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- May 11, 2005
Portland Tribune Story
As for Darius Miles, who is 14 months removed from his microfracture knee surgery, the message is more hazy.
"He still has a ways to go," McMillan says. "So far, he's mostly been doing one-on-one or two-on-two stuff."
"He's getting closer, but he still has to get in game shape," Pritchard says. "He has to get at a specific weight, and where he can run up and down and not have any issues with the leg."
"He's progressing," Jensen says. "It's kind of how he feels and how his knee feels. Nobody knows except for Darius."
Miles says he's ready.
"It's up to (team officials) now," he says. "I can play. I can practice any day they practice. There's no pain in the knee. I'm ready to go."
Will he push the Blazers to get back in action?
"I've been doing that," Miles says.
Though everyone skips around the issue, part of the Blazers' concern is, with the team playing so well, Miles' return could disrupt the chemistry. He's not exactly been a character guy in the past, and there are questions about how he will fit in.
It seems a long time ago when, in the 2006-07 season opener at Minnesota, Miles collected 32 points, 11 rebounds, five assists and three blocked shots. At 26, the 6-9 Miles - with three years and $26 million left on his contract - has no guaranteed spot in the rotation.
"I'm past that stage of developing guys, in a sense," McMillan says. "Darius has to earn his way on the floor. We won't just put him back out there. Everything will be based on how he plays in practice, and (if he) can beat out a 12th man as far as being on the active list. We'll have to look at that."
Question: When will Darius Miles play? Will Darius Miles play? What is his ideal game weight? What is his weight right now?
EDIT: Maybe McMillan thinks Darius and his whip need to lose some weight and get in shape.