Sam Cassell: Ubuntu Killer? ( Frustrated with lack of playing time )

[Roy Hobbs]

After a big Game 3 win, Sam decided it was a good time to voice his concerns about playing time to the media:

“It’s very frustrating,” Cassell said yesterday when asked if the lack of playing time was difficult to deal with.

“This is my first year (in the NBA) that I sat out in a playoff game,” Cassell said. “I didn’t get any playing time in four games. That’s my first time ever. It boggles not just me but anyone around, like, ‘Why’s he not playing?’ I’m not discouraged, but it’s tough, ain’t no lie. It was tough because I know I can play.

“All of this is brand new for me. I’ve never been in this situation before. I understand (it), and it’s a role that it takes time to get comfortable with. I’m not complaining about it, but it just takes time to get comfortable in the role.”

"I ain't going to lie, it was tougher because I knew I could play. I competed against these guys with my teammates, with other teams before in the playoffs, and had a lot of success. But me getting here late in the year, who knows?"

Link, Link

I know he was answering a reporter's question, and I know he was simply being candid, but he needs to keep his mouth shut about these things.

[CoachCowens]

If he said no comment he would have been perceived as pouting but a little praise of his fellow point guards would have went a long way.

[BudweiserCeltic]

That's an exaggeration... he's just speaking the truth. I might've said the same thing about House earlier in the playoffs when he was not playing.

Just because he finds it tough to sit, etc. it doesn't mean that he's there causing trouble.  Remember how Pierce credited him for going off on LeBron? And since he has been benched, I've seen him being quite active in the bench cheering on. This is just talk that doesn't ammount to much.

The last portion of the quote is the accurate one of the situation. Big Baby talked about this earlier on the year, on how it was tough to adapt to a new situation as he came to the NBA because he will be on the bench more instead of playing big minutes... was his complain then an "Ubuntu Killer"?

I would be worried if he said "You know, I'm fine with the benching because I suck and others are better than me", that's weak minded. It's not who he is, and not what we need from him. You need to feed is need... his ego, and he does plenty of it by himself.

This is a good locker room. It's tough, with many strong personalities gluing it together. Let's stop treating it as if it were made of glass.

[Roy Hobbs]

If he said no comment he would have been perceived as pouting but a little praise of his fellow point guards would have went a long way.

I think the politically correct answer in that situation is "It's not about me, it's the team".

It's been surprising the number of guys who have given quotes to the media this post-season, indicating a certain amount of unhappiness with their role.  Eddie, Tony, Ray, Sam, and maybe even KG have all given quotes this post-season when they would have been better served biting their tongues.

[Redz]

No biggy.  This is the key part to me:

“All of this is brand new for me. I’ve never been in this situation before. I understand (it), and it’s a role that it takes time to get comfortable with. I’m not complaining about it, but it just takes time to get comfortable in the role.”

Actions speak louder than words.  Sam made a decent showing of himself in Game 3 (after a couple of bad passes).   While riding the pine Sam has been supportive.

[FanInTheSouth]

I don't really have a problem with what he said.  he was just answering a question, and I seriously doubt that the guys in the locker room were oblivious to the fact that Sam would like more minutes.  I would be willing to bet that Sam wants starting minutes, so his frustration with not playing in some games shouldn't be a surprise. 

Now if Sam had come out and said "I don't know what's going on," "I should be playing more," "Our coach is an idiot," or anything like that it would be a problem.  But him saying he wasn't used to it and he was frustrated by it, I would say that's completely understandable.  He also had that qualifier "I understand" which makes it clear that he is at least trying to look at it from the team's view.

[Vermont Green]

I think his comments are pretty benign but be that as it may, these comments still could be enough to cause a stir with some teams but not this team.  We are too solid at the top with Garnett and Pierce.  You really have to be careful what you say as a teammate as someone in the press/media (traditional or non-traditional) will try to make something out of it.  Cassell is saying that he is a veteran and has been there before so this new role is tough but as a veteran, he should know enough to be very careful what he says to the media at such a crucial point of the season.  I wish he would button up his trap but this is not even close to being a treat to Ubuntu.

