Gabe Pruitt

[Dogen]

Pruitt wouldn't be dealt he would most likely be cut, which would probably happen if someone like Marbury is let go and asks to join the Cs.

As loath as I am to say it, the C's take that opportunity if it presents itself. An inexpensive Marbury with something to prove is a risk worth taking.

[buckner1976]

I want to know where the hell people are coming from with the talk that Gabe Pruitt can play defense? He can't defend which is why he got no chance to play last year in any meaningful minutes and why he never could beat out Eddie House for minutes.

The team obviously wasn't completely thrilled with Eddie House as the back up PG or they never would've signed Sam Cassell or given his minutes to him in the first place. Now clearly the Celtics made a mistake on Cassell being better then House and its possible that they have made an error in not playing Gabe Pruitt but I doubt it.

Pruitt was a decent if not above average defender at USC. He's a gambler but he does have pretty quick hands. That said defense was an issue not to mention they wanted him to work on his ballhandling so in the future he could han dle more of the pg duties. I think it was those things combined. But he did improve both throughout the season I think in the D-League and in Boston so we'll see where he is now.

[MoBSTa]

I don't want to take anything away from Pruitt here, but what do you all think about Giddens?

I think at 6'5" and his Defense, his speed and his ability to get to the rim and rebound all make him favorable to the Celtics Defensive team set.

I know he is a rook, but if something happens to Ray Allen I would think Giddens would have to be the guy to land the mins here.

Pruitt like Devin Harris don't scare no one, however if Ray Allen was Down I would think Doc would insert Giddens at the 2 with Rondo, while Eddie House Played hero and 6th man again.

I really think Pruitt needs more time, and I may be taking Tony real light here as well.
But then again I may just be high on a falling dark horse that may have been stole at the end of the 1st round.

Now with that said, does anyone see Giddens making a impact on this team this year?

[Dogen]

Now with that said, does anyone see Giddens making a impact on this team this year?

Yes, and to go a little farther with it, I think he could even play some point.

[CeltsfanSinceBirth]

Hmmmm, so far, Gabe Pruitt is or can be like:

Gilbert Arenas
Devinn Harris
Gerald Henderson
Penny Hardaway
Delonte West
Chucky Atkins
Kenny Anderson
Steve Francis

Just goes to show you great this board is at evaluating talent, because what other board could predict this kind of talent from a guy who only played 95 minutes last year?

I am also going to take a stab at this and say that Gabe Pruitt reminds me of lanky version of Andrew Toney, mixed in with a little bit of Tiny Archibald. #13 shall hang high in the rafters one day.

[buckner1976]

Hmmmm, so far, Gabe Pruitt is or can be like:

Gilbert Arenas
Devinn Harris
Gerald Henderson
Penny Hardaway
Delonte West
Chucky Atkins
Kenny Anderson
Steve Francis

Just goes to show you great this board is at evaluating talent, because what other board could predict this kind of talent from a guy who only played 95 minutes last year?

I am also going to take a stab at this and say that Gabe Pruitt reminds me of lanky version of Andrew Toney, mixed in with a little bit of Tiny Archibald. #13 shall hang high in the rafters one day.

You forgot to add the "poor man's". I did say "poor man's" Steve Francis. Francis coming out of college was an athletic combo guard that got by playing pg though he really wasn't an instinctive pg. But he could use his athleticism to break teams down and could play off the ball reasonably well and maybe a catch a back door lob on occasion. He doesn't possess Steve's innate talent coming out of college but in terms of style of play I don't think that comparison is that far off.

[Gomes3PC]

Pruitt can become a better player than Delonte West. He's a better ballhandler and better pure shooter right now. However, West is a better defender, rebounder and passer. Those three things though a player can develop; West will never develop into a good ballhandler.

I hope and expect that Gabe can take the backup PG job away from Eddie House. Given how much Doc was prone to benching House at times in the playoffs, Gabe should get numerous opportunities to prove himself. If he stays confident and plays within himself, his superior talent to House should earn him more minutes by the end of the year.

That being said, as a 2nd round pick, I won't be upset if he flops, especially when we've gotten such great production already out of 2nd rounders like Gomes, Powe, and BBD. That's a tough act to follow, and we can't expect every 2nd rounder to succeed like that (same goes for Bill Walker and to a lesser extent Giddens).

[billfromBoston]

Pruitt can become a better player than Delonte West. He's a better ballhandler and better pure shooter right now. However, West is a better defender, rebounder and passer. Those three things though a player can develop; West will never develop into a good ballhandler.

I hope and expect that Gabe can take the backup PG job away from Eddie House. Given how much Doc was prone to benching House at times in the playoffs, Gabe should get numerous opportunities to prove himself. If he stays confident and plays within himself, his superior talent to House should earn him more minutes by the end of the year.

