JR Giddens has been impressive in practice/scrimmages

return2glory · Post #1 » by **return2glory** » Mon Jul 6, 2009 7:39 am

Summer League starts tomorrow. I wish there was a way to watch the games. The good news early is the play of Giddens. "Giddens, with three eye-popping blocks on jump shooters to his credit, seemingly hasn’t missed in two days of practice."

It also looks like Bill Walker has added some new ink. What's up with the 1023 on his neck? Walker is still playing very physical out there as he hurt a Nets player in a scrimmage. "Abrams crashed face-first to the floor, and didn’t get up for a good five minutes. That was enough for both sides to agree the time was right to cancel the rest of an informal Saturday night scrimmage."

It's good to hear Giddens is playing well. I really like Giddens and Walker and hope we keep both of them. Ainge and Doc seem to like what they have seen from Giddens. "Giddens hasn’t needed much time to set himself apart over the last two days. Both Ainge and Rivers have singled out the swingman’s ability to elevate his game this summer. "

I feel like Ainge likes JR and wants him to do well because he drafted him in the 1st round. It was also funny to see Ainge throw alley-oops to JR during the Celtics/Clippers game in L.A.

Here is the link:
http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/bask ... ling_hard/

Fencer reregistered · Post #2 » by **Fencer reregistered** » Mon Jul 6, 2009 8:07 am

Summmmmer league, and the guard play is shiiiiiiny ....

Dogen · Post #3 » by **Dogen** » Mon Jul 6, 2009 11:43 am

Fencer reregistered wrote:Summmmmer league, and the guard play is shiiiiiiny ....

No ish.

Get ready for multiple threads with: OMG GIDDENS!!!!! 25pt 10rb 11asst HE NEEDS TO START NOW!!!!!

He may indeed be a diamond in the rough, and I hope he makes good in summer league and earns some minutes in the regular season. But I'm not holding my breath; I've seen it before (Banks, Forte, Brown, etc.)

Bad-Thoma · Post #4 » by **Bad-Thoma** » Mon Jul 6, 2009 11:52 am

If Giddens earns some minutes on this team it'll be with his defense, he was a good college defender and he has all the physical tools to be a great perimeter defender. I've been a fan since DA drafted him, he just does everything relatively well.

BakersDozen · Post #5 » by **BakersDozen** » Mon Jul 6, 2009 3:03 pm

I have high hopes for Giddens. I would love if he could be Rays main backup. Guy can play D,get boards,has a jumpshot and is athletic as all hell.

Celtics_85 · Post #6 » by **Celtics_85** » Mon Jul 6, 2009 3:13 pm

Did anyone see Ainge's comments the other day when he said that Giddens and Walker were playing for a roster spot to be Pierce's backup at the 3. One of these guys will be gone as Ainge said that their games are too similar to keep both, but if a trade were to happen and neither was in it they could both still be here. I think one will be part of a trade sometime during the off season.

Post #7 » by **ParticleMan** » Mon Jul 6, 2009 3:13 pm

i think a lot of folks here gave up on JR last year.
trust me, i saw this guy a lot in college, he is a PLAYA.

BRUNiNHO91 · Post #8 » by **BRUNiNHO91** » Mon Jul 6, 2009 4:32 pm

I like him better than Walker...looking forward to watching him tonight..

Post #9 » by **tlee324** » Mon Jul 6, 2009 4:55 pm

Better to hear he's doing well than to hear he's NOT doing well, right Fencer an Dogen?

Gant · Post #10 » by **Gant** » Mon Jul 6, 2009 4:58 pm

Celtics_85 wrote:Did anyone see Ainge's comments the other day when he said that Giddens and Walker were playing for a roster spot to be Pierce's backup at the 3. One of these guys will be gone as Ainge said that their games are too similar to keep both, but if a trade were to happen and neither was in it they could both still be here. I think one will be part of a trade sometime during the off season.

They're not going to cut either one and pay the luxury tax anyway (since they're both under contract). I think Danny was referring to long or intermediate term roster spot. But the loser could be traded anytime...

recruiter · Post #11 » by **recruiter** » Mon Jul 6, 2009 5:16 pm

I don't like Giddens better than Walker.

And I don't overreact to summer league numbers, which mean relatively little.

billfromBoston · Post #12 » by **billfromBoston** » Mon Jul 6, 2009 5:24 pm

Celtics_85 wrote:Did anyone see Ainge's comments the other day when he said that Giddens and Walker were playing for a roster spot to be Pierce's backup at the 3. One of these guys will be gone as Ainge said that their games are too similar to keep both, but if a trade were to happen and neither was in it they could both still be here. I think one will be part of a trade sometime during the off season.

