Can You Say Landlord?

by Jeff Clark on Sep 22, 2009 5:00 AM EDT in Boston Celtics Articles

Quick aside to explain the title. One of my favorite Eddie Murphy skits from his SNL days was Mr. Robinson's Neighborhood where he frequently talked about his landlord. "Landlord" happens to be Shelden Williams' nickname. Oh and one more layer: Recently Williams tweeted that someone mistook him for David Robinson. Of course David Robinson had those great Nike commercials also titled "Mr. Robinson's Neighborhood."

See it all makes sense ...at least in my head. Anyhoo...

The Celtics signed Shelden Williams right around the time when Leon Powe was deciding to play for the Cavs. We can only assume the two transactions were related and that Williams is being brought in to be Leon's replacement (for a full season instead of just the partial one Powe is expected to to play). But don't hold that against Shelden. It isn't his fault he's replacing a popular player.

So the question remains, can the guy play? Will he be any help this year or is he simply an insurance policy?

After staring at Duke, Shelden was drafted too high by the Hawks in 2006 and promptly dropped completely off my radar. Turns out he bounced around a bit before landing in Boston. One of his stints was in Sacramento, so I thought I'd ask Tom Ziller of Sactown Royalty for a quick scouting report. Here's what he said.

The Landlord made his name in college on defense: Shel owned the paint, and he alone decided who else was allowed to be in there. In the NBA, that hasn't exactly translated well. While Ben Wallace was able to defend centers ably despite his height, Williams can't quite hang with 7-footers. So he's stuck defending similarly undersized power forwards, which is does well, but which isn't a terribly big priority, especially in the East (or against the long Lakers).

On offense, Williams is a walking disaster. Mikki Moore is a better offensive player than Shel. That's not an endorsement. For either player.

Williams will give the Celtics solid rebounding while he's in (though KG and Perk do that as well). But Boston will need at least three offensive impresarios on the floor with him to stay afloat, if history is any judge. Luckily, Boston has the scoring horses Sacramento and Atlanta (and Minnesota) did not.

So there you have it. Ironically, he may be ideally suited to defend the guy that he replaced.

I'm going to slot this into the low-risk, high potential reward category. Last year that role was played by Patrick O'Bryant who was tall and lazy. In those respects Shelden would appear to be the anti-POB. He'll work hard, fight for rebounds, and give us a little extra depth at a position that we were very thin at last year.

Oh yeah, and he's married to WNBA star Candace Parker. So he's got that going for him, ...which is nice.

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Candace Parker?

Is she any good? Can’t we trade him for her? ;)

- Dirk 'DaarisDirk' van Boxtel

by Kiorrik on Sep 22, 2009 5:26 AM EDT reply actions

That joke is outdated, pal.

by P2 on Sep 22, 2009 7:53 AM EDT up reply actions

I guess so :)

… but this was all new to me, so it was sort of a layup :)

- Dirk 'DaarisDirk' van Boxtel

by Kiorrik on Sep 22, 2009 8:02 AM EDT up reply actions

Parker, the brother

They should have signed Anthony Parker, Candace’s brother, when they had the chance. After all, the C’s need another over-30 vet on the bench…

by Joebrown42 on Sep 22, 2009 9:26 AM EDT up reply actions

Rebounding

Obviously, rebounding is his strength. But I don’t think this Celtics team will be out-rebounded with or without him. Is he a better offensive player than Powe?

by 33-32-00 on Sep 22, 2009 5:34 AM EDT reply actions

No, but he is a healthier offensive player than Powe. You know what I mean.

by P2 on Sep 22, 2009 7:54 AM EDT up reply actions

I hoped we would sign Swift (Robert), but we ended up with Williams. But Williams will take on a lesser role than Pollard had in 2007, which means he will get either garbage minutes, or will be used in case of, God forbid, injury.

by P2 on Sep 22, 2009 7:57 AM EDT reply actions

Yep, Doc’s an unhappy man if there’s any reason to have Williams in the rotation—particularly come playoffs time.

by clover on Sep 22, 2009 9:27 AM EDT up reply actions

He’s not going to be asked to do much here unless someone gets hurt or one of the officials has the “over” and starts calling eight hundred fouls. If KG and Perk average 30MPG, that leaves only 18MPG for BBD and ‘Sheed, and not a lot of room for Landlord to get off the bench (and he’ll be battling with Scal for some of those minutes that do arise).

So, what do you look for from the break-glass-in-case-of-emergency big man? Defense and rebounding, and stay out of the way on offense. Williams should be able to do that.

