For J.R. Giddens, tonight means just a little more
by Jimmy Toscano on Jan 2, 2010 7:23 PM EST
in Boston Celtics Articles
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PrintDrafted by the Boston Celtics with the 30th overall pick in the 2008 NBA Draft, J.R. Giddens has yet to make an NBA start. That will all change after tonight, as Giddens will start at small forward against the Toronto Raptors.
Giddens is doing all he can to prepare himself for tonight's game. He was in the gym late last night and back there again early this morning, making sure his body is ready to go. He also claims that he's staying as relaxed as he can, but his smile from ear to ear shows how excited he really is.
"I slept with my dog last night, I needed a little extra snuggle," Giddens said with a laugh. "He was wiggling this morning and got me up a little early- I think he wanted to go for a walk or something."
On a serious note though, this is a dream come true for Giddens, who hasn't had a whole lot to put on his resume thus far in the NBA.
"All year, all summer, my whole life I've been waiting for this moment to just capitalize on this opportunity," he said. "I'm going to go out there tonight and try to play my heart out- it's what I've been dreaming about my whole life and it's just a moment for me to step up and show people what I'm capable of doing."
While JR Giddens is clearly on cloud nine at this moment, coach Doc Rivers is quick to point out that Giddens isn't the focus of tonight's game and is in there to do his part.
"He's played well," Rivers said as to why Giddens got the nod to start tonight. "We wanted size and quickness at all three positions- 1,2,3- and that's what Tony (Allen) and JR can give us. They can make sure we have a defensive presence to start the game."
As long as Giddens realizes his role on the team, and doesn't try to do too much out there, he should be able to fair well tonight in his first NBA start. There were questions about Giddens' attitude and behavior in college that made people weary of the Celtics pick, but Giddens has not shown any signs of frustration with his position on the team thus far.
"I go from not even getting any minutes to all of a sudden getting a chance to start," Giddens said. "So that's why you got to try to stay positive everyday and make sure you're working on your game and everything is clicking so when you get these opportunities make the best that you can.
Asked what advice players are giving him, Giddens responded by saying, "Everybody's telling me to play hard. I'm not really going to be out to try score 50 million points. I'm just a defender, rebounder, energy guy and if I play hard and give effort than hopefully everything will just come."
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He sounds like a good kid.
“All year, all summer, my whole life I’ve been waiting for this moment to just capitalize on this opportunity,” he said. "I’m going to go out there tonight and try to play my heart out- it’s what I’ve been dreaming about my whole life and it’s just a moment for me to step up and show people what I’m capable of doing
I like that part. I really hope he pulls through tonight. Hope it’ll be as special for him as it can be.
- Dirk van Boxtel, the wandering Celtic fan.
Twitter: @4Hoopz
Scal
Seriously…the Garden have to stop cheering everytime Scal gets in the game.
I understand that most of it is just done for fun, but unless this stops, Doc is going to continue thinking that Scal is the future of this team and keep playing him instead of the young players that need time on the floor.
I don’t think Doc is influenced by the crowd. He’s a doctor. He listens to himself and whatever pfizer tells him to do.
Seriously though, I think Doc is trying to get Scal some minutes to get into a flow. He’s been often injured and is probably getting a little/a lot of benefit of the doubt.
Also this is not the playoffs. He’s playing to give others’ rest and because BBD broke himself on his friends face.
I BELIEVE IN YOU JR
I could not be happier for the young Mr. Giddens. There is no doubt he will shine.
Nice Article
Nice article J.T. – I’m a little bit at a loss to remember when we’ve had a player where getting an opportunity to play got so much attention.
I’m one of the few who likes J.R., and hopes he’ll stick around.
Missed the first half & part of the third!
We are winning????
Gen Davis looking pretty good out there.
ooh awesome tommy point play by TA
hustling for the lose ball after his own miss to then draw a foul going up
8 point lead with 1:12 to play
should be in the bag. One more possession and they’ll have to foul.
Jeeze - Ray goes the length of the court, getting hacked constantly and eventually scores anyway
then brings it up again on the next possession, again getting constantly hacked and yet NO foul called?
six players in double figures! Great team effort.
Much better effort than the last game, at least in the half I got to see.
Ray was the assassin tonight
8 of 13 from the field and
6 of 7 from the line.
That’s killer.
Happy that we can do it
It is difficult when you are missing one starter. When you miss two starters, it gets even more difficult. When you miss three starters, something else has to go right. Apparently it did tonight. With three starters, Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, and Rajon Rondo all sidelined – Pierce for a couple of weeks as that infected knee area heals, Garnett, with a bruise, also in the knee area, and Rondo with a bad ankle, Glen Davis, Tony Allen, and JR Giddens filled in. Rasheed Wallace helped a lot, Ray Allen and Kendrick Perkins held it together, and Glen Davis chipped in with a solid game and the Celtics defeated a Toronto Raptors team that had won five – and stopped their own three game losing streak.
Can’t say that it was pretty, but I would say that it was gutty, and the team has enough depth to overcome quite a bit of adversity, though they certainly need all of the leaders back if they hope to sustain momentum for a championship. Last year, we saw that when we missed a couple of key players (Garnett and Powe were out), we could win steadily, but we just wore out and the top playoff teams eventually took it out of us. We need to get everyone healthy by year end so that does not happen again, but we had much to be proud of then in the effort of the team. It shows the depth is solid. Now let’s go and do something with it this year.
Hoping Kevin and Rajon are nearly better and that Paul will be healing soon too and lead this team as all three do.
Brian Masinick
Great read...
hope to see more of Giddens and walker this season with daniels injured. they deserve some minutes as pierce backup
Scal
Was at the game Saturday. Scal needs to stop playing. Period. Guy didn’t even hit 1 shot in shoot around before the game lol.
Giddens was a little shaky to start (nerves prolly) but he did ok. TA, Baby, Sheed stood out for me. Shelden didn’t have a good game either. Good win tho. So much fun seeing it live. Stupid me didn’t even see that PP was sitting on the bench with the team!
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