That being said, as a 2nd round pick, I won't be upset if he flops, especially when we've gotten such great production already out of 2nd rounders like Gomes, Powe, and BBD. That's a tough act to follow, and we can't expect every 2nd rounder to succeed like that (same goes for Bill Walker and to a lesser extent Giddens).

I actually think that we CAN expect most of the 2nd round picks to work out-if healthy-for one simple reason: most of the 2nd round picks the Celtics have taken weren't ranked as 2nd round picks based off of talent.

Ainge seems to be fairly consistent with his 2nd rounders, he takes players that have high talent, but some type of flaw that limits their draft stock. Gomes was a 6'7 PF who had to transition to SF, Powe's knees scared people away, Davis had weight issues, Walker knees, Giddens character, Pruitt combo guard...all these guys had at one time been 1st round projections, but their percieved limitations outside of ability found them passed over in favor of "safer" picks...

I think that Ainge has shown that he can properly ID the most important characteristics: work ethic, ego, and genuine team-first attitude...

[Man_Up]

I want to know where the hell people are coming from with the talk that Gabe Pruitt can play defense? He can't defend which is why he got no chance to play last year in any meaningful minutes and why he never could beat out Eddie House for minutes.

The team obviously wasn't completely thrilled with Eddie House as the back up PG or they never would've signed Sam Cassell or given his minutes to him in the first place. Now clearly the Celtics made a mistake on Cassell being better then House and its posiible that they have made an error in not playing Gabe Pruitt but I doubt it.

Or maybe the team didn't want an inconsistent rookie pg, backing up there inconsistent 2nd year pointguard on a contending team fighting for a title, which veterans usually win... Just a thought.

[EJay33]

I think the OP IS Gabe Pruitt. Who else would compare a 6'4" 170lb player who has played in 15 games an averaged 2.1ppg to a 6'4" 215lb player who is a 25-30ppg scorer in the league?

Get serious. This is the second thread I've seen on this forum comparing Pruitt to Arenas. It's a joke.

[Dogen]

I think the OP IS Gabe Pruitt. Who else would compare a 6'4" 170lb player who has played in 15 games an averaged 2.1ppg to a 6'4" 215lb player who is a 25-30ppg scorer in the league?

Get serious. This is the second thread I've seen on this forum comparing Pruitt to Arenas. It's a joke.

Well, I think the OP is Gibert Arenas.

He's always up to some online shenanigans.

[JMillott]

I think if he pans out that Gabe Pruitt could be a simular type of offensive PG as Mike Bibby, he isn't going to break down defenses often off the dribble but he'll bring the ball up quickly enough and can run some pick and roll/pop through him but more often then not he'll simply get the ball upcourt quickly and pass it to KG or Pierce and be used like Bibby is to simply space the floor.

If he works out the team would use him nearly exactly the way they use Eddie House only Gabe Pruitt would get the ball up court and get the team into its offense with 17-20 seconds left on the shot-clock instead of the 12-15 they have with House.

Yes, by the way that would be a marked improvement for this team if Gabe Pruitt could do the things House does well in that role but gets them into the offense quicker and has the ability to run some of the offense through him through the pick/pop/roll game.

In all honesty i don't think that Gabe Pruitt is going to work out here as an ideal back up PG here and i'm not sold that he will manage to beat out Eddie House for the back up PG role here. I think Rajon Rondo is going to end up playing closer to 35-36 minutes a night here and that we'll get comfortable with House playing 12-13 minutes a night behind him.

That said i'd like to see Stephon Marbury get bought out mid-season and then come here, I think Marbury for 20 minutes a night would be fantastic for us. He is also good enough that on the nights when Rajon is really struggling shooting the ball that Marbury could simply play more minutes where as I feel that if we need to use House or Pruitt that much that we are in big trouble.

[Jammer]

This thread gets more amusing the longer it goes.

Fans have moved from Gilbert Arenas comparisons to Mike Bibby, a former #2 pick who at the age of 21 and 22 (Pruitt's age), was racking up over 8 assists per game in Vancouver, and has career averages of 16.6 ppg, 6.2 apg and 3.3 rpg.

Ridiculous comparison.

The thing is, I would argue that Pruitt isn't even the third point guard on the Boston Celtics.

The honor of third point guard goes to Tony Allen.

Why? Tony will be one of the 12 "Active" players.

So, after Rajon and Eddie, Tony will likely be the next available point guard to actually play in games, while Gabe spends the season in D-League.