At the very least, sounds like he’s a hard worker, there’s nothing as frustrating to watch as a big oaf like POB or Blount just loaf their way through.

by theBird on Sep 22, 2009 8:04 AM EDT reply actions

I would rather have Williams because he’s healthy. If Powe had good knees, then he would be my pick. But it will be very hard for either guy to play on this team anyway cause of the depth chart.

by 33Birdman on Sep 22, 2009 8:13 AM EDT reply actions

A healthy Powe finds his way onto the court, since he provided something the rest of the bigs are lacking in – post scoring. Wouldn’t have been consistent, there would have been stretched he didn’t see the court, but he was right there next to BBD on the depth chart when he got hurt.

by theBird on Sep 22, 2009 8:18 AM EDT up reply actions

A bust usually stays a bust

I am a perpetual sucker for low draft picks, garbage heap pick ups etc but they usually perform to their former standing. Once in a great while, everyone else’s bust turns into our core rotation guy. I don’t get the feeling Sheldon Williams is such a guy. My long shot hopes this year rest on Lester Hudson. To get two in one year would be improbable
But, if that’s the way I see it, probably the reverse will happen. Let the games begin

by Wildblu1 on Sep 22, 2009 8:31 AM EDT reply actions

love the title, jeff

“smokey robinson was at the apollo theatre, and he left his van open in the backa tha place…. wonder how smokey gonna sound without no percussion.”

by ssspence on Sep 22, 2009 8:48 AM EDT reply actions

"The Clifford Ray special"

Danny is a pretty good judge of talent. Has done a good job of bring in the type of player that is needed for this team. Sheldon came out of Duke as it’s all time leading rebounder. Being picked six (lottery pick) three years ago he went to Atlanta. Atlanta does not have a good big man coach, but we do in Clifford Ray. The guy loves to play in the paint which is something most young players dread. Sheldon is just the kind of player that Clifford Ray can mold in to another Perk. The guy wont be shooting 3’s anytime soon but he gets rebounds. Does any one remember Dave Cowens. Right next to him was a guy named Paul Silas.(great rebounder) Without the rebounding and physical play from Silas they would have beat Cowens to death. My point is there is a place for a player like Sheldon Williams. Is the guy going to be a great player who knows, but I do think he can be good for us.

by tyquinton on Sep 22, 2009 8:52 AM EDT reply actions

Danny’s had his share of flops, too. While Atlanta may not have Cliff Ray, it wasn’t like Landlord was a high school kid with a fifty pounds of baby fat when he was drafted. He played four years at (love ‘em or hate ’em) one of the top schools in the nation, and has been in the league for a while now; I wouldn’t get any great expectations that a few months with Cliff Ray is going to turn Williams into an All Star. Best-case, he ought to be able to be a rotation-caliber big man, but at this point in his career – you’ve got to say that he’s pretty close to being the player than he will be.

One thing I cannot WAIT for… Landlord’s first blocked shot, getting the chance to scream “EVICTED!!”

by theBird on Sep 22, 2009 9:10 AM EDT up reply actions

I believe in Danny, Clifford Ray and in Shelden Williams

The guy works hard and will surely help with his rebounds and defense. This is the anti Blount, folks. The Celtics tradition has always been about hard working guys willing to sacrifice for the team. Williams will fit here well. Ubuntu!!

by greenwise on Sep 22, 2009 9:14 AM EDT reply actions

POB

If he doesn’t pan out we can launch him at the trade deadline like we did with Pat O’Bryant for yet another conditional 2nd round pick in 2024.

by Marco33 on Sep 22, 2009 9:18 AM EDT reply actions

Between Powe and POB.

Shelden has hustle but not as much grit as Powe nor the offense or hands for loose balls.

(That shot went in, too)

"I don’t think in the past. I don’t think in the future. You grasp the moment." -KG

by SotaPop on Sep 22, 2009 9:27 AM EDT reply actions

Is that Bell there?

I like Bell. Can we get Bell? I WANT BELL NOA!!1

- Dirk 'DaarisDirk' van Boxtel

by Kiorrik on Sep 22, 2009 9:41 AM EDT up reply actions

That's ...

Diaw.

"The voice of the intellect is a soft one, but it does not rest until it has gained a hearing"

by Jeff_Fuller_49 on Sep 22, 2009 11:18 AM EDT up reply actions

Oh, I don't want him.

I want Bell. Can we get Bell?

- Dirk 'DaarisDirk' van Boxtel

by Kiorrik on Sep 23, 2009 3:44 AM EDT up reply actions

You just had to bring up Leon PO(we) didn't you Ranter????

First I have to hear that my boy Delonte is in trouble this week and now you bring up my other guy PO(we) as I had momentarily forced it from my mind……..

And P2 keeps wishing for Robert Swift ….to quote you P2 “that joke is outdated pal”

I don’t think Shelden Williams can carry Leon PO(we)’s jock strap or Paint Brush but it does not matter now anyway.

Baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah Humbug!!!!!

Is it Soup Yet?

by Master Po on Sep 22, 2009 9:45 AM EDT reply actions