New Guys Frustrated With Themselves

by Jeff Clark on Mar 12, 2009 7:42 AM EDT in Boston Celtics News & Links

Marbury and Mikki Moore are frustrated about their slow starts with their new team, including in last night's loss to the Heat.

Marbury was scoreless on 0-for-6 shooting and had 4 assists, 2 steals, and 2 turnovers in 24 minutes in his second start with the Celtics. In six games, he is averaging 2.3 points while shooting 25.9 percent.

"I thought I was a little bit more aggressive today," said Marbury. "I just have to give it rhythm and some timing. It's all legs. My game is all legs and just getting back into the flow."

Moore was scoreless on three shots, with four rebounds and five fouls in 18 minutes. He is averaging 3.4 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 13.7 minutes in seven games with the Celtics.

"I feel like a couple of my mistakes cost us the game," said Moore. "I didn't get over on defense. Wade got a 3-point play. I missed a couple other [defensive] assignments, and then I missed my jump shot. To me, I think that's a 5-point swing during crunch time. It's very frustrating, but I've got to pull through it."

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That's good, because the fans are frustrated with them too...

But, there are still 18 games left to get them straightened out…

All the negativity in this town sucks. It sucks, and it stinks, and it sucks. - Rick Pitino

by Roy_Hobbs on Mar 12, 2009 7:44 AM EDT reply actions

well said

it is tough getting up to speed in the last quarter of the season (and Steph has himself partially to blame for that part) but I think with some more time they’ll settle into a groove

they won’t be world beaters, but I think they’ll play a good role

"We few, we happy few, we band of brothers" Henry V

by Jeff Clark on Mar 12, 2009 7:47 AM EDT up reply actions

Disagree With Jeff

(and Steph has himself partially to blame for that part)

This is the phrase that bothers me. My guess is that if he agreed earlier to a payoff we could have signed him sooner and he would be more ready now. From what I’ve read he worked real hard to stay in shape and he’s worked hard since he came here.

"I don't come to play, I come to WIN"--Larry Bird

by TrueGreen on Mar 12, 2009 9:38 AM EDT up reply actions

that's my point

he could have agreed to a buyout earlier in the year but it seems like he held out for as much money as possible – I don’t know all the details of the negotiations so I can’t say for sure, but that’s the way it seems

"We few, we happy few, we band of brothers" Henry V

by Jeff Clark on Mar 12, 2009 9:45 AM EDT up reply actions

That's What I Thought

But the Knicks were jerks too and we don’t know that he would come here as a backup if he agreed to a buyout earlier. He may have gone to a team where he’d get more playing time. Who knows. My take is that both sides handled that part of the situation poorly. But, I think he can help us and there’s enough time to do, even if it takes till the first round of the playoffs. By that time our guys will be back and there’ll be less pressure on him. We know he can score and by then he’ll have a good feel for what the team does.

"I don't come to play, I come to WIN"--Larry Bird

by TrueGreen on Mar 12, 2009 9:51 AM EDT up reply actions

As far as I'm concerned,

since he’s getting the minutes and he wasted a significant amount of time on the buyout (as Jeff says), shaking the rust off is on him at this point. We’ll see how long it takes.

-sw

Manuel Aristides Ramirez is the greatest hitter I've ever seen.

by Steve Weinman on Mar 12, 2009 12:13 PM EDT up reply actions

The reality of the situation was both would struggle early – and they have.

As Roy says, there’s still several games to get them to a level where they help, rather than hinder, the team.

by CoachBo on Mar 12, 2009 7:49 AM EDT reply actions

at least they have the right attitude

steph and mikki are saying all the right things, and if they kep this attitude they should be fine by seasons end.

by WillyBeamin on Mar 12, 2009 7:58 AM EDT reply actions

Exactly.