He didn't say they were playing for 1 roster spot, he said they were playing for on spot - the inference being an opportunity to backup Pierce this year. Cleary this was a statement made w/out regard for any impending FA acquisition such as Grant Hill.

Both these guys have a long term future at the wing and are inexpensive - if they both continue to develop they will eventually both have a spot at the 2 and 3...but this year there isn't going to be a role for both, so one will win out and one will be watching again.

Red2 · Post #13 » by **Red2** » Mon Jul 6, 2009 5:34 pm

keep em both if you can. we need walker to guard kobe, lebron etc and push back on artest when he starts his BS

elrod enchilada · Post #14 » by **elrod enchilada** » Mon Jul 6, 2009 5:39 pm

That sounds about rigth, BfB.

BTW, what are your assessments of Swift, Sweetney, Fazekas and Lofton heading into this week's action? Do any of them have a chance to make the team? Or just practice fodder?

billfromBoston · Post #15 » by **billfromBoston** » Mon Jul 6, 2009 5:48 pm

Fazekas can rebound and stroke the long ball - he should be in the NBA and getting time for someone - very underrated IMO - mobility issues and aesthetics are holding him back - once people catch on he'll be in the pros for a while. If he puts on weight he can play in the post too as he's got some moves.

Swift has had 2 lost seasons due to injury and he's a weirdo, so nobody has been too eager to give him another shot - when he was healthy he was showing why he was highly regarded - haven't seen that level out of him in a while, but hasn't had a bunch of chances either. Could very well show enough to win the 3rd center job - Though Fazekas may as well.

Sweetney ate himself out of the league - if he was at 260 or below i'd say he'd be a lock to take the soon-to-be-departed Glen Davis' role as undersized 4. But the weight issue is always an issue - haven't seen him in 2 years, we'll see.

Lofton is Eddie House before Eddie stuck in the league and made a name for himself - we already have Eddie House, so bye-bye Lofton.

I think one of the 3 bigs will stick as a project player because they are young, have upside, some experience, and are cheap. Boston is sure to sign another big for insurance purposes, not relying on Sheed/KG/Perk to iron men all year and doubtful Scal would be more than 3rd PF this year - either a vet like Wilcox or one of the 3 SL bigs will stick.

Walker/Giddens/Hudson are our "blue chip" prospects, if they can be called that. I think Pruitt is going to get his spot taken by Hudson, who is just much more mature and substantially tougher than Gabe. Walker and Giddens are pushing hard and one of them will have a role this year - I think it'll be Giddens because he is the more polished all-around player, but we'll see what each has added. In the future I think all 3 of these guys could play for Boston, so I doubt any of the 3 goes anywhere unless its in a trade for a piece of real value.

...now lets hope Marbury comes to his senses once he sees Wallace and Grant Hill in green, so we can have the best 9 man rotation in the NBA...the kids can sit and learn...

Gant · Post #16 » by **Gant** » Mon Jul 6, 2009 6:01 pm

billfromBoston wrote: Wallace and Grant

That reminds me of Wallace and Gromit.

Post #17 » by **snowman** » Mon Jul 6, 2009 6:02 pm

I expect Hudson to take Pruitt's spot on the roster. I also expect Swift or Sweetney to take a roster spot. I would think Giddens and Walker have a spot tied up also.

Bench:
Wallace
Hill
Swift / Sweetney
House
TA
Scal
Walker
Giddens
Hudson

Post #18 » by **sully00** » Mon Jul 6, 2009 6:37 pm

I think the most likely non roster summer leaguer to make the team will be Fazekas, assuming Baby goes then he slides in nicely to the roll that would have been their for him and Boston can use Scal in a deal without missing what he actually does give you. He is Doc's type of player.

elrod enchilada · Post #19 » by **elrod enchilada** » Mon Jul 6, 2009 7:13 pm

Thanks, BfB, for the sage analysis.

Frankly, I would be surprised is someone offered Big Baby a full MLE five-year deal. I would keep him for a three year, $12 million or less deal. And I would include a killer weight clause bonus to encourage him to get under 270.

At 270 I think Baby could be a quality starting caliber combo forward. But I would want to pay him at least in part COD. He seems to have weight issues like Oliver Miller and Michael Sweetney, not like Charles Barkley.

cloverleaf · Post #20 » by **cloverleaf** » Mon Jul 6, 2009 7:13 pm

Yes, there are worse things than to have a stretched out version of Scal on the bench.