Topic Du Jour: The Rookies

Davis should expect 15 minutes per game. Stay off the cheese, Big Baby.

Hopefully some ummmth in there game…. I want to see where there Basketball IQ stands more than there Athleticism.

I want to see smart basketball played. It’s not about the scoring, it’s about the defense, moving without the ball, how they do in transition etc…

Just play SMART !

I really hope we’ll see a lot of JR Giddens and Gabe Pruitt. I’d love to see if JR lives up to his ‘defensive potential’ and I hope he can do somewhat what Rodney Stuckey did for Pistons. I only saw Pruitt in a few games last year, but his jumper looks smooth and if he’s able to pass up the ball better than Cassell (which shouldn’t be that hard), he could earn a few minutes per game.

And I totally agree with what Mon wrote. I’d rather see the rookies play their hearts out with loads of energy, than a decent statline.

I hope we’ll see more Powe then Big Baby. To me Powe has been way more consistent as well as better defensively. Big Baby has had some monster games, but hasn’t been as stable as Powe. In my oppinion PF rotations should look like Garnett, Powe, Baby,(Scal).

I think that Baby’s minutes will not increase from last year and may actually decrease depending on the play of O’Bryant. O’Bryant is better suited to backup Kendrick especially on D and Powe clearly has a leg up on Baby playing time wise (as he should). The problem is that Big Baby’s ceiling seems to be what he showed us last year – he just doesnt have enough athleticism (or height) to improve much. Many can say that’s unfair to base it off one year but he was in college for 4 years and he didn’t seem much different – even regressed his senior season from the year before.
I’m hoping that Eddie will not bring the ball up too much and play the off guard – instant offense off the bench and allow Pruitt to actually run the second team. We have the luxury of taking some time to see what he can do, otherwise we know Eddie is at least capable of getting the ball over halfcourt and he’s been working on it. But I think Pruitt has true talent and it would be nice to see it more often as part of the regular rotation next year. I think he will get that chance and run with it.
Giddens and Walker don’t project to play much, esp. with the TA resigning. I expect a timeshare for the both of them, similar to how Baby and Powe were employed last year – mostly based on defensive matchups. HOWEVER, if Giddens starts getting high numbers of rebounds each time he’s on the court (which seems possible from his college stats) the fans will be calling for more of him, as will Ainge, and he may take a giant leap forward. His athleticism could be a huge boost. So IMO, if one of them steps up (likely Giddens – more polish, not to mention durability, to his game) they will get the minutes, if not it will be a timeshare and neither will play much. Walker is likely to see D-League time for much of the season. Unless TA goes down.

This year we’ll see out of Pruitt, Giddens, and Walker what we saw last year out of Powe and Davis. Surprising flashes of talent, interspaced with stupid play and misdirected energy. They’ll totally disappear at times and be banished to the end of the bench. Then they’ll show up and play critical roles in big victories. The whole thing will drive us nuts, and we’ll never know what the real deal is. However, playing to Doc’s strengths, when the playoffs roll around, one or two of these guys will be factors in our end-of-season successes.

The picks have been lauded for their athleticism and knocked a bit for “maturity” issues; however, I think Giddens has a very mature (balanced) game and should be able to contribute. Walker is also a top 20 pick were it not for health concerns. Most athletic 2nd string lineup in years would be: TAllen PG, Giddens SG, Walker SF, Powe PF, POB C. Would be fun to watch. You can add Pruitt and drop Walker for better shooting. I like the possibilities as long as we can get everyone on the same page (and healthy).

Or look at it this way (2nd vs. 3rd string)

Rondo, RAllen, Pierce, Garnett, Perk
vs.
House, TAllen, Scal, Powe, POB
vs.
Pruitt, Giddens, Walker, BBD, ©

Would love to see Pruitt, Giddens or Walker move into the second lineup (sorry scal).

Have we even signed the rookies yet?

I would really love for Walker to come in and get some clock right away the man has the ability to become a player like James Posey. Also I am very giddy about J.R. Giddens who I think we get the chance over Walker just because but he would be interesting with the 2nd unit of Eddie Allen Powe and O’Bryant, I think that would be a fun team to watch for the 2nd unit

I think that Doc will rest the vets, to the extent of not necessarily winning every game in the beginning and middle of the season, so the kids can get more experience and learning under their belt. Then, as the season rounds the bend into the home stretch, the starters will get their time. Very important to peak going into the playoffs

Giddens and Walker figure to be riding the bench if not the D league. Unless one of them can knock Veal to the Inactive list with a strong showing in camp but I don’t see much time for either of them right now.

The C’s have 12 players capable of spots on the active roster (yes, Veal is debatable) which leaves the rookies in the D league or in sideline suits. If Danny signs a 3 for that last roster spot, they’re not getting any time barring injuries.

Can’t wait for the preseason to see them get some burn. I have no doubt they’ll turn into contributors for next year enabling Danny to move some expiring contracts for a really solid vet. Not that I want to see anyone go (other than Veal) but Danny’s got at least 4 expiring deals going into next season including Ray. All signs point to a trade at that time.

  Either Powe or BBaby should be traded. They both really play the same spot. IF either one can come up with a jumper from the foul line that is consistent, he will win the job. You cannot be undersized AND have no jumper!

It is impossible to tell who will step up but there are enough possibilities – re-born OBryant, emerging TA, smarter BBD, more trusted Leon, more mature Pruitt, a healthy Walker, Giddens as baby Posey. One, two or three should pan out which means we will be an old/young team. Sounds like a good year ahead.

I think Davis will be battling both Powe and O’Bryant for playing time. Doc will still use KG at the 5 to push tempo at times. I think Pruitt will get time at the PG. He is athletic
and seems to have a nice shooting stroke. I think Perk will play more minutes as he matures and takes fewer cheap fouls and
as he gets more respect from the refs. Hopefully Clifford Ray will continue his work with Perk and can improve O’Bryant’s
performance as well. It should be an interesting pre-season.

Our rookies played a big role in this years championship and I expect this year’s rookies to do the same. I think the biggest impact will be Giddens. I doubt Pruit will play more than he did last year, but you never know. I like Big Baby’s energy but I think he’s a little undersized. I think we have a log jam with undersized 4s. I would like to trade one of them and maybe pick a vet.

If we see 10 productive mpg from Giddens or Walker I will consider that a successful Rookie season. If we see any productive minutes from O’Bryant backing up Perk I will consider him a steal. If Pruitt gets any minutes it will be a blessing.

Any decent production from these four guys could make Tony Allen, Leon Powe, or Glen Davis into midseason trade bait. Combine one or two of them with a draft pick, Scals contract and you have the necessary ingredients to make a trade for a decent player.

A deadline trade for help is a nice way to inject energy into a team for the playoff run if you land the right kind of player(s).

I trust Danny to make a good move. 8)

I expect that Semhi Erden will dominate in Turkey.

The Cs should sign Powe to a 3 or 4 year deal at their first opportunity. Although he’s undersized and although he has no established 15 foot jumper, he still brings something special to the interior on both offense and defense. He has a knack for getting position and beating his opponents to the ball which shouldn’t be underestimated. SIGN HIM UP!!

P. S. Is he a restricted free agent at the end of the year?

If we have to use Scal to fill any kind of void, however short, we will be in dire predicament. IMO, sitting at the end of the bench is not far enough. he should be sitting at the end of the dock, as the song nearly goes.

I think the rooks & 2nd yr players will bring energy, but the C’s still need a couple of vets. You saw what Brown did down the stretch and in the Playoffs/Finals.

Energy and athleticism are great, but that won’t win a tight playoff series. As the Hawks, Hornets & Sixers proved.