Peter May Shows Scal Some Love

by Jeff Clark on Jan 30, 2009 11:33 AM EST in Boston Celtics News & Links

Remember Peter May? He still writes about the Celtics from time to time. Here's his latest on Scalabrine.

This time, it’s different for Scalabrine, but the same for the team, which has the NBA’s best defense and, not coincidentally, the NBA’s best record. Only time will tell if he can give the Celtics anything close to what they got from Posey and Brown when it really, really matters. But in the here and now, Scalabrine has answered the call to replace Garnett in the starting lineup when KG was suspended for one game and then to start five straight games at center (over Leon Powe, who seemingly had taken over the role, but has dropped back, in part because he tries too hard to initiate contact) when Kendrick Perkins was out with a shoulder injury.

Nothing Earth shattering. But the highlight for me was the last quote:

This is Scalabrine’s fourth season with the Celtics. He, too, is a free agent in the sizzling summer of 2010, although he doesn’t see too many teams using their cap space to bring him aboard.

“It’s not going to be a difficult negotiation,’’ he said. “I’ll just go to Danny and say, ‘I don’t want to go anywhere else. Please re-sign me.’ If he says yes, that’d be great. If he says no, that’s when I’ll probably have to start begging.”

Tweet Comment 12 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

Is Scal making me change my mind?

I must admit I was down on Scal, but it has been great to see him be so effective during their recent winning streak. As a Celtic fan it’s nice to hear that last quote, but Scal’s agent probably isn’t too thrilled.

by VtCeltics on Jan 30, 2009 11:41 AM EST reply actions

It’s nice to hear the quote, but Scal is definitely not worth spending more than the minimum to resign IMO.

by VtCeltics on Jan 30, 2009 11:49 AM EST up reply actions

5 more years!

whaddayasay Danny? what’s $3M a year between friends?

"Would I rather be feared or loved? Easy. Both. I want people to be afraid of how much they love me." Michael Scott

by Jeff Clark on Jan 30, 2009 11:44 AM EST reply actions

Somebody

Better get Scal an agent. Don’t say those things in public Scal. Also, I heard that Lucky is starting a new show in Vegas called “Cirque de Celtics.”

by The Real Large James 2 on Jan 30, 2009 11:48 AM EST reply actions

Let's see how well

Scal rebounds from the injury. He better be ready to play the Lakers next week and he better be ready to smack down Bynum and G-asole.

by The Real Large James 2 on Jan 30, 2009 11:48 AM EST reply actions

I dont see why people even take the time of day to give scal all this credit for what he SHOULD BE DOING, and not just for a week, but for entire seasons…still not a big scal fan at all, but as long as hes helping the team I can deal with him

by TheAncientRivalry on Jan 30, 2009 12:08 PM EST reply actions

What’s weird about Scal is that he always seems to play better as a fill-in starter than when he’s coming in off the bench. Give him 20-25 minutes and let him play with the starters, he plays good defense and IS that “intanglibles on the floor” guy that Danny was looking for. I mean, he’s never GREAT, but he doesn’t look as out of place. Put him out there with the second unit… and I don’t know if he’s just trying to DO too much, but he just doesn’t seem to perform at as high a level.

I still think Scal ultimately gets traded; if we’re going to make ANY deal, it’s hard to see how the numbers work without him.

by theBird on Jan 30, 2009 12:09 PM EST reply actions

If he cant look good out there with 3 future hall of famers and rondo, then why should he even be in the NBA? Scalabrine didnt get a minute of playing time last year in the playoffs and is our highest paid bench player…hes a joke

by TheAncientRivalry on Jan 30, 2009 12:13 PM EST up reply actions

He's been a pro

He was certainly bad this preseason and even a Scal supporter like me had to go mute. He listened to the chants in the Garden which were demeaning last year, just annoying this year. He apparently practices hard and causes no locker room riffs. He waited his turn and he has outplayed another favorite of mine, Leon. Hence Scal is getting serious minutes on an NBA champ team. And he’s hitting his 3 better this year than ever. In short he’s a valid NBA pro.

by Wildblu1 on Jan 30, 2009 12:18 PM EST reply actions

Funny words from Scal!

I was actually not a fan at all of him, but he is really having a decent season and proving me wrong. I would sign him for the minimum, he is a good team player and if he wants to resign for little money then i don’t see why that would be a bad idea. The only problem with Scal was living up to his 15 million contract, but for less money he would really be a good piece for any bench in the league

by greenwise on Jan 30, 2009 12:36 PM EST reply actions

called this one in the preseason, I knew he would be able to play Posey’s role:
http://forums.celticsblog.com/index.php?topic=23158.msg371211#msg371211

Enough with the backlash, dude is legit. Scal for the league min for the next few years is WAY better than Posey for 20 mil over 4 years. Same production for a third of the cost.

by D Dub on Jan 30, 2009 3:31 PM EST reply actions

i like varitek as a player but his contract hassle with the sox makes him look like a jerk, especially with so many people losing jobs. with scal you have your humble servant who appreciates what he has and what he gets.he is refreshing and a joe doaks kind of guy- the kind most of us can identify with. he will always have his place in boston history, even tho more as a footnote and he knows it and is humble about it.

by nazzbo on Jan 30, 2009 3:33 PM EST reply actions