3rd-String SuperScrubs

[Dogen]

If the Celtic roster remains in it's current form on opening night, the team will have four new players, plus one player (Pruitt) who hardly played with the team last season. Considering that there will likely be some injuries or possibly a trade, it may be that all 5 of these guys could get on the active roster at some point in the season, and--- this is where I go out on a limb--- even see some PT together in garbage minutes. So take a look at this lineup:

PG- Gabe Pruitt
SG- JR Giddens
SF- Bill Walker
PF- Darius Miles
C- Patrick O'Bryant

Keep in mind that I agree that this is a very unlikely group to see the floor together during a regular season game. My point is that we have now have a young bench of long, rangy athletic freaks who could be very disruptive on the floor for short stints. Although untested, I think we've got at least a couple of strong finishers at the basket in that group, and maybe a few defensive specialists in-the-making.

Considering this lineup is essentially players 11-15 on the roster, I think they compare favorably to most of the league at those spots. And if these guys are serious about creating an identity together, they could actually see some minutes together at the end of blowout games, much to the delight of the Garden faithful--- and the starters on the bench--- in search of some late game acrobatic entertainment.

[SonicYouth34]

I wouldn't really call them scrubs. 4/5 of them are young players that haven't had a chance in the league and Darius was nasty when healthy. I can't wait for the preseason so we can see the young guns get some real burn. Since we don't have to gel and find out how everyone operates on the court like we did last season we should see what are boys can do.

[Dogen]

You're right of course about the 'scrub' appellation being too pejorative. But I thought 'SuperScrubs' had a ring to it. Yeah, we got a lotto pick, couple of first rounders in there, but they are all currently likely behind Eddie, Leon, and Tony off the bench. I think we're going to experience a revelation in the preseason and see that this team is very deep. At the very least the good news is we have some trading chips if looking for vet help to replace Posey/PJ later in the season.

[GreenGrizz]

superscrubs or capbusters.

[Jammer]

Well, you are presuming that all of the players that you list will be third string.

Patrick O'Bryant will challenge Big Baby Davis for backup center. He may win the position, making Davis third string. I'd agree that Davis is an OK third stringer, but would not put him in the Superscrub category.

Two of Tony Allen, J. R. Giddens, Billy Walker and Darius Miles will end up being the backup wings on this team, backing up Ray Allen and Paul Pierce. The two who win that job won't be third stringers. There might be a superscrub in the remaining two.

Pruitt has yet to convince me that he is a point guard, or a ball handler, and may not even be third string, as Tony Allen may wind up the 3rd string point guard behind Rajon Rondo and Eddie House. This is more plausible when you consider that Tony WILL be on the active roster, whereas Pruitt will quite possibly be Inactive the entire season, with some trips to the "D" League thrown in for game experience.

Powe and Scalabrine will likely lock up the backup power forward spots, making them "Active."

Some how I see the Active 12 as:

Center: Perkins, O'Bryant, Davis

PF: Garnett, Powe, Scalabrine

SF: Pierce, (one of Walker, Giddens or Miles)

SG: Ray Allen, Tony Allen

PG: Rajon Rondo, Eddie House

Davis, Scal, & Pruitt hardly qualify as super.

But you can always hope for whoever isn't active among Giddens, Walker or Miles.

[GreenGrizz]

1.) Tony Allen with healthy legs
2.) Big Baby in better shape
3.) POB being trained by the great Clifford Ray
4.) House finally sticks to the same team
5.) Powe getting experienced
6.) Giddens and Walker will surrpise us thanks to Ainge
7.) Miles may be back to his old sefl.
8.) Scalabrine's time is running. He would do anything to improve himself.

Ainge could find scrubs in NBDL and turn them into stars.

[lojowo]

9) Gabe Pruiit will improve with experience.

Felt sorry that he was left off the list.

[Dogen]

Yeah, Jammer, I put those guys as third string since they are basically the new guys to the team and thus traditionally need to prove that they deserve to move into the rotation. Of course, Doc might give the team the ol' "Every position is up for grabs" pitch, but I doubt it because that's something you do with a lotto team, not defending champs. But I agree that PO'B is the likeliest candidate to be able to come in and take away minutes from Baby if he is serious and works his tail off. As they say-- you can't teach height.

[GreenGrizz]

Wow, how could I leave Pruitt off the list? If Pruitt adds some muscles this summer, he won't get pushed around. Thank you for reminding me, lojowo.