Last Shot For 'Sheed

by Greg Payne on Apr 17, 2010 9:14 AM EDT in Boston Celtics Articles

Alright, Rasheed, here you go. The playoffs start tonight, which means, according to everything we've read/heard/digested, you're supposed to start applying yourself on the basketball court. The Celtics signed you with the idea in mind that you would help them compete for another championship and so far, you have all but failed to do so. If there were no playoffs and the season ended today, practically every fan would want you out of here. I know that doesn't mean a whole lot to you because you supposedly don't care what the fans think about you. That's fine. You know what? We don't care that you don't care. This isn't about personal feelings and our player-to-fan relationship. This is about results. This is about living up to expectations. This is about performing. This is about winning.

Our disappointment does not stem from some unnecessary extracurricular activity you engaged in. There were no known incidents of bar fights, or passes at women, or unruly behavior involving drugs or alcohol. There was none of that. Our disappointment simply stems from the fact that you have vastly underachieved this entire season and are, at this point in time, doing nothing more than eating up valuable salary cap space.

But, starting tonight, all of that's going to change, right? You're all about the playoffs, aren't you? You're finally going to make a positive impact and help this team win some games, correct? Because that means checking into the game, giving whoever you're replacing a supportive high-five, and getting down to business. It means demanding the ball down low and unleashing your still vastly deep arsenal of lethal post/in-between moves that are all but unstoppable when you want them to be; it means limiting the three-pointers; it means boxing out your man and using your seven-foot frame to secure much needed rebounds; it means, above all, bending your knees and playing some good old-fashioned defense. Do you think you can handle that?

Your 82-game vacation is over. It's time to get up from the lounge chair and get to work. This is your last chance to prove to us that signing you this past offseason was not the worst basketball decision of the Danny Ainge era. This is your last chance to make us bite our tongues and eat our words. This is your last chance to re-invent the lazy reputation you not only acquired, but refused to repudiate. This is your chance to pull a Han Solo - by returning when we thought you were long gone - and help us blow up the Death Star (win a championship). This is your chance to win us back over, despite that not mattering to you. So fine, don't do it for us. And don't do it for the praise you'll receive in the press for finally asserting yourself. Do it for the simple fact that you playing the way you're capable of playing will help the Boston Celtics win a championship. Because, ultimately, that's all that matters.

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Amen!

You summed it perfectly.

Hope KG gets in everyone’s ear. You can see he still has the intensity despite his condition.

by KG's Knee on Apr 17, 2010 8:17 AM EDT reply actions

Hopefully

while lamenting ‘the worst basketball decision of the Danny Ainge era’ we remember those that were on board with the move prior to the season.

Now on to Sheed. You’ve played the worst bball of your career the past few weeks. If you have even a shred (never thought he did, before the season) of personal pride you’ll at least play hard the next few weeks. That isn’t too much to ask, IMO.

"Do you know that nonbelievers create the most positive energy?" Davis said

by Birdbrain on Apr 17, 2010 8:34 AM EDT reply actions

Not that this matters too much

But I will say that I never wanted Rasheed as KG’s backup. Back on my old blog that I ran for a while, I filled out my top free agent list last summer and Rasheed wasn’t anywhere on it. I wanted Antonio McDyess the entire time. It was more about mindset to me. McDyess’s frame of mind is better suited for Boston than Rasheed’s is.

by Greg Payne on Apr 17, 2010 8:37 AM EDT up reply actions

Yawn

by gpap on Apr 17, 2010 8:38 AM EDT reply actions

That's sheeds response to the comments.

"Do you know that nonbelievers create the most positive energy?" Davis said

by Birdbrain on Apr 17, 2010 8:44 AM EDT up reply actions

Wait...

People still actually think this team can win a Championship?

by BOSPORTS on Apr 17, 2010 8:42 AM EDT reply actions

In our dreams we do.

"Do you know that nonbelievers create the most positive energy?" Davis said

by Birdbrain on Apr 17, 2010 8:44 AM EDT up reply actions

Post, post, post!

I wish Doc would tell Sheed that if he gets farther than 12 ft from the basket on offense, he’s out of the game.

There’s no way Jermaine can stop Sheed from scoring if the C’s would just force Sheed to play center…

by nba is the worst on Apr 17, 2010 8:43 AM EDT reply actions

I agree that he needs to step it up now

… however I think the article is a little unfair in focusing on Sheed not playing up to par alone. You can say the same “it’s time to turn it on” comment about 90% of this team. Perk hasn’t played as well as he has in the past, PP hasn’t, KG hasn’t, Rondo at times hasn’t. BBD sure hasn’t, Marquis hasn’t, etc.