If Pruitt were any good, there would be tons of rumors on hoopsworld.com and hoopshype.com and realgm.com of with offers from teams trying to pry him away from the Celtics.

[canman1971]

This thread gets more amusing the longer it goes.

Fans have moved from Gilbert Arenas comparisons to Mike Bibby, a former #2 pick who at the age of 21 and 22 (Pruitt's age), was racking up over 8 assists per game in Vancouver, and has career averages of 16.6 ppg, 6.2 apg and 3.3 rpg.

Ridiculous comparison.

The thing is, I would argue that Pruitt isn't even the third point guard on the Boston Celtics.

The honor of third point guard goes to Tony Allen.

Why? Tony will be one of the 12 "Active" players.

So, after Rajon and Eddie, Tony will likely be the next available point guard to actually play in games, while Gabe spends the season in D-League.

If Pruitt were any good, there would be tons of rumors on hoopsworld.com and hoopshype.com and realgm.com of with offers from teams trying to pry him away from the Celtics.

I completely disagree with just about everything you just said, with exception to the comparisons, which are just silly. Pruitt will not be in the DL this season. I just can't see it happening. The whole "if Pruitt were any good" statement is just hyperbole. Other teams are not going to even know how much better Pruitt is because they haven't been monitoring his progress. On top of that, Ainge isn't going to let others know (and who would believe him anyway) when we only have ONE pg on our team. House is a solid backup, but we have been down the TA at PG before, and it isn't that pretty. Can he do it for short stretches in a emergency? Sure, but it is downright scary. House and TA are more likely going to be backing up Ray which leaves minutes at the backup PG spot. Now I am not here to say Pruitt is the answer, but seeing the Cs haven't even gone after a PG in free agency leads me to believe that Ainge is comfortable with Pruitt and his development. Your "rumors" theory really makes zero sense.

[sully00]

I agree with the OP's idea that Boston is looking to Pruitt to be the back up PG. While Eddie House was a good role player and scorer for this team he was not even a serviceable back up pg. With him on the court the primary ball handling duties would fall to Paul, Ray or Tony (who would start at SG if something were to happen to Ray).

The comparison to Devon Harris with Pruitt is realistic. As a SG Devon was a fringe first rounder and as a pg a lottery pick. As a SG Pruitt was a fringe draft pick as a PG he becomes a fringe 1st rounder. If he could have gone back to school and played the point for another year he could have had a simliar bump in his draft status as he developed. O.J. Mayo kind of made that impossible so that development had to happen at the pro level.

Pruitt has some assets you can't teach size, speed, and athleticism that seperate him from a lot of guards that try to transition to the point. Gabe is real real fast north and south and while and average shooter for a SG a he is a good shooter for PG especially off the dribble, as well as a finisher at the rim. He is comforable with the ball in his hands and actually made much of his transition to the position during the NCAA postseason, when a premium is put on guard play.

Don't put too much into what you saw at the NBA level last season or statistically at the NBADL, there is no rhyme or reason to what his role was in either spot. What you hope happened is he got comfortable playing against men. The thing to be excited about is that people around the team that see him play and practice on a regular basis are pretty confident that this guy is a player and they didn't go out and address the position in the draft or FA.

Whether you like Pruitt or not or think he is a player or not is a matter of a opinion, but it is silly to judge whether or not he is a player based on his ability to seize a role on a 66 win NBA champion. He was never given the opportunity to seize a role with this team the plan was for him to develop for a season.

Now in some ways Giddens may in fact be insurance for Pruitt as an option as a back up pg. The thinking being to maximize Eddie House you need a guard who can play on the ball as well as guard the opposing teams SG. It seems that Ainge has sort of established a stable of guys in Tony Allen/Gabe Pruitt/JR Giddens/Bill Walker/as well as whatever is left of Darius Miles who are extremely athletic, who can score and defend and play multiple positions. It seems like a solid way to build a bench.

[GuyClinch]

Pruitt has looked great in his limited minutes, IMHO. But he is in a real tight postion battle with guys like Tony Allen and Eddie House. He might need an injury to one of these guys to get minutes - or at least a bad slump from them. It's a tough spot to be in.

There ARE players though who don't get minutes who could perform at the NBA level. I'd say it's especially common at the guard and PG postions. There are alot of people who could play and play well but just get squeezed out. So it's not THAT crazy to think Pruitt could play.

Pete

[tlee324]

I hope Doc doesn't hesitate to put Pruitt over TA at the point.

[GuyClinch]

I dunno. TA isn't a traditonal PG but he can defend one. And since PP and RA initate alot of the O he could get the call sometimes. It's possible that TA could improve his ballhandling.

I'd say he is third behind House right now - so he will likely never play. But its still going to be a battle for Pruitt.