Pruitt vs Hudson

by Jeff Clark on Jun 27, 2009 2:53 PM EDT in Boston Celtics Articles

It is way too early and we'll learn a lot in summer league but if you had to guess right now, who do you think has a better chance of making the roster this year? (and yes, I stole this idea from vjcsmoke in the forums)

In case you missed it, here was my draft night post on Hudson.

Poll

Who will be on the roster opening night?

Lester Hudson

1117 votes

Gabe Pruitt

464 votes

Both

231 votes

Neither

430 votes

2242 votes | Poll has closed

Tweet Comment 27 comments | 0 recs |

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Comments

# of roster spots

we’ve got the starting 5, I assume House will not opt out, Tony, Scal, JR, Walker, and that’s it so far – that’s 10 already

We want Powe back and we’ll at least sign a big man (either Baby or other) so that’s 12.

Danny wants a small forward and a point guard. That might mean 1 spot left for one of these two.

Then again, if we sign Baby and another big (like I’d prefer), there goes that spot.

Of course trades could change all this.

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

by Jeff Clark on Jun 27, 2009 3:23 PM EDT reply actions

The Media Doesn't Get It

Of course, no one would look at Scal, TA, Walker, and Giddens and say, hey, these guys are gonna make my team a winner. That’s not the question. The questions for other GMs are as follows: 1) do you have a team that is gonna take a few years to turn around? 2) Do you have a talented veteran that has a long term contract? 3) would you prefer to have a bunch of junk with a year left on the contract instead (to avoid tax possibilities next summer)? 4) then consider TA and Scal, and, if you think walker or giddens has any promise, take them too and dump the vet with the long term contract.

Is it really that hard to figure out?

No one is saying TA and Scal are gonna make a difference anywhere.

by Black Jack Pershing on Jun 27, 2009 4:20 PM EDT reply actions

I AGREE.

I don’t know how many times I post stuff like that on yahoo and inevitably someone will wonder why anybody would want Scal, Tony or an old Ray Allen People don’t get it. You can get out of long term deals by trading for short term deals with the same “per year” figures

by correcttitle on Jun 27, 2009 6:33 PM EDT up reply actions

Danny will probably have a lot of options around the deadline from teams that are looking to cut longer term contracts. I’ll be shocked if Scal and TA aren’t dealt around then. I think Ray will be a goner before the deadline too, though he may a goner sometime this summer or in the fall, too.

Also, I think we need 2 bigs. I think Powe is too big a risk unless you want to risk a roster spot and he’s willing to accept vet minimum. We all love Leon, but there’s no room for sentiment when it comes to roster spots, in my view. Barring that, I’d like Baby and somebody else.

Summer league will tell the tale between Pruitt and Hudson. We have 4 spots to fill; 3 if Baby resigns, and the MLE, LLE, and expiring contracts with which to fill them. I’m guessing the big with the MLE. Not sure whether Danny will fill the backup SF with the LLE, or backup PG with LLE. Whatever one does not get filled, Danny will probably fill with Scal, TA’s contracts at the trade deadline.

by Mencius on Jun 27, 2009 7:26 PM EDT up reply actions

Pruitt in summer League

I don’t really know the book on how long to give a point guard time to show himself but I would think Pruitt is approaching it. He can shoot, he can stay in front of his man and he has decent hands. But he doesn’t seem intense enough and he’s barely average as a passer.
Hence Hudson has a chance. And as far as the bloggers ashamed of Danny for not trading up to get P. Mills, you’ve got to be kidding me. As Don Rumsfeld used to say, “There are the known unknowns and the unknown unknowns”. Applied here I think Hudsonhas greater upside among two guys who are long shots to make the NBA

by Wildblu1 on Jun 27, 2009 7:09 PM EDT reply actions

He's not new or unknown to me

I’m a lifetime Boston fan who has seen Hudson on several occasions twice against “top Divison ! competion” he ripped apart Memphis and Vandy. I’ve seen him play a total of at least 5 other times. Trust me when I say that Tony Allen should be very afraid. No new or unknown bias here.

by southbound celtic on Jun 29, 2009 7:19 AM EDT up reply actions

Not Tony...

I meant Gabe

by southbound celtic on Jun 29, 2009 7:24 AM EDT up reply actions

Maybe, but...

I think it says more about being pretty underwhelmed by Pruitt’s first two seasons. To be honest, I bet the only footage practically all of us have seen is the Youtube hilight of Hudson. I doubt any of us can make an informed decision on this until we see Summer League.

by Mencius on Jun 27, 2009 8:21 PM EDT reply actions

Gotta Love Celtic Fans

They love ya until they don’t. In all fairness, Kate Hudson probably would be picked ahead of Gabe right now. I think Gabe’s low showing is not so much Gabe’s play, but more the fact that Doc just hasn’t played him. The same thing happened with Leon. If Gabe had as much playing time as Marbury had, there wouldn’t be this thread. Hudson’s not going to get any play this year even if he makes the team. Doc’s the coach, remember?

