Yet another good news-bad news post today.

The Pistons managed to fend off the Suns last night, winning 111-104, to improve their record to 5-0 and remain the NBA's only undefeated team. Naturally, one might think that Darko had a major contribution, scoring in the neighbourhood of 20 points, grabbing maybe 10 rebounds, and blocking half a dozen shots or so. WRONG! Darko sat on his butt for the ENTIRE game for the first time this season. Flip had the super Serb ride the pines and never got him off the bench.

Would the margin of victory have been greater if Milicic had played? Very possibly, but we will never know, thanks to Flip. On the bright side, last night's game was the first half of a back-to-backer. The Pistons are in Portland tonight, and mlive.com suggests that Darko will likely play this evening. From http://http://www.mlive.com/pistons/stories/index.ssf?/base/sports-1/1118268601310920.xml&coll=1 :

"With tonight being a back-to-back for Detroit, Pistons coach Flip Saunders anticipates playing Darko Milicic who did not play (coaches decision) on Thursday.

Saunders has talked with Milicic, as well as Carlos Delfino, about not playing as much as they would like to. The talks have centered around letting them know that even though their minutes have been limited, they still have considerable value to the team and the organization. "

The article goes on to quote Saunders as being pro-active and having an open door policy for players to come talk to him about matters such as playing time. That's all well and good, Flippy, but if superstars like the Darkomeister still wind up on the bench, then you can talk until the cows come home and it won't make a bit of difference!

To Flip's credit, he has been somewhat generous with his playing time to this point and has certainly been far more accommodating than was Mr. Brown... but if Darko doesn't see a good amount of playing time on the Rose Garden's basketball floor this evening, Saunders is in for a blog-flogging!