I Hope I'm Wrong About Lester Hudson
by Jeff Clark on Sep 15, 2009 6:23 AM EDT
in Boston Celtics Articles
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I'll keep this one short and sweet because I don't have much to go on.
Lester Hudson seems like a good guy. If you read this interview with him, you can't help but pull for him. In fact, everything you read about him seems to be positive. Ainge has maintained that he's an option as a backup point guard and used a draft pick to get him.
So why don't I believe?
For starters, I think only an exceptional talent is going to be able to crack this rotation as a rookie. I am partial to "true point guards" so I'm already skeptical about a scoring combo guard coming out of a small college where he was the brightest star - perhaps in the whole league.
If he does end up making the roster, I don't believe he'll see any court time and I think he'll spend his winter in Maine with the Red Claws. That's not a bad thing in itself, but it also would most likely mean that we couldn't find anyone else to fill out our roster (barring a trade).
So call my a cynic. Call me a scrooge. I'm just not all that into Lester Hudson. But I hope I'm wrong. I hope he blows us all away in camp and forces his way into the rotation to make an impact. He's got a lot of doubters (like me). But he's got a golden opportunity to prove us all wrong.
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I hope he makes the squad, simply because I have that condition where I develop a liking for the rookies we draft, especially when they appear to be good people. But, like you said Jeff, I think his chances of finding time if he does make the team are pretty slim.
more than likely a red claw but he has potential. for those saying he did not look good in summer league- he hardly played. you can’t judge a guy in 2 games.
I’ve seen highlights from his school-Time and I think he is a good 3-P shooter… Maybe he has similar Rebound-possibilities comparing to rondo but far away from Rondos high BBall-IQ . The question is: Can he handle the Ball good enough for a true B-PG? I really hope so and I’m optimistic… but he has lot of work to do on training camp:
1. He must change his play to more unselfish and be a role-player instead of a star
2. Learn to play offense with the bench (do you remember House and Starbury? Smthg like this we will need)
3. Don’t be another House… – we need a PG not a SG – So if he want a spot he has to show passing abilities!
There are many questions and doubts about this guy, but he will do his best and thats hopefully enough for filling the hole behind Rondo… but on all of my optimism, I agree to Jeffs doubts: The Highlights of him make him to a SG we do not need.
I asked god and he said: L.A. will lose again next year!! ^_°
That's my question too, he obviously hasn't had a high off-court BBIQ, but can he learn
the C’s on-court schemes fast enough?
hes been in the gym for way longer than any1 else trying to learn everything he can i wouldnt be surprised if come the star of the season if he makes it hes backup point becasue i think he does have an extremly high basketball IQ.
I hope you're right, and I don't think boneheaded school decisions or performance
have to reflect his BBIQ at all. I’m among the many posting here who never had nearly his disadvantages to overcome. (Or his basketball talent!)
Trade Scal
I agree, we need an exceptional talent at backup PG (especially if Rondo gets hurt). We need to move Scal and his expiring contract to bring someone in (I just don’t see anyone in free agency). That will also free up a roster spot to sign Hudson who will need to play in the NBDL until next season where we can really scope him out in training camp. I like Hudson but Rooks picked this low rarely make the team let alone crack the rotation. Still, giving him a shot in Maine would be nice. Heck, once we solidify home playoff positioning even bring him down for some end of season garbage time……….
overseas option
I kind of hope he plays overseas for a year while we retain his rights
then again, at 25 years old, I’m not sure how much more he needs “development” time as he needs pro competition – we’ll see
"We few, we happy few, we band of brothers" Henry V
investment
I don’t see Lester getting any PT outside of Maine this year. I think the bigger interest in him is as an investment for next year if he can show he can take Eddie’s role on the team but be better at it.
Eddie can bring the ball up court (unless under pressure) and shoot from deep. If Hudson can at least do that and retain his ability to score by creating his own shot, I think he’s next year’s instant offense off the bench and at a cheaper salary than Eddie. How many times did we see Eddie struggle to score because he needs to catch and shoot. Lester can score in more ways than that and offers some rebounding to boot.
Lester is a low-risk, High-reward player to bring into camp.
He is 25 years old, was 58th pick in a draft, hasn`t played a single professional basketball game in his life and we expect him to be our back up PG? Call me skeptical but I just don`t see him making the team…
*coughCassellcough*
I understand how you feel about Hudson as much as the next person, but weirder things have happened, in at least the good ol’ Northeast, anyways.
: )
Tiny Archibald
Not that there is any reason for a comparison but just felt the need to point out that there are true point guards who are also scoring guards.
Lester also seems to be a true PG on the defensive end— his making the team may depend on how well he guards Edddie and Rajon—-I really wish there was video someplace of Lester v Derrick Rose?
Can he 'handle'?
Not to throw fuel on the fire but…(I’ll now throw fuel on the fire)
In the great interview by Jay King, Hudson said that DA wants him to work on his handle. Bringing the ball up in a lesser college league is a bit different than bringing it up against pressure in the big league.
We don’t even know if his handle is better than House’s, at this point, do we?
