb, but with the overall team
defense clamping down on Sunday, Milicic thrived, sliding to the
appropriate spots well before Milano could get to the rim in a position
to score the ball.



Two of Milicic's blocks came off of help defense, while his other
two came in one-to-one coverage, when he allowed his man to commit to
his move in the paint before rising up to smack the ball away.



Playing in the second and fourth quarters, Milicic seemed to embrace
his hefty 7-foot frame on Sunday, utilizing his considerable size in
every area he was able to find success. He used it to block shots, to
reach rebounds ahead of the opposition, and he used it on the high post
-- the spot on the floor the Celtics have stuck him at most through two
preseason games. C's head coach Doc Rivers understands that he has a
capable passer in Milicic, which is why he's so willing to line him up
at either one of the elbows, where he receives an entry pass and allows
the action to develop around him. A quick kickout pass can lead to an
open look for a teammate, or allow Milic to re-position himself to set a
bulky screen to free up one of Boston's perimeter players.


Screen setting was the quietest part of Milicic's
production on Sunday. Boston's equipped with a versatile collection of
offensive players, all of which can benefit from having an open lane or
open floor space to create their offense. Consider the 5:06mark of the
second quarter, when Jason Terry simply ducked behind Milicic's frame to
open up enough space to fire off a 3-pointer, or the 4:24 mark when
Courtney Lee charged to the basket on the left side only once his man
was shaken by a Milicic screen.


Rivers has maintained throughout training camp that the lofty
expectations that came with Milicic when he was drafted second overall
in 2003 can be thrown out the window. Milicic simply needs to find a
role with Boston, and fill it to the best of his abilities. Through two
preseason games, that role is taking shape, like bread being kneaded
before it enters the oven. He's been active, he's shown a commitment to
the Celtics' system, and, perhaps most importantly, he seems to be
embracing being part of a team. Boston's bench was nothing but
supportive when he came up short on an alley-oop attempt in the second
quarter, and he brought his teammates to their feet a few minutes later
when he posted on the left block, spun, and nearly completed an
up-and-under layup as he got fouled.



Embracing Boston's team culture should only help Milicic make
productive strides this season. He won't need to be the Celtics' savior
this year. He'll just need to be steady. And through two preseason
games, he's done that just fine.



bob


.

I haven't seen much of the first two games, but it sounds like Darko is buying into the rebounding and defensive presence idea. What a good story if he can play a significant role coming off the bench for whatever minutes he gets. Funny how coming to a solid organization can change a player.

Keep it up Darko we're rooting for you.