Doc Becomes Pediatrician
by Jeff Clark on Jan 4, 2010 6:45 AM EST
in Boston Celtics News & Links
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PrintYes, I know calling the younger players "kids" is somewhat silly when Hudson is older than Perkins and all that. But in terms of NBA experience, they are mere toddlers and Perkins is an old man - well, at least a guy in a mid-life crisis.
Doc has finally started playing the "kids," so it is a good time to see what the good Doctor has to say about them.
On Giddens:
"J.R.'s going to be more aggressive the next game,'' Rivers said. "I thought he had some shots. He got to the point, ‘Am I making a mistake?' I told him, ‘The mistake is not shooting.' Because he's a good shooter and I thought he had a couple of them.''
On Hudson:
He played 12 minutes Saturday night, scoring 5 points and dishing out two assists, but his two turnovers "scared the hell out of me,'' Rivers said.
"He's got to value the ball better,'' Rivers said. "Lester's still in that home run stage, as most young guys are. Most young passers try to make home run passes instead of making the simple, next pass. That's where we have to get him to.''
There were no comments in the article on Walker, probably because he didn't play. To JimmyT or anyone on the Celtics beat that might be reading, could we get a quote on why Walker isn't getting any time? I'm not saying it is the wrong call. I'd just like to hear Doc's reasoning. Thanks.
Update: Scott Souza did ask a more general question to Rivers and got an interesting insight into his philosophy:
An hour before what became maybe the Celtics' least likely regular season victory in three seasons, Doc Rivers was asked if there were any positives that could be taken from having to play a game without Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, Rajon Rondo and Marquis Daniels.
"There is no benefit as far as I know," he responded before the question was even finished. "When the playoffs start, I am 99 percent sure I will have the regular nine (rotation players) on the floor."
For point of reference, CelticsHub makes the case that Scalabrine has been (statistically) awful this year.
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It must be a challenge for Lester, trying to learn the PG position behind Rondo
—but needing to not always emulate some of Rondo’s strongest traits.
Oh, and we know it's always tough for young PGs to please Doc, too.
I get the idea Hudson’s tough enough to take Doc’s criticism, however.
Lost the source, but...
Dunno where I heard it, so take it as you will, but I thought Doc didn’t like Walkers work ethic as much as he liked JR’s. Might have been a comment by CelticsMedia.
- Dirk van Boxtel, the wandering Celtic fan.
Twitter: @4Hoopz
To be fair
with Walker I don’t think I would be enthusiastic if I was in his shoes and had zero chance to get any minutes.
“When the playoffs start, I am 99 percent sure I will have the regular nine (rotation players) on the floor.”
That’s just says it all. You can be the next reincarnation of Jordan, for all I care, I will stick to my rotation.
looking forward to the next game
Hopefully Doc’s comments mean JR will actually get some minutes next game. he played well enough on defense and finished well around the basket on that shot he made. he had several open looks where he should have taken at least a couple more shots.
Would love to hear the deal about no minutes for Walker and Scal producing another horrid statline. Scal’s defense was nothing spectacular. Walker could have produced the same thing Scal did and probably more. People can emphasize the intangibles all they want but a solid NBA player should be able to post something in a statline besides 0’s and personal fouls.
On Scal - basically he is sucking at shooting
Scal’s +/- is TERRRIBLE this year and that is normally the only stat measure that shows his value. Last year it was pretty good. This year, it is terrible and when you look at what he’s doing on the floor differently its pretty clear the big difference is he can’t make a shot and he’s getting more and more timid about taking a shot. He’ll never be a primary scoring option on this offense and we don’t want him to be. But he has to take SOME shots and he needs to make more of them than he has this year. Otherwise the other team plays 5 on our 4 when we are on offense – decreasing the effectiveness of the entire team. Outside of that, he’s pretty much doing most of the basic things that Doc wants him to do and that he’s always done.
If he could get his shooting percentage to go up to at least an ‘average’ rate, and take a couple more shots (its not as if he isn’t left wide open) his stat line would jump dramatically. He’d actually draw a defender or two, which might help the rest of the team. But as much as I’ve been a Scal defender here (or more correctly, a defender of why Doc has been giving him minutes) if he continues to shoot as bad as he’s been shooting all season, he’s not helping the team when he’s out there.
Re: Scal v Walker – that depends on the substitution. Scal can play 3-4-5, Walker really is more of a pure 3 only at this point of his career. So its not always a straight trade-off for minutes there – BBD & TA actually are ahead of both for minutes at 3 (and obviously Pierce and Daniels are ahead of them.). So the reality is that Walker is very, very deep on the bench.
I agree to an extent
but Scal should be able to produce something other than points to show he’s having a positive effect on the game.
He’s never been a rebounder so I won’t go into that (which is a pet peeve of mine about anyone that plays PF or C). He should at least be generating an occasional steal or making an assist as they swing the ball through him. Blocked shots are just a pipe dream since he can’t get off the ground enough for a rebound.
about the only positive I can throw his direction is that he still tries to take charges. he’s not getting the calls but I’ll give him at least that much credit.
In terms of what position Walker plays versus Scal, in the last game, Scal was at the 3 which is exactly where Walker could be playing and generating something positive—at least moreso than Scal.
He Has To Go
At least to the end of the Bench. There is no reason to play him at all if you have BBD and Williams. Scalabrine kills them every thime he is in the game, and the two or three three-pointers he makes every month don’t compensate for the negatives.
I agree
BBD really is the one that pushes Scal down.
Scal’s been getting minutes because he plays all three big positions and is higher on the depth chart than Walker at 3 (something you could argue, but it is what it is). He also guards bigs on the perimeter.
Williams only plays 4-5 and only in the post. Walker only plays the 3 and is still very inexperienced. While BBD was injured, there were simply more situations that Scal could sub into than where those guys could.
Note- again, I am not defending Scal here. Rather I am trying to explain why he ends up getting the minutes over some of the younger guys.
With BBD back, though, BBD can sub into all three positions and also shift among them, allowing you to have him in the game with either Williams or Walker.
Once KG & Paul & ‘Quis come back though, I expect we will see very little of either Scal OR Walker – and not so much of Williams either. When those guys come back, BBD’s versatility actually will take away from their minutes.
Walker = Gomes (buried alive)
and Lester has no chance of pleasing Doc….none whatsoever
Is it Soup Yet?
Walker in, Scal out
I really scratch my head and wonder what tapes Doc is looking at. I’m not surprised by CelticsHub’s findings. If he can’t hit that 3, then he just doesn’t give you enough extras. Not on this team with a couple hungry young guys. No need to feel bad for Scal. He’s had one helluva contract and the last laugh is his. But for crying out loud, Doc, play Walker.
scal: hes got lenghth, and he hustles, and...thats all i got
“
and Lester has no chance of pleasing Doc….none whatsoever”—-breaks my heart..sniffle…because its probably true. Doc has been disappointed in the past , and ROOKS are threatening to take him out of his happy place. we can’t have that now can we. what are they trying to do, make doc coach them or something? You saw what used to happen with rondo and doc in practice, kg and paul had to seperate em……thats not how we do it here: KG….you talk to em….thom T…plllleease set him straight. Perk…go growl at somebody. Scal—you were where youre supposed to be on every play…even though you didnt make a play….hit the showers—-
malcontents....the lot of you
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