At this point, I am opinion neutral, only because I know so little about him. But the odds are against him…and reading the part about working on his handle didn’t help much.
Which I would I rather see if I were coach on my Celtic Magic bus and bench???????
Do I want to look down the bench and see Marbury, Iverson or Lester every night? I am sentimentalist for sure and a dreamer, so I would rather see Lester Hudson down on the bench with an excited eager look in his eye and maybe waving a towel.
Having a rookie on the bench seems more “like a team” than just a bunch of “hired hands” brought in to do a job. Yes I know I know I know!!!!! – the job is to win number 18, and trust me I want it as bad as anyone but ……..sometimes how you get there can be as exciting as finally arriving.
People like Iverson, Marbury or some other aging vet we might pick up (and we have plenty of aging vets on our team already) have already had their chance to ride the bus.
If I were driving the bus I would want to let a rookie ride it like Lester Hudson…..just to make the ride more exciting. Let Lester get on board if he shows like he drive the bus in training camp. I think he might surprise us – let him on the bus!!
Is it Soup Yet?
Looks like...
The Partridge Family bus took a wrong turn…and wound up in the middle of Haight Ashbury!
Master Po -I love the Merry Prankster reference -" you are either on the bus or off the bus", certainly applies to the C’s and Celticsblog—and the picture of Further may be my wallpaper for a couple of days! —I wonder if anyone is still reading the Electric Kool-aid acid test?
Youth Spring Eternal
I guess it must be a symptom of being a fan, but people tend to over-hype the abilities of the younger guys, or discount them. Realistically, Lester can play ball. But he’s on a team where Doc will not play him. Depth wise, he’s behind Rondo, Daniels, House, and TA at the one in the eyes of Doc. One might even put Ray in there as well. So I don’t even know why we talk about Lester. We’ve got one spot open, and maybe he makes the team. But the issues the team has do not involve Lester. It’s the threesome of TA, JR, and Walker. If Vegas had a line on this, I would bet good money we won’t finish the season with all three of those guys on the team. At least one of them is going to go. So to me, it’s not whether or not Lester Hudson is going to make the team so much as whether or not there will be a trade that allows for room for Lester to hang in Maine for a season.
No way he plays for the Cs this year. . . . and a real good chance he never plays for the Cs. It’s not a critique of his abilities, but just the realization that he’s on the wrong team.
Hope I'm wrong about Lester hudson
Ever heard of Joe Dumars from McNeese State? He was a combo guard from a small school. He only went on to win 2 championships as a player and one as an executive.
he was also a 1st round pick
Ever heard of Joe Crawford (not the ref)? He was picked 58th by the Lakers last year and waived in October.
It happens.
"We few, we happy few, we band of brothers" Henry V
Agree
I think you hit the nail on the head. From what I saw of the kid, I’d like to see them give him a chance. He seems to play hard and with a lot of energy, but unless we do a 2 or 3 for 1 trade, I don’t see it happening. i think they leave the spot open for a late season pickup, probably a PG.
I also think there’s a chance that Danny will pick up Greg Buckner once he released by Dallas (or similar payer to backup PP). That’s if Daniels is really going to be our primary backup PG. We have to find a suitable backup for PP, or he’ll be worn out again by Playoff time.
I would guess the C's
would be major trouble if the 3rd or 4th PG plays a lot either way.
Hopefully he brings some depth in the next few years.
"Do you know that nonbelievers create the most positive energy?" Davis said
Eddie House is our Backup PG
like it or not, folks. It’s time to get over the full court press thing, Lindsey Hunter is no longer a factor.
That said, Lester Hudson can give our team great value as a practice player who’ll test Eddie’s handle every day at Waltham. It’s good to have hungry rookies around to push the veterans.
For that reason alone, I’d like to see Hudson make the active roster.
Lester was the second leading scorer in college ball last year. His junior he was a first round draft pic. To Lester’s credit he stayed in school to get his degree. Hudson is a great one on one defender. House is not…Hudson rebound average is 8 . House 1.3. Hudson can get his own shot. House can not. There was a celtic great that played at a small school and people said he played against lessor player’s and could play on this level. This player averaged triple doubles in college just like Lester. That Celtic player is the chief of the original BIG THREE. The chief was 7’0" not 6’1". Triple double as a guard that plays great one on one defense. He get’s almost double steals, plays the passing lanes. And his 3 point shooting is good.
Doc told Lester to do one thing. Work on your ball handling skills. There is something we all have to take into account. Doc likes aggressive players. Hudson is aggressive not like P. OBryant or Pruitt. Skill is important but Doc likes aggression. All coach’s have there likes and there dislikes. Hudson is not only going to make the team but will take Eddie’s job. Don’t forget Eddie makes almost 3 million. Hudson will make about 800. thousand. Sheed shoots 3’s and averages around 17 pts. I think the scoring that Eddie does will be absorbed by other players.
Best Backup PG available
Bobby Jackson. We could get him cheap, at a veterans min. contract, and he would put in tons of work, and NEVER choke. He was the NBA’s 6th man of the year before, and he still puts in work. It would be a great addition to a great team
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