Don’t get me wrong, Hudson can play. I’m probably the only one here who has seen him play in person. He’s a stud. I don’t see Danny signing an FA point guard unless Marbury comes back. Danny’s going after a big and everything else is after. Gabe’s going to be there.

The question should not be Gabe versus Lester, but TA versus Lester. And in that one, I’ll take Lester. I think TA is gone.

by amenhotep04 on Jun 27, 2009 9:46 PM EDT reply actions

Re: Gotta Love Celtic Fans

I think the bottom line is what has Pruitt done since he’s been here. Pretty much nothing. What can he do? Is he a shooter, lock down defender, passer … . I don’t know!!!! When you get to the NBA you should have something that you do, very, very well and that skill gets you PT. Very few guys have a high talent all round game Kobe, Wade, Bird Magic, Jordan guys like that.

As for Doc not playing rookies or young players that BS. How many years had Rondo been in the league or BBD or Powe and they all play significant minutes. This is not rec league where every kid must play 12 mins per game – IT’S THE NBA (NO BOYS ALLOWED) YOU HAVE TO EARN YOUR MINUTES. The bottom line is that Pruitt has not earned minutes and that’s why he’s on the bench and facing a challenging preseason and may get cut loose.

by badax33 on Jun 27, 2009 10:41 PM EDT up reply actions

not BS

Doc doesn’t play young players unless forced to. Take your examples for instance.
Rondo — stuck behind Telfair until Telfair was traded.
Powe — stuck behind Gomes until he was traded. Gomes in turn was stuck behind Reed until he was traded.
BBD — was played as a rookie because Doc had no other option. None. Zip. But as soon as PJ was signed, BBD back on the bench.

Every players Danny has drafted under Doc has shown they can play (except GG) but Doc has not given them time unless forced to due to no other options on the bench.

I’m not saying Pruitt can play simply because Doc’s following his typical pattern but I’m not ruling it out either. In the minutes Pruitt did get last year, he showed he could defend well but the rest of his game needed improvement.

Personally, I think this is Pruitt’s last shot at staying with the team. He has to tear up the Summer league and show Danny/Doc he belongs on the 12 man roster. If he can’t do that, he’s gone. Danny’s probable purpose for drafting Hudson is to push Pruitt to show if he’s worth keeping. If Pruitt doesn’t cut it, I figure Hudson’s got a 50/50 shot to make the team as a D-leaguer. Groom him to be next year’s Eddie when his contract is up and Hudson’s cheaper replacement.

by slamtheking on Jun 27, 2009 11:29 PM EDT up reply actions

Disagree

Doc doesn’t play young players unless forced to. Take your examples for instance.
Rondo — stuck behind Telfair until Telfair was traded.

I would word it Rondo, just out of college, didn’t start, till Telfair, a 3 year Pro, showed he couldn’t get the job done. I wouldn’t call that being forced to play him.

Every players Danny has drafted under Doc has shown they can play (except GG) but Doc has not given them time unless forced to due to no other options on the bench.

Yes, they were all very athletic, but could they play NBA ball? Yes, these guys could all play in summer league or in the playgrounds, but not in the NBA. Etc.

"I don't come to play, I come to WIN"--Larry Bird
"Criminally Negligent Officiating"--Tommy Heinsohn

by TrueGreen on Jun 28, 2009 9:41 AM EDT up reply actions

Really

Gee Whiz, I didn’t know that Telfair was a 10 Vet. I really thought he was a young guy.
And was Ryan Gomes a 12 vet?
As for BBD being behind PJ, no doubt about that. PJ can rebound and defend which are two of BBD’s BIG weaknesses and those were the skills we needed – plus a 18 ft jump shot against Cleveland..

Check out the finals only 1 rookie Courtney Lee played significant minutes (20 mins). Check out the final 4 team or 8 teams and see how many players with less than 5 years played significant minutes. We had 2 – Rondo and BBD and if Leon weren’t hurt we’d have had 3.

BTW, when it became apparent that Mikki M wasn’t the answer he sat him in favor of who – BBD and Powe until his injury.

I listen to all this BS about not playing kids. Heck Doc played kids for 3 years and we STUNK. I was all for dumping Doc. But give him some real talent and experience and he’s a DARN good coach.

We as fans don’t know why players are playing, maybe it’s because the players in front of them have earned the minutes. This isn’t rec league where everyone has to play 12 minutes per game.

by badax33 on Jun 28, 2009 11:28 AM EDT up reply actions

Kate Hudson ?

I’d pick here over any of the current past or future Celtics.

by correcttitle on Jun 27, 2009 10:51 PM EDT up reply actions

if pruitt could play, he would

picking in the same draft as glen davis, even before him if i remember correctly

davis has played and contributed mightily since he was a rookie
pruitt hasnt for a reason – hes not good

by orr on Jun 28, 2009 9:53 AM EDT up reply actions

Sophomore

What are the limitations in Hudson’s game that made him a bottom-of-the-second-rounder? Obviously he went to a small school, but I’m guessing people there’s something more specific to it – lack of quickness or hops or basketball IQ. Because when he did play top teams it seems he did just fine and he obviously can shoot.

