Start Pruitt

[LongTimeFan]

Cassel is ready. Rondo is not going to improve that much with one more start.

Time to start Pruitt and give him a run. Pruitt, DA and the coaches need to see where he is. Pruitt needs the experience to give him real experiences and a real measure. The coaches need to analyse what he should work on over the summer. DA needs to know what our long term PG backup situation is looking like.

[Celts17Pride]

The coaches need to analyse what he should work on over the summer. DA needs to know what our long term PG backup situation is looking like.

Fine, start Pruitt but the Celtics are not going to learn anything they don't already know because of 1 start.

[Athanacropolis]

Not a bad idea at all. Or if he doesn't start, at least give him a long look out there. I really would like to see how he plays for more than two minutes at a time.

[GreenGrizz]

Yes, I am with your idea.

[The_Pope]

Do you mean for the game on Wednesday? I can't really see a point in that, Gabe's not getting in the playoff rotation and one game isn't really going to affect his progress for next year all that much. I say just go with our main guys to keep momentum for the Atlanta series.

[Prophet_C]

No.

Gabe will get his time but he'll have to wait. We need to get Sam as many minutes as possible before we play Atlanta. It's nice to also see Sam and Rondo playing together so I would like to see more of that in our next game. There is really no point to playing Pruitt because as others said, he won't get into the playoff rotation. Give the minutes to our bench who will be in the playoff rotation.

[BillessuR6]

With Rondo out for the last game Cassell needs to get close to 30 minutes and I guess Eddie will be ready, so we need to give him a few minutes to get into a rhythm too.

Pruitt played really poorly in NY. Sure it is hard to show anything meaningful in a few minutes but still. I don`t think giving GP big minutes in last game will show us much, it is better to get Sam and Eddie some more run, Gabe will get his chance next season...

And Tony needs to play more. Give him 30+ minutes I don`t know why he only got under 20 in NY...

[LongTimeFan]

Come on Atlanta is a warm up for the playoffs. Our bench put them away on their home court. Our bench blew them out.

No playoff time for Pruitt is warranted at all. Others have earned that and are being payed for that.

One game would be huge for his progress over the summer. A picture is worth a thousand words. A video of your performance in an NBA game is like looking through God's eyes. He's had almost a year to prepare for this. Let's see where he is. Let DA see where he is and the coaches. Is he part of the future? What are his Bird rights going to be worth? It is time to experiment and see what we've got.

The game is absolutely meaningless. We have four games with Atlanta for House, Rondo & Cassel. The NJ game would be a huge NBA experince for Pruitt. By starting Pruitt a meaningless game adds value to the Celtics future.

(And of course reduces the probability of an injury to a key player. Yes, Doc that injury to your thumb is a warning. Why take a chance on Rondo and Cassel? They are ready for Atlanta.)

[LongTimeFan]

http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.h ... A965958260

Doc's last game injury. Coincidence? Or warning?

[Egregious Blunder]

pruitt will not be on the playoff roster. the last few games need to be spent readying the troops for the playoffs, not giving rookies experience for next year.

[sunshinekids99]

I doubt we will see a whole lot of run for Pruitt in the next game. I still think Sam could use another game to get his legs under him. I guess Pruitt could back him up tho, depending if House is 100%.

[Jammer]

As has already been said,

Gabe Pruitt will not be on the 12 man playoff roster,

and a day off won't hurt and might actually help Rajon Rondo,

so Play Sam 29-30 minutes and let Eddie get his 18-19 minutes in.

Eddie's role will be important in the playoffs because like the San Antonio game, when he came in and hit 4 shots in 4 attempts (two were 3's) in the second quarter, he kept the Celtics in the game, and they would not have won without that. What Sam provides is another ball handler, and someone who can make shots at the end of games, and hopefully if Eddie, Rajon or Tony are not hitting.

[FadeAway]

I was expecting to see Pruitt a lot in these last games but I guess Doc and company have different plans. Doubt will see him for any more than 5 minutes in the New Jersey game either. Here's to seeing him in the summer league, that oughta be some fun.

[Fencer reregistered]

It's not just a question of Cassell or House getting more ready.

It's also a question of 4 other guys at a time getting more game time with Cassell or House.

[LongTimeFan]

We have four or more games with Atlanta before the playoffs start. House can get plenty of run in those games. If he needs more we can even lose a game to Atlanta.

This is the only game left for Pruitt. There is upside value for him and the organisation.

There is no real upside to starting Rondo or Cassel. There is some for House, but he will be on the playoff roster and can get the run during Atlanta.

There is a downside to playing Rondo and Cassel and that is a fluke injury.