Time to play Sam Cassell?

Al-Haqq · Post #1 » by **Al-Haqq** » Thu Jan 8, 2009 3:10 am

What do you guys think?

House is not feeling it. Tony Allen isn't playing well - and is injured now. Gabe looks decent, and Sam is just sitting there. He can shoot at least. Why not give it a go? Our bench has not been good.

Also, why not give POB more time too?

celtics543 · Post #2 » by **celtics543** » Thu Jan 8, 2009 3:27 am

I posted this exact question a week ago, and from most of the responses it seems that Sam is being saved for later in the season. Why we aren't going to play him now, I'm not really sure.

To answer the question, I totally support playing Sam right now. Not big minutes, but just five or ten minutes as needed and not even every game. If he's going to be on the active roster we may as well use him. Right now we're playing with only 11 guys that are ready to play instead of 12 like everyone else.

To be honest, I'm sick of Eddie House and if they aren't going to give Gabe Pruitt those minutes then at least give them to Sam, because Eddie is useless if he can't make shots.

Celts09 · Post #3 » by **Celts09** » Thu Jan 8, 2009 4:29 am

Time for the Knicks to buy out Marbury

return2glory · Post #4 » by **return2glory** » Thu Jan 8, 2009 10:07 am

It's time to have Rondo come off the bench. We should start Pruitt unless Rondo can start making open shots.

Dave_From_NB · Post #5 » by **Dave_From_NB** » Thu Jan 8, 2009 1:27 pm

Personally I'd rather see Pruitt play more, rather than have Sam introduced into the mix. Pruitt's defense is probably better than Sam's at this point, and he looks to be pretty cool under pressure out there. He's got a good shot, and I've got to think that some regular playing time is just going to increase his overall shooting percentage. Even when he's missing, he doesn't seem to be bricking it. I think some burn time for Pruitt is going to improve him, and unfortunately Sam is old enough that he can't be anything except slipping. Frankly, although he'll know the teams structure and plays better, he'll be a year more degraded in athleticism and quickness.

One of the few bright signs out of the last few games IMO, is the emergence of Gabe into the rotation. It was nice to see him play a bit of 2 with Rondo, before playing the 1a with House.

I'm actually hoping, that Pruitts emergence might mean that TA would be considered to be moved - he has one of the few contracts of any value in a trade, and if Gabe is into the mix, TA would seem to be replaceable now. TA as part of a trade to Okl. might get it done for Smith.

tombattor · Post #6 » by **tombattor** » Thu Jan 8, 2009 5:56 pm

WTF? Did you guys all have a collective amnesia? Don't you remember how atrocious Cassell was last year?

SAM CASSELL IS NOT THE ANSWER! Stop dreaming of 2004.

Maybe it's time for the Celtics to sign me to back up Rondo?

TheOGJabroni · Post #7 » by **TheOGJabroni** » Thu Jan 8, 2009 6:12 pm

If we are not seriously pursuing a back up point guard, we need to seriously consider playing Sam right now to see what he can do for the team. If that doesn't work, I was at the Rockets game last night and was extremely excited to see Gabe playing so many minutes and he looked very impressive.

IMO our backup point guard problem can be solved within our team with either one of those players. So this talk about signing Marbury really should stop. I was all for it at first but now I feel we need to sign a big first and foremost. And if TA can be our backup small forward, fine. If not trade him and whatever else it takes within reason to get a small forward that can help this team off the bench.

Perk/FA big
KG/Powe/Davis
Paul/Trade SF
Ray/House
Rondo/Sam/Pruitt

MyInsatiableOne · Post #8 » by **MyInsatiableOne** » Thu Jan 8, 2009 8:13 pm

tombattor wrote:WTF? Did you guys all have a collective amnesia? Don't you remember how atrocious Cassell was last year?

SAM CASSELL IS NOT THE ANSWER! Stop dreaming of 2004.

Maybe it's time for the Celtics to sign me to back up Rondo?

tombattor, my man, I knew you'd be with me on this. I never want to see Sam on the floor again, unless he's in a suit as an assistant coach!

tombattor · Post #9 » by **tombattor** » Thu Jan 8, 2009 8:40 pm

MyInsatiableOne wrote:
tombattor wrote:WTF? Did you guys all have a collective amnesia? Don't you remember how atrocious Cassell was last year?

SAM CASSELL IS NOT THE ANSWER! Stop dreaming of 2004.

Maybe it's time for the Celtics to sign me to back up Rondo?

tombattor, my man, I knew you'd be with me on this. I never want to see Sam on the floor again, unless he's in a suit as an assistant coach!

No doubt! Well, he can come on the floor to mop too...

Prophet_C · Post #10 » by **Prophet_C** » Thu Jan 8, 2009 8:43 pm

It's the reg season. Give Pruitt the opportunity

tombattor · Post #11 » by **tombattor** » Thu Jan 8, 2009 8:52 pm

Prophet_C wrote:It's the reg season. Give Pruitt the opportunity

Exactly!

