Gabe is blowing his opportunity

[Red2]

Once again due to injuries Gabe is getting a chance to play and once again he's not aggresive enough and is not taking the open shot. He reminds me a lot of scal who used to get in games and not take the open shot. Scal has gotten better at it and Gabe can too but you have to wonder if Gabe has enough assertiveness to play in the NBA. He appears to have all the skills: decent ball handler, speed, pretty good size and a decent jump shot . He needs to understand that with Ray out of the game and Rondo not being a shooter that he needs to shoot to keep the defense honest. He had a few nice plays ( hit a jumper, got a steal) and a few bad ones ( missed layup, abused by Chris Paul etc) but overall he played like a guy who didn't want to make a mistake instead of aguy who had a chance to earn more minutes. I haven't given up on Gabe and in truth he hasn't had many minutes over the last 2 years but if he starts again tonight I hope he comes out firing.

[elrod enchilada]

A few decades ago the Dodgers had a highly regarded prospect names John Hale. He was a big kid with athletic ability. He looked good, with a nice swing, a strong arm, and good range in the outfield.

There was only one problem, which took around four years for major league teams to discover: despite his nice looking swing, he couldn’t hit.

I sometimes wonder if Gabe Pruitt is our John Hale.

Gabe has been a revelation with his athletic ability. He can definitely play quality NBA defense and create his own shot. He also seems to have his head in the game. He has a nice handle, better than anyone else on the team not named Rondo. He has a smooth shooting stroke.

Everything says, just like John Hale, this guy is going to be a player, with a nice NBA career.

And he is exactly what the Cs need off the bench: a legit combo guard who can handle, defend and sink open shots.

There is only one problem: Gabe’s shots don’t go through the hoop. He is in the second half of his second season and he has a shooting percentage of .303. His 3-point percentage is under .300. If there were an NBA “Mendoza line,” Gabe would be well below it.

It is not that he is taking bad shots; they are all good looks. It is not that he has a bad stroke; if Rondo had Gabe’s shooting form we would all be doing back flips and pronouncing him Chris Paul’s equal. It is just that Gabe’s shots don’t go in. Hardly ever.

At some point you have to wonder if that will ever change. At some point you have to wonder if he just isn’t a good shooter; that, in fact, he is a crappy shooter.

I hope Gabe makes this look like a silly post before the end of the season, or soon thereafter, because, like John Hale, he looks like a player.

[AlCelticFan]

Too bad Pruitt isn't John Hale... .300 is pretty good percentage for baseball

[BillessuR6]

I am starting to question his shot too. It looks like it should go in, it just doesn`t...

I think lack of confidence and inconsistent minutes are a big reason why he is shooting poorly, if he got consistent time, he would start shooting better, IMO.

In college he shot 40% for 3, 44% for 2 and 77% from the free throw line.

[Celts17Pride]

You guys are too harsh on Gabe Pruitt. Pruitt has played 360 minutes in his NBA career. Doc Rivers last night said Gabe Pruitt played real solid against New Orleans but Doc wants him to be much more aggressive. Gabe Pruitt has a very good chance to be a fine player in the NBA but right now he is still developing his game.

Gabe looks like a keeper to me but I don't know if he will be a help this season because of his lack of experience. The Celtics may be asking too much from a guy who hasn't played more than 360 minutes in the NBA.

Rondo looked lost his 1st year but he played 1830 minutes in his rookie season, Gabe has played 360 minutes in his career. Too early to judge Pruitt.

[sully00]

Well said Celts17Pride. Gabe took 6 shots last night only one went in but a couple were half way down and they were good shots. Beyond that he has been preparing for the limited mins he has been getting at the pg spot and they tell him to go out and be an off the ball scorer. I thought Rondo and Gabe was very effective from a quickness perspective something I think Eddie noticed as well because he came with a scoot in his step.

Ainge and Rivers talk all the time about how it isn't just stats and production they look at but how a guy plays, energy, effort, awareness, they know they with more mins the shots will fall. Ainge shot 35% as a rookie after winning the Wooden Award, he knows.

Is Gabe going to get that shot in Boston maybe, maybe not this team has bigger things on its mind than Gabe's development but much like POB you have to give these guys a season's worth of mins to start judging them as a player and their problem is that it could take 5 years to get that in Boston.

[cfan79]

Gabe should be in the d-league right now. We shouldn't have to depend on him to contribute. Our bench is lousy right now. They're either too small or too young or both.