When Perk was asked what he thought of Howard winning the gold medal this summer, he responded: "What’s his impression of me after I won a ring?"

by Green17 on Mar 12, 2009 9:47 AM EDT up reply actions

As long as expectations are accurate. Steph’s nowhere close to an All-Star, and he hasn’t been for awhile. Moore is what he is.

As Jeff says, neither will be a world beater. We just have to hope they help eventually.

by CoachBo on Mar 12, 2009 8:30 AM EDT reply actions

+1

by cordobes on Mar 12, 2009 9:34 AM EDT up reply actions

Easy win last night..

if those two contributed some points, but they didn’t really help much. Rondo needs to play Friday.

by Bankshot on Mar 12, 2009 8:33 AM EDT reply actions

Not If He's Not 111% Healthy

"I don't come to play, I come to WIN"--Larry Bird

by TrueGreen on Mar 12, 2009 9:38 AM EDT up reply actions

They ought to be

They stunk.
How is such a lightweight as Mikki Moore going to box out another 5. I mean, look at that frame. Better to get Scal back and put Mikki in the Kandi man seat.

As for Marbury he was terrible, dribbles top of key to left, then dribbles back to right. Tick, tick, tick. Afraid to shoot. BUT, keep playing him. Eddie showed he is not the solution at the 1 (as much as I love him) and Pruitt doesn’t look confident. The Marbury gamble needs to be played out.

by Wildblu1 on Mar 12, 2009 8:41 AM EDT reply actions

At least they were willing to admit they didn’t play well.

Other than Ray, Paul and Leon, did anyone show up last night?

by tmak26b on Mar 12, 2009 9:15 AM EDT reply actions

bill walker

kid has got game, and plays with the energy to be effective almost regardless of how he is “shooting”

by WillyBeamin on Mar 12, 2009 9:19 AM EDT up reply actions

the m and m boys were down and dirty and no help. mikki looks clueless at times and the other m boy looks somewhat robotic.

by nazzbo on Mar 12, 2009 9:35 AM EDT reply actions

Maggette

Just plain dirty.

"I don't come to play, I come to WIN"--Larry Bird

by TrueGreen on Mar 12, 2009 9:40 AM EDT reply actions

Why?

by cordobes on Mar 12, 2009 9:55 AM EDT up reply actions

Because

The hit on Powe that was called and the other dirty hits that weren’t. There’s physical and there’s dirty. Maggette is dirty.

"I don't come to play, I come to WIN"--Larry Bird

by TrueGreen on Mar 12, 2009 7:52 PM EDT up reply actions

Cut Your Losses

They should cut their losses by starting to play Pruitt and putting Marbury at the end of the bench.

It isn’t working and it isn’t going to work, not now, not in the playoffs, not ever. Wildblu1 put his finger on one of the problems in his post above, but there are others: the terrible shooting, the terrible shot selection, the turnovers, the clueless defense…

As I keep saying, it’s just a question of how long it takes to recognize the mistake. When they first signed Marbury, everyone called it “low risk’ but it really isn’t, unless you consider losing home court advantage and getting eliminated in the playoffs "low risk.”

by Brickowski on Mar 12, 2009 11:25 AM EDT reply actions

Mikki's only a bit harder on himself than I would have been

There was enough that went wrong that I wouldn’t put “costing the game” on Mikki’s shoulders.

Other than that, his assessment about nails it. He’s been bad, particularly on the defensive end. Hard to argue with Tom Ziller’s feelings about him so far (the comparison to Blount excepted attitude-wise, simply because Mikki seems to care while Blount never did).

-sw

Manuel Aristides Ramirez is the greatest hitter I've ever seen.

by Steve Weinman on Mar 12, 2009 12:20 PM EDT reply actions

Brickowski

Are you kidding me? Pruitt is doing no better than Marbury. His dribbling skills is slightly better than Eddie. As much as I hate Marbury, he can at least get to the basket if he tries. I have seen 2 or 3 layups from Gabe.

by tmak26b on Mar 12, 2009 2:18 PM EDT reply actions