The only players that I think have played better this year than in the past are TA and Shelden. I agree with the premise, but singling the guy out when he has done exactly what we knew he would do is a little ridiculous. Especially when the rest of them were bigger reasons we had a rough year.

by EJPLAYA on Apr 17, 2010 8:54 AM EDT reply actions

edit

I would add Rondo has played better than in the past most of the time. He’s either a huge jump from years past or back to his old undisciplined self. His jumper has definitely regressed.

by EJPLAYA on Apr 17, 2010 8:55 AM EDT up reply actions

Sheldon had no where to go but up.

But you make a valid point about Sheed not being the only one.

"Do you know that nonbelievers create the most positive energy?" Davis said

by Birdbrain on Apr 17, 2010 9:04 AM EDT up reply actions

Agree 100%

Alot of players aside from Sheed on the C’s this year have not played up to their expected level of productivity.

I am more concerned with these younger lack of production (like Daniels and Baby) who are in their prime who have had very subpar years then Rasheed who is a 35 year old player at the end of his career.

by fordescort on Apr 17, 2010 11:51 AM EDT up reply actions

If you find yourself in a situation where you have to rely on Wallace...

You`re already dead, you just don`t know it.

by Title 18 on Apr 17, 2010 9:45 AM EDT reply actions

BELIEVE IN SHEED!!!

by Mike-Dub on Apr 17, 2010 11:00 AM EDT reply actions

(Sick) Humor dept:

Rumor has it that Sheed has been shooting 200 threes/day to get ready for the playoffs…

by nba is the worst on Apr 17, 2010 11:22 AM EDT reply actions

Thanks...I just lost my lunch!

by Title 18 on Apr 17, 2010 11:26 AM EDT up reply actions

IT'S PLAYOFF TIME, A NEW BOSTON CELTICS...

While I may have said some nasty things about my team in the past, I would like to believe that they are going to redeem themselves now that it’s playoff time…From Sheed to the last man on the bench!!! GO CELTICS!!!

by BOOMBOOM on Apr 17, 2010 11:39 AM EDT reply actions

Rasheed has had no doubt a mediocre season.

But considering that and considering he is a 35 year old player at the twilight of his career, he has still been our best big man off the bench and most productive this year.

Maybe those players are not much to compare him too but those are the only players we have who can take his place and considering that he has been more serviceable and reliable then either Baby, Shelden or Scal this year even though he has had a sub par season.

Also keep in mind none of those players are back up centers like Sheed is.
We must also remember how we are lucky to have Sheed (even a sub par playing one) considering how last year we were getting hammered in the low post by opposing centers since we were using undersized Powe and Bbay as back up centers.
This is no longer the case as Rasheed with his length and bulk has has done a good job remedying that problem which is no longer a concern.
He has also this year (along with Perk) been our best low post power defender.

Rasheed also for all the bashing he gets for taking 3’s is still ordered by Doc to take them since he spreads the floor and opens up offense for other players when he is on the perimeter on offense.
This is true even when he has a off shooting night (since opposing teams still fear his shooting).
Rasheed also has been our best low post scorer this season also (when he has been in the low post) so lets hope Doc designs more plays for him in the playoffs in the paint (as opposed to designing him plays on the perimeter).

He can do a better job rebounding (as he has done lately) but considering he is out on the perimeter alot his rebounding is rebounding is not all that bad.

Also to win a title this year we will probably have to go through either Howard, Shaq and Bynum and I feel better knowing we have Sheed on the bench to throw at them since he has a history of playing well against all 3 players.
Imagine going into the playoffs relying on undersized Baby and Shelden as our back up centers…we would be overpowered in the low post again just like we were last year.

Again Sheed is not perfect and has his faults no doubt (I can also understand how he frustrates some fans), but how I look at the Sheed factor is until we can get another legit back up center (hopefully younger and more athletic this offseason ) Sheed is the only legit back up center we have at the moment on the roster and we need him heading into the playoffs where the game will become a more physical half court power game if we want a shot at a banner this year.

So for all the above reasons though I also hoped more from Sheed this year I for one am glad we have the big fella on our team for this stretch run in the playoffs.

by fordescort on Apr 17, 2010 11:43 AM EDT reply actions