All I gotta say is that Pruitt must be taking a big dump on the court during practice everyday because I see no other reason why he hardly plays, even when Eddie House is having trouble... He finally played some last night, but I just don't understand why he can't get off the bench.

MyInsatiableOne · Post #12 » by **MyInsatiableOne** » Thu Jan 8, 2009 8:58 pm

tombattor wrote:
MyInsatiableOne wrote:
tombattor wrote:WTF? Did you guys all have a collective amnesia? Don't you remember how atrocious Cassell was last year?

SAM CASSELL IS NOT THE ANSWER! Stop dreaming of 2004.

Maybe it's time for the Celtics to sign me to back up Rondo?

tombattor, my man, I knew you'd be with me on this. I never want to see Sam on the floor again, unless he's in a suit as an assistant coach!

No doubt! Well, he can come on the floor to mop too...

Not even that...he'd hog the mop and wouldn't give it back to the kids who do that! :lol:

Folks, if you like stagnant offense, shots being jacked up with 20 seconds left on the shot clock, and watching a 38 yr old back his way down into the post before putting up either a horrid low % shot or getting blocked/stripped, Sam Cassell is your man!

tombattor · Post #13 » by **tombattor** » Thu Jan 8, 2009 9:12 pm

MyInsatiableOne wrote:Not even that...he'd hog the mop and wouldn't give it back to the kids who do that!

Folks, if you like stagnant offense, shots being jacked up with 20 seconds left on the shot clock, and watching a 38 yr old back his way down into the post before putting up either a horrid low % shot or getting blocked/stripped, Sam Cassell is your man!

That was classic!!!

MyInsatiableOne · Post #14 » by **MyInsatiableOne** » Thu Jan 8, 2009 9:50 pm

tombattor wrote:
MyInsatiableOne wrote:Not even that...he'd hog the mop and wouldn't give it back to the kids who do that!

Folks, if you like stagnant offense, shots being jacked up with 20 seconds left on the shot clock, and watching a 38 yr old back his way down into the post before putting up either a horrid low % shot or getting blocked/stripped, Sam Cassell is your man!

That was classic!!!

Thanks, I'll be here all week, try the veal, folks! :lol:

Post #15 » by **sully00** » Thu Jan 8, 2009 9:59 pm

Nice to see tombattor being so objective about Sam.

But I vote no as well, this is Gabe's opportunity. This is when you would expect Doc to start working him in and he is, time to find out what he has.

I heard Ainge on the radio this afternoon expect no help coming unless it is a significant upgrade. He thinks Gabe, Baby and Powe are great.

MyInsatiableOne · Post #16 » by **MyInsatiableOne** » Thu Jan 8, 2009 10:01 pm

sully00 wrote:Nice to see tombattor being so objective about Sam.

But I vote no as well, this is Gabe's opportunity. This is when you would expect Doc to start working him in and he is, time to find out what he has.

I heard Ainge on the radio this afternoon expect no help coming unless it is a significant upgrade. He thinks Gabe, Baby and Powe are great.

If he thinks Baby is great, he's on crack...

Post #17 » by **sully00** » Thu Jan 8, 2009 10:04 pm

Ainge also added that he thinks that Gabe is the team's "best" perimeter defender. Has the quickest feet and the ability to keep anyone in front of him and versatile being able to play and guard the 1 and the 2. Absolutely was a shot at Rondo's performance of late but Ainge was certainly happy to see Gabe playing.

DelMonte West · Post #18 » by **DelMonte West** » Fri Jan 9, 2009 1:27 am

sully00 wrote:Ainge also added that he thinks that Gabe is the team's "best" perimeter defender. Has the quickest feet and the ability to keep anyone in front of him and versatile being able to play and guard the 1 and the 2. Absolutely was a shot at Rondo's performance of late but Ainge was certainly happy to see Gabe playing.

Excellent news. I really think Gabe's a keeper...and potentially our best 6th man if given ample time to shine...

MyInsatiableOne · Post #19 » by **MyInsatiableOne** » Fri Jan 9, 2009 1:47 pm

sully00 wrote:Ainge also added that he thinks that Gabe is the team's "best" perimeter defender. Has the quickest feet and the ability to keep anyone in front of him and versatile being able to play and guard the 1 and the 2. Absolutely was a shot at Rondo's performance of late but Ainge was certainly happy to see Gabe playing.

But coming from Danny who just said he thunks Baby is great, how can I believe this? :lol:

Post #20 » by **sully00** » Fri Jan 9, 2009 6:20 pm

I think what has happened is that it is difficult to make changes when you are in the middle of a 19 game winning streak and the best start in NBA history, at the same time it is just as hard to make rotation changes when you are losing game on the road.

I think that the plan is try and introduce Pruitt and then O'Bryant into the rotation as they both skill wise represent what the team needs even if they lack the experience, before going outside the organization. Obviously opportunities may arise but I don't think they are looking to do anything until after the trade deadline.