[TrueGreen]

If you read Sam's comments carefully we'll see that what he's basically saying is that he does not like to sit, it's hard for him to accept this, and he basically understands what is going on. This is not a problem for the team, Sam should be able to say what he wants. And I do not want a player on the Celtics who willingly accepts not being put into a game.

[Andrew Celtic Nation]

Does Sam realize how awful he has played the majority of the playoffs. I don't see too many guys young or old manage to secure a lot of playing time when they are slow on both ends of the court, miss shots and don't show any recognition that it is a team game when they are on the floor. Its amazing how he thinks he's been wronged when he came here telling everyone that he would adjust to our team.

[KeepDWest]

Does Sam realize how awful he has played the majority of the playoffs. I don't see too many guys young or old manage to secure a lot of playing time when they are slow on both ends of the court, miss shots and don't show any recognition that it is a team game when they are on the floor. Its amazing how he thinks he's been wronged when he came here telling everyone that he would adjust to our team.

exactly . . . this thread should be called Sam Cassell : Delirious? 

he has been atrocious the whole playoffs, last game he hit two shots - thanks god . . . his d is terrible, and he slows our offense down - eddie vastly outplayed him against cleveland, but sam is sam

[Redz]

If you read Sam's comments carefully we'll see that what he's basically saying is that he does not like to sit, it's hard for him to accept this, and he basically understands what is going on. This is not a problem for the team, Sam should be able to say what he wants. And I do not want a player on the Celtics who willingly accepts not being put into a game.

Yup.  My take too.

[PlayRyanGomes]

“This is my first year (in the NBA) that I sat out in a playoff game,” Cassell said. “I didn’t get any playing time in four games. That’s my first time ever. It boggles not just me but anyone around, like, ‘Why’s he not playing?’ I’m not discouraged, but it’s tough, ain’t no lie. It was tough because I know I can play.

He's probably referring to KG here b/c he's living with KG right now.  In KG's post game press conference he said something to the effect that it was nice to see Sam finally get some minutes b/c he can help us.  He sounded frustrated Doc hadn't been playing Sam.

It's worth noting that the Celts were a -1 with House on the floor in game 2, after which many people called for Sam.  Sam was a -4 in game 3.

[Chris]

If he actually complained, I might have a little problem (although I think people make way too much of this stuff in general), but the fact that he was just explaining how it is frustrating, but he went out of his way to say he understood why it was happening, makes me feel like this is a complete non-story.

It's not like he Edited.  Profanity and masked profanity are against forum rules and may result in discipline.ed about Doc or anything, he just said that he is in a situation he has never been in, and its tough for him.

[Roy Hobbs]

As an aside, it looks like reporters may be having a little trouble with the way Sam speaks.  From watching interviews, etc., he speaks sort of quickly and his words blend together.  That may be why you have such different quotes from the Herald and Globe:

"This is my first year ever that I've sat out in the playoff games, didn't get no playing time for four games," he said. "That was the first time ever in my career. It bothers not just me, but everyone around, like, 'Why are you not playing?' I'm not disguising it, but it's just tough.

“This is my first year (in the NBA) that I sat out in a playoff game,” Cassell said. “I didn’t get any playing time in four games. That’s my first time ever. It boggles not just me but anyone around, like, ‘Why’s he not playing?’ I’m not discouraged, but it’s tough...

How do two reporters get such different accounts of what somebody says, with both in quotation marks?

[BudweiserCeltic]

That's why I always hate when people jump the gun when something is written in an article. EVERYTHING is almost always taken out of context, and they pull quotes from everywhere just to make it fit their story, regardless of what the situations were when things were said. Also, in interviews, body language and nonverbal behavior are so important, and people seem to take them for granted. Just seems to me that there are many people willing to hear what is being said, and very few willing to actually listen to what is being said, especially listening for understanding.

It reminds me of last week when people started accusing Ray of throwing Rondo under the bus... it bothers me quite a bit.

Also, it's quite outstanding how frequently articles just completely write inaccurate quotes. It happens more often than you would believe.