The get to know J.R. Giddens thread.

[lon3lytoaster]

I wasn't happy at first, but I don't mind it so much now (Especially after we got Walker)

Kid can jump, he's got good size if that 6'5 is legit and he's an amazing rebounder... If you can rebound in one league, you can rebound in any league. Take guys like Rondo for example. It's all about desire, and I think JR might have the desire and ups to get every board in sight, just like Rajon.

[Redz]

I'm Giddy 

The kids definitely got a body and some athleticism it appears.  He said a lot of the right things - committing to D, willing to take a charge etc...At 30 he seems like a good risk.

[Jon]

As I've said before, I know next to nothing about Giddens.  However, it does strike me that one thing that Danny keeps pointing out is his defense and desire.  If he truly does excel in those areas, we should be in a good spot. 

Regardless of what happens with Giddens I am happy Ainge is looking to draft with those two criteria.  Those two reasons are the reasons we hoisted #17 while the Lakers just looked plain silly.   

[libermaniac]

For any of you Giddens doubters, just check out the box score from a recent NIT game ... Cal vs. New Mexico:

http://sports.yahoo.com/ncaab/boxscore;_ylt=AuDz7kGjDwE01S7KRSewK2wOvbYF?gid=200803190095

Giddens:  26 pts on 10-20 shooting, 13 boards, 6 dimes, 2 steals, 4 TOs

Hardin:  10 pts, 6 boards, 0 dimes.

Anderson (first rounder): 26 pts, 6 rebounds, 3 assists.

excellent sample size.   Four years worth of stats tells me this:

Fairly effective scorer.  Not insanely efficient but not too bad. 
Sick rebounder.  I like that.
Awful FT shooter.  Bad 3pt shooter.  i.e., signs that point to being a bad shooter.  If he could get his FT% to even a poor 70%, and stopped taking 3s altogether, he'd be way better.  I'm actually somewhat impressed he managed a 56% TS% when he's 60% from the line and 30% from the short college 3.

I'll say I'm beginning to warm up to him slightly, and the Walker deal helps.  Still would prefer CDR, though.

Is 34.7% from 3 point range that horrible (JJ Reddick, one of the best ever, was 39.9%.  Eddie House shot 36.6% from 3 in college too.)?  Especially considering that this guy has been the man on his team and draws all the defensive pressure (ala Kobe).  It's not like he's just sitting out there with open looks.

He's a career 46% FG shooter.  He's not a bad shooter, and he's a scorer.  He gets to the basket.  Not sure why he's so horrible on FT%, but I guarantee he turns that around in the pros.  And, as someone pointed out - early in his career it's not like he's gonna surpass Ray Allen and get the crunch time minutes ... his FT% won't be a liability for us (unless he's good enough to be playing crunch time minutes - which would be a good problem to have).

[jay_jay54]

After reading a article this morning in Boston Herald.com,i think J.R.would probably been in the top 20 picks this yr.,if it wasn't for the off the court situations,and transfering in the middle of his college yrs.I feel DA did his homework,stated that his Kansas coach was high on this kid before he transfered to NM.I heard Doc state last night,that DA had made a few trips to ck JR play before the season was over.

[RedsCeltics34]

Giddens looks like a real player, to bad we dont have a summer league team this year.

[RedsCeltics34]

Giddens looks like a real player, to bad we dont have a summer league team this year.

[crownsy]

i for one welcome TA 2.0

now, if we can get him to strighten up (not a out of the way proposition, since if he doesn't KG will jam him head first through a locker) and avoid the unfortunate injuries that slowed tony down, we could have a solid rotation player at worst in 2-3 years, which is what we were going to get at this pick pretty much.

[bbc3341]

he's a great athlete and if TA leaves, he has the ability to play D as well and be a solid energy guy off the bench...

[lobofan]

So die hard Lobo fan here. Just joined to let you guys know that in my completely biased opinion you guys got a heck of player and a good guy to boot.

First off, there are 2 segments to JR Giddens. There's pre-Steve Alford and post-Steve Alford.

Pre-Alford Giddens: looked for his shoot as soon as he crossed half court, sulked when he didn't get the ball, yelled at teammates, tried to do more than he could, did bad in school, did I mention he loved the 3 ball? He was a prototypical basketball player who has been told all his life how good his hoops skills were and did nothing but rely on his god given ability.

Then in came Steve Alford. He did everything he could to make JR wanna leave the team. But for some reason JR stuck it out. He did everything asked of him. And I will bear witness to the fact that he made the most dramatic 180 I've ever seen a college kid make. The JR this year was a beast. His rebounding was incredible. He can out rebound a slow footed 7 footer all game long. He's got good shock blocking abilities. He really turned into a great defender this year. And not just one on one defense, he really blossomed into a team defender. His athletic ability allows him to help out others while still being quick enough and long enough to recover to his man. The JR who dribbled around the court until he found an open 3 pointer was replaced by a JR who moves great without the ball(obviously some big Alford influence here). Was tough as nails coming off the screen and hitting the mid range jumper. Also did a ton of damage with his back to the basket. He likes to post up his man out on the wing/baseline and can spin baseline before the defender moves his feet or he can hit the fadeaway jumper from the corner. He really developed a varied and consistent offensive game this year. And lastly he evolved into a leader. He was the first one to congratulate a teammate on a good play, helped guide all of our new guys, and was just a consumate pro at all times. I got to see JR at 2 New Mexico road games this year and both times after the game he walked over to where the New Mexico fans were seated and thanked the fans and gave the fans an ovation from himself. That's class. That's humble. And that's the true character of the guy the Celtics picked with the 30th pick.

JR Giddens is a great guy, with a great personality, spectacular athletic ability, and now that someone has taken the time to teach him the right way to play basketball, he has the opportunity to become one hell of a professional basketball player. He'll become a fan favorite.

Cheers
Lobofan

[The Walker Wiggle]

Lobofan, I always enjoy the observations of a knowledgeable fan who's seen our new players often and up close (an unexpected upside of the Garnett deal for example.) It's great to hear about those road games and I agree J.R. last season looked great off the ball, almost night and day, and played bigger than his size on both ends. Tommy Point and big thank you from us. I hope you check back often. I was excited to begin with, only more so now.

[bbc3341]

I 2nd the emotion from Wiggle...

[Ersatz]

We really, really, really need some size off the bench.

It seems like all the good teams (except Detroit) have huge front courts.

Who does? Orlando has Howard and that's it; Rashard Lewis is their "power" forward. Washington's second biggest guy is Jamison, who's awesome but not huge. Toronto has two tall guys, but neither of them play that big. San Antonio's best lineup is Duncan as their only big guy. Houston and Dallas are small in the front court. New Orleans's power forward is not that big. The biggest team out there is Cleveland when they have Smith and Z on the floor, but neither of them are down-low bruisers.

I'm just not that worried.

[RickyD Fan]

Don't get to know Giddens too well... I don't think he stays a Celtics for very long. I'd be shocked if he wasn't moved in the next week. Just my crazy thoughts though