[cfan79]

Like George Bailey says in Its a wonderful life. "Why do we have to have so many kids"

Veterans and Defense wins championships

[Dave_From_NB]

Gabe has had some time playing with the bench because of injuries, but that's the first time I can recall him being out there with the starters for an extended period of time. Personally I think his trying to play mistake free basketball, to run plays properly, to defend his man the way he's supposed to, was a prudent thing to do. If Ray is out tonight, Gabe can get himself better prepared for a bigger role with the starters, because he'll have more than a few minutes to mentally prepare himself for it.

A missed layout, ok his bad, and I suppose Rondo has never missed a layup?

Abused by an MVP candidate guard? Ok, how many players aren't abused by Chris Paul?

I think Gabe looks immensely better than last year, more playing time I think is a good investment. And I think he should keep taking those jumpers.

[AlCelticFan]

He shot well when he was in the D League right? Hopefully that means that it will come in time in the NBA.

[celticfan42487]

he's a second round talent that's not a good contributor on the court? Shocking!

Gabe got drafted because of his skillz, but not everyone is going to put it together.

I don't see a roster in the NBA for him to learn how to play on. It may happen. but he needs to go to somewhere like OKC or us 3 years ago to get 15mpg to learn to play. He's just not going to develop a game on the bench and he's got a long way to go with awareness and finding out exactly what he can do on an NBA court.

[celticsnut]

Well guys, he is likely to be starting tonight if Ray doesn't go. I thought Gabe was a little hesitant, but its for the exact reasons of what Doc said, "Gabe knew if he made a mistake I would yell at him." I thought he played solid D and should get a few open looks tonight against Dallas. Can we please go sign Bonzi Wells, he is no longer in China and would be a great wing bench player. His attitude wouldnt be an issue with the Big Three.

[GuyClinch]

I agree he is blowing it. But I don't think we can condemn him as guy who can't shoot given his minutes. Guys do slump - it would be unfortunate if Gabe's slump comes during his only opportunity. It's a really tough business for fringe guys like Gabe. Coaches aren't going to play you through slumps and you start to question your own ability.

What Gabe needs to do is tap into his ego - ala Perkins. And just believe that he is being 'disrespected' and want to "teach the NBA a lesson." I'd say Gabe is as talented as Delonte West (a success) and Joe Forte (a failure). I hate the crap that "it's all mental" because it clearly isn't. But I think Gabe's issue IS mental.

Pete

[ryaningf]

Gabe just needs reps and he'll be fine. Other than not looking for his shot, and then not making it when he DOES take it, he's been above average in almost all the other aspects of the game. He's following Scal's playbook for success (by not trying to do too much) and in the beginning that's what he should be doing. Once he gets more comfortable, the ball will start to go in.

[armageddon]

Gabe is gone unless he decides to go against his personality and start incorporating a little bit of Tony into his game. His only issue right now is that he will not penetrate, which he can and has shown a few times.
Right now Sam is still the best option for backup point, unfortunately, but this is totally up to Gabe to decide. If stops playing like everyone's little sister he might make it.

[s1ickd]

its hard to put up a good shooting percentage when your minutes in a real nba game are ridiculously sparadic... especially when most of your shots come from outside 18 feet.

Gabe is smooth, has good handle, has good athleticism, can defend the 1 and 2, is a good passer, and has a great shooting stroke. The more you play him, the better he'll get. I have a feeling that we're going to see a lot of him and Bill Walker after the playoff picture has settled at the end of the year.

[BadWolf]

did guyclinch just confirmed Delonte West as a success?

[Gant]

Gabe is gone unless he decides to go against his personality and start incorporating a little bit of Tony into his game. His only issue right now is that he will not penetrate, which he can and has shown a few times.
Right now Sam is still the best option for backup point, unfortunately, but this is totally up to Gabe to decide. If stops playing like everyone's little sister he might make it.

Except for Reggie Miller's sister Cheryl. If Gabe plays like Cheryl he'll be very successful. She was great.

Did the Celtics get the wrong USC player?

[hiphop1]

I think you have to look at shot selection. And when looking at that he doesnt take bad shots the problem I see, is that he doesnt take enough shots. He passes up alot of open looks trying to get the more veteran players shots. I believe this is because he is trying to be a true point guard which he is not, he is a combo guard who can score but has the handles to play point. He will be fine once he understands this and gets more consistant minutes.