I think Cassell could contribute if Rondo can't go . . .

[CelticsPrideKG]

I'm not as horrified by the prospect of Sam getting more minutes as some of you.  Obviously if Rondo can't go I don't feel nearly as good about our chances this evening but I don't think Cassell (or House) would be an absolutely terrible option.


I think he knows his minutes are limited right now and either he decides on his own or Doc tells him to do a quick "heat check" to see if his jumper is falling.  If not, he knows he will be shut down quickly and Rondo will be back in but if it's falling Doc will ride him until he gets cold.

I think if he knew he needed to be a solid PG for quality minutes he would be able to temper his shooting mentality enough to still be productive.  If his jumper wasn't falling I think he would make the adjustment to passing to the Big 3 more.

[Jon]

I agree.  I posted this in the Tony Allen thread.  I think not only does Doc sometimes tell Sam to go in and shoot (because he's usually the second scoring option with 2 of the Big Three on the Bench), I also think that Sam feels he needs to make his mark on the game in very limited time.  I think if he knew he had starters minutes, he wouldn't be in such a hurry to score. 

Still, I think the point is moot.  Rondo will still start. 

[rondohondo]

I agree Sam could contribute in these games if Rondo is limited or can't play. Everyone on this blog has pretty much jumped off the Sam I Am bandwagon, but I am sticking with him. I think this guy might have a few more clutch shots left in him.

[pearljammer10]

Yea Sam can contribute greatly by shooting about 8 shots per minutes while he is in the game.... Doc, play House. End of discussion.

[Onslaught]

Yea Sam can contribute greatly by shooting about 8 shots per minutes while he is in the game.... Doc, play House. End of discussion.

8 BAD shots that is. Sam sucks.

[Mr October]

You can't play House 48 minutes. If Rondo can't go, we'll need both Eddie and Sammy to step up.

[cmoney]

The thing with Sam is, and this is the reason I supported the signing at the time.. the guy can still ball.  He was having a very good year in LA.  The guy can still ball.  For whatever reason, this just wasn't the right fit, and I think short minutes might be some of that reason. 

I think the idea that he might play better given a primary role has some merit.

[kenmaine]

Please C's, win this thing in 5. The less we have to see or even discuss Sam Cassell the better.
Even assuming that he isn't just plain old and washed up, he's an unbelievably selfish player(he may be the finest human being alive, I'm just talking about on the court) and it's tough to watch.
 

[nickagneta]

If Rondo can't go I would start Sam only because I think his playing with the starters would probably mean he would differ to the rest and play the type of PG that would be helpful and less likely to shoot us out of the game.

But a quick hook will be needed if he is the disasterous Sam that we have seen since his good home games in the Atlanta and Cleveland series.

And Eddie will have to be better at handling on the ball pressure and have to hit the bomb to get the proper spacing. His shot inside of 20 feet has been as bad as it gets since early April. They will rush him on the line and force his shot closer if the Lakers are smart and have read the scouting report.

[T1ME]

I hate his game. His turnaround jumper reminds me of Antoine Walker shooting threes.

"Well, the first one went in, so the next 8 should as well."

[fan33]

Sam has playoff experience as a starting guard. He is the best balhandeler behind Rondo while being pressured, with the lowest T.O. ratio... In playoff ball you want to slow the game down and keep it low scoring / low possesions. Sam shoots over Fish...

Yes, his game would change if as a starter, than a backup brought in for energy and yes, given a green light for 8 minute stretches.

Of course he is realistically a viable option.

[cmoney]

he's an unbelievably selfish player(he may be the finest human being alive, I'm just talking about on the court) and it's tough to watch.

during his Cs tenure, this is definitely true.  What's odd is that for his career, he's a very strong assist guy.  Averages 7/36min for his career. Career AST% of 34%, peaking in the 40s.  He was 35% in LA this year.  Then all of the sudden he's 19% in Boston.   That's an insane dropoff and such an aberration compared to his career.

Part of that is playing on the second unit, often with a derth of offensive talent, and trying to put it all on himself.  Some of it might be "time to get mine", but part of it may very well be him thinking "this squad can't score if I don't."

[crownsy]

I'm not as horrified by the prospect of Sam getting more minutes as some of you.  Obviously if Rondo can't go I don't feel nearly as good about our chances this evening but I don't think Cassell (or House) would be an absolutely terrible option.


I think he knows his minutes are limited right now and either he decides on his own or Doc tells him to do a quick "heat check" to see if his jumper is falling.  If not, he knows he will be shut down quickly and Rondo will be back in but if it's falling Doc will ride him until he gets cold.

I think if he knew he needed to be a solid PG for quality minutes he would be able to temper his shooting mentality enough to still be productive.  If his jumper wasn't falling I think he would make the adjustment to passing to the Big 3 more.

sooo...he intentionally costs us possessions to see if his jumper is on? what an awesome idea....

also, when has doc ever shut him down quickly because his shooting was off? that one time last game? that was only after he had shot 1-5 and given farmer the easiest 6 points of his young playoff life on cuts.

doc routinely lets him huck up bricks for 4-6 minutes at a time...

he could make a contribution, but considering he's stunk in all but 2 games, and has been horrid for the last 2 and a half series, wouldn't you just go with house?

you know, that guy who plays defense and hussells his tail off?

[EJPLAYA]

Sam has playoff experience as a starting guard. He is the best balhandeler behind Rondo while being pressured, with the lowest T.O. ratio... In playoff ball you want to slow the game down and keep it low scoring / low possesions. Sam shoots over Fish...

Yes, his game would change if as a starter, than a backup brought in for energy and yes, given a green light for 8 minute stretches.

Of course he is realistically a viable option.

Sam's assist to turnover ratio vs. House's this year is almost identical. 2.1 to 1.1 for Sam and 1.9 to 1.0 for House. That is basically exactly the same. Don't try and create phantom turnovers for House like a huge bunch of people on this board. No one still has commented on the infamous "House vs. Detroit" turnover debacle in which he had only 1 turnover.

If their points are virtually identical, their assist to turnovers virtually identical, and every single other category House is hands down a better option, then you give it to House. How people can still be saying Sam is a better option is absolutely crazy.

If they attempt to pressure House coming up the floor, he passed it up the floor quickly to Allen, or PP. We got quickly into the flow. Much more effective offense than when Sam has been in there.

If we need a backup behind House then there is absolutely nothing wrong with bringing Posey in with PP and Ray and the three of them are more than capable with mismatches to bring the ball up the floor. Problem solved.

I still think Rondo will be in there though.

[libermaniac]

There were also 2-3 games vs. Detroit where Sam would come in, and immediately get pressure by Hunter, and turn it over for a quick bucket and then settle down a bit.  He's no Curley Neal with the basketball either.  I agree - go with House!