Minor League Report

by Jeff Clark on Dec 2, 2008 9:41 AM EST in Boston Celtics Articles

With the Celtics clicking on all cylinders, it seems like a good time to take a quick peek into the future by checking on the rookies in the D-League (with the Utah Flash). I haven't seen a game yet myself, but I'm told you can watch them for free online.

Last night J.R. Giddens put up 34 points on 11-15 shooting in an overtime loss. Oh yeah, and he also chipped in with 7 boards, 6 assists, and an eye popping 5 blocked shots! Bill Walker also checked in with a solid 14 point, 7 rebound effort.

This was their 3rd game of the D-League season. In the prior two, it was Walker taking the lead with 23 and 26 points while Giddens chipped in 19 and 17. You can see their game by game stats here: J.R. Giddens | Bill Walker

There's only so much you can tell from box scores and one of these days I'll have to catch a game and report back to you here (feel free to do this yourself - I'd be happy to publish a well done FanPost breakdown of a game). Also, we all know that at times Gerald Green and Kedrick Brown looked amazing in the D-League. However, this can't be a bad thing.

They are supposed to be among the best players in that league and they should have solid to great games night in and night out. So far (statistically) so good.

When they'll be able to get some run with the parent club is anyone's guess. Doc clearly has a solid 10 man rotation and isn't willing to mess with that, even to get last year's D-League success story Gabe Pruitt some run. But you never know how the season will play out with trades, injuries, and unexpected circumstances.

More likely we are seeing two young players develop their games for either a role on the bench next year, or maybe even a starting role after the big three start their eventual decline.

If you are interested in following these and other D-League prospects throughout the season, I would suggest the blog Ridiculous Upside. (also see the Pro Basketball News D-League guide for a quick snapshot of the league) I'll try to keep tabs on our 2 rookies but you can also help out with forum posts like this or FanShots like this.

Poll

Will either of the rookies see significant time this year?

Yes, Giddens will

27 votes

Yes, Walker will

70 votes

Yes, both will

27 votes

No, neither will

400 votes

524 votes | Poll has closed

Tweet Comment 7 comments | 0 recs |

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Comments

Both Giddens and Walker should spend the whole season there developing their game and in Walker’s case, some maturity and humility.

At best, one should come up to give Pruitt some court time down there. I can’t imagine it’s more productive for Pruitt to practice with the same 11 players than it is for him to get some real competition (albiet lesser) and some extended playing time.

by Finkelskyhook on Dec 2, 2008 10:45 AM EST reply actions

I think Pruitt should stay with the parent club

Because staying down in the D-league just stops helping your game at some point. In fact I think what he needs right now is meaningful minutes and solid practice with the sets, and it’s not clear that he’s getting either of those any time soon. Hopefully the FO or coaching staff figures out what to do with this problem soon or it’s going to come back to bite us down the road (unless they trade him.. bad idea imo because he hasn’t established any value yet).

Bleed Green. http://www.boston.com/sports/basketball/celtics/specials/auerbach/

by CelticsHooRah on Dec 2, 2008 12:33 PM EST up reply actions

I don't see Pruitt at that point yet

Pruitt wasn’t in the D-League long enough to have outgrown it. It’s clear that Rivers and Ainge want him to learn to play PG. There is no way Pruitt will get meaningful minutes at PG to learn the position with Boston.
It also gives Pruitt the chance to get into game shape. He’ll get extended minutes there instead of DNPs. It doesn’t look like there’s any minutes for him with the parent club. Garbage minutes are meaningless regardless which league they’re being played in.

by Finkelskyhook on Dec 2, 2008 5:45 PM EST up reply actions

they need the work and the stats are good for their egos. doc has his 10 man rotation down and scal is in. whether they play for the c’s depends on the status of scal which is never a sure thing. the big question is what is doc going to do with pruitt and sam.

by nazzbo on Dec 2, 2008 10:49 AM EST reply actions

might be the most lopsided poll I’ve posted ever!

I’ll try to do better next time ;)

by Jeff Clark on Dec 2, 2008 11:22 AM EST reply actions

JR Baby

Homeboy can do it all. Glad to see him filling it up down there. Also, as a New Mexico fan, you can tell just how valuable he was to that team last year. They are now 3-4 with losses to powerhouses Drake, UCF, VCCU and Creighton … and, this comes after JR was the only graduate and they had a top-25 recruiting class. Both JR and Walker will get their PT some time (probably next year) and they will not disappoint.

by libermaniac on Dec 2, 2008 11:30 AM EST reply actions

Those are the breaks...

In one sense, it’s a bad break for Pruitt, Giddens and Walker that they came to a championship quality team with a deep and solid roster – one they can’t find playing time on.

On the other hand, it’s their good fortune that the Celtics have no draft choices this spring. It’ll give them another year to develop into something. I’d throw O’Bryant in there with them, but he could be displaced next year by Semih Erden (if that guy ever shows up).

by no kidding on Dec 2, 2008 7:00 PM EST reply actions