J.R. Giddens assigned to the D League

[Zin5]

The Boston Celtics announced today that they have assigned rookie guard J.R. Giddens to their NBA Development League affiliate Utah Flash.

Giddens is the team’s first assignment to the NBA Development League this season.

Giddens averaged 2.0 points and 1.5 rebounds in 7.5 minutes during preseason and has been on the inactive list for the Celtics in each of their first 10 games during the 2008-09 regular season. The former New Mexico Lobo was selected by the Celtics with the 30th overall pick in the 2008 NBA Draft.

http://www.realgm.com/src_wiretap_archives/55456/20081115/celtics_assign_giddens_to_utah_flash/

I guess like last year with Gabe, we can follow J.R.'s progress/box scores with the Utah Flash. Here's a link to their schedule:

http://www.nba.com/dleague/utah/schedule/

Good move, seeing as he wasn't going to get any burn with the C's and he's been on the inactive roster the whole year. At least we can see what we got out of our first round pick and see what he develops into. What he's supposed to bring now is redundant with TA anyways and Tony brings more overall to the table.

[cfan79]

Good, I was hoping Bill Walker would go down with him because it doesn't look like Doc is going to play him much this season either.

[Zin5]

Good, I was hoping Bill Walker would go down with him because it doesn't look like Doc is going to play him much this season either.

I'd like to see Walker get some PT down there, but I can see the logic in keeping him with the team. He's proven more (even if not much) than Giddens and is ahead of him on the depth chart if TA were to go down with an injury (and it'd be crucial if Paul were to miss a few games, since he's really the only one else on the team with the size and athleticism to play the 3). There's also the idea that Walker could just use his athleticism and size to beat players in the D League and pick up some bad habits from doing so. It might be better for his overall development to fight for PT with the Celtics and develop the rest of his game as he's not going to be able to rely solely on his athleticism like he seemed to in college.

[Man_Up]

Nothing unexpected here, I hope he dominates and develops.

I think it would've been a softer blow to the ego if Walker went down with him.

[AlCelticFan]

I think it would've been a softer blow to the ego if Walker went down with him.

Maybe that was part of Doc's plan in sending him down? Just hypothesizing...

[Rocky5000]

Cool, this year you can watch all d-league games streaming online as well. So you have a shot at seeing Giddens play.

[Slartibartfast]

I hope he develops a consistent 3 pt. shot and a lively off-the-dribble game down there. We're going to need some instant offense off the bench as the Big 3 continue to age. I'm not sure if that's J.R.'s game, but if he's just another poor-shooting, athletic defensive specialist then I doubt he'll beat out Tony on our roster or even Bill Walker.

[avi623]

Hopefully he regains the outside shot he had at Kansas and not the poor shot he had at New Mexico. Watch his rebounding numbers too. If he boards the way he did in college that is a really good sign, shows that is utilizing his massive athleticism

I think Walker should stay with the big club, simply because I think he can get some run in the blowouts, and the health of Ray and TA is never a guarantee.

[celticfan42487]

I think Walker will stay up here till Doc gets some confidence in Pruitt.

Then if TA gets in foul trouble we can slide House over to the 2 and Pruitt slide in to the 1. And everything will be okay.

[bceltic55]

Move is logical. Now he gets a chance to play and develop. Walker may still get his chance with minutes at the three, depending on Tony Allens play.