Is he Eddie House with a slow release and blocks of cement tied to his shoes?

by Sophomore on Jun 28, 2009 12:16 AM EDT reply actions

I think....

I think it’s just the small school thing.

by liamail on Jun 28, 2009 12:44 AM EDT up reply actions

He's 24

Plus he’s a 6’1 two guard like Eddie

by Evantime34 on Jun 28, 2009 3:00 AM EDT up reply actions

he is 24. i saw him play once.

at that age, you have had YEARS (roughly six which is a lot when you consider how many legit future NBA players only play 1-2 years in college now) to make even marginally significant d1 schools…either dropping back into a juco system and back out etc. so you have to start there. why didn’t that happen? the real truth here is there is nothing special on any level. someone mentioned some big numbers against real programs (memphis)…it is hard to take those seriously. Being a massive Duke fan, 90 percent of the time when we play schools like Lester’s it is essentially garbage time out of the gate. We don’t play starters, we play half-assed, fear of being injured while playing bellvue christian or wherever he is from etc. what is more odd, that usually when a player of note emerges from a program like that late in age, it is a result of one specific change/attribute…he grew 6 inches during school, or transferred from a another sport (usually football) to learn bball.
anyway, pruitt certainly had a bigger name in college basketball upon his entry into the nba

by lakersbluedevil on Jun 28, 2009 10:05 AM EDT up reply actions

I know Pruitt is talented but he always plays with fear. Can’t have that on a championship-level team. My friend in Tennesse said Hudson plays like a human shark. It sounds like he got a better chance.

by GreenGrizz on Jun 28, 2009 12:55 AM EDT reply actions

It was smart to pick Lester Hudson.

If you have the 58th pick in the draft, why would you pick anyone else? Hudson scored like heck in college, can pass, and is a very good defender according to the scouts. One knock is that he is not yet a PG. He was not asked to be a PG in college, but he has good numbers in the assists dept. Another knock is that he has not played the big competition. He did however, show well against top level NCAA teams when his team played them. I like that pick. Maybe the guy doesn’t make it, but maybe, just maybe, he can be a find. Why not? It has happened before. It’s way better than drafting some 7 foot stiff from the Ukraine and sending him to play for some European team in hopes he will become a star. That never happens..

by correcttitle on Jun 28, 2009 9:07 AM EDT reply actions

some people have short memories

everytime boston is decimated by lots of inuries our young players get a chance to develop.
jefferson when pierce went down a few years back
bbd and powe when perkins had foot issues (plantar fascia)
perkins when pollard was injured
rondo when delonte was often injured

doc is a fool for playing pp and ray into the ground to end this last season rather than give walker and giddens some more time.. and for not giving pruit more time when rondo was mildly injured for periods and played through it..

by 00dc2 on Jun 28, 2009 10:57 AM EDT reply actions

Doc should let the rookiesply some.

If you have a 60 win team, then you likely have a few blowouts during your season. You can certainly find ways to incorporate youngsters into the games early in the year. If they fail, you will know after a few games. Those young guys do not get the chance until the situation is forced, and that is how remember it happening in Doc’s tenure. Lots of coaches do that because they want to win. I can’t blame them for it, but to think that a 60 win team cannot find places to put guys in to see how they do is ludicrous. That’s how I see it.

by correcttitle on Jun 28, 2009 11:32 AM EDT up reply actions

Garbage

Pruitt sux, plain and simple. People can justify any way they want why some young players have got playing time and others have not. The simple fact is if you show skill and an ability to contribute on the court you play, if not, you don’t play. Injuries, no other option or whatever other excuse some want to make are just complete BS. Pruitt, if we can’t trade him, should just be cut. He is on a non-garuanteed contract for this season, and is a waste of a roster spot.

by 420celticsFAN on Jun 28, 2009 11:31 AM EDT reply actions

I don't think Pruitt is Garbage....

While I don’t think Pruitt is Garbage, I do think that Lester Hudson is an Alpha Dog and you can’t teach that. that guy just has a swagger and looks like he knows he can score on anybody. Pruitt is a little meek for the NBA. He needs a touch of Nasty that Lester has.

by liamail on Jun 28, 2009 1:57 PM EDT up reply actions

If Hudson is a real player, Ainge is god.

Like most Cs fans, all I know about L-Hud is from his Youtube videos and back story. It seems to me that this guy likes to attack, and has a lot of skills. If he were four inches taller, he’s be a lottery type. I see him as a Flip Murray with longer arms and a bit more hops.

I’m curious to see him in summer league. I like the fact that he has a nose for the ball. Even though he played in a low level D-1 program, any 6-2 guard that can get 10 rebounds in a bunch of games has good instincts and heart.

Pruitt has never been a favorite of mine, and his stupid decision to drive drunk was a black mark this past season.

by TripleOT on Jun 28, 2009 8:55 PM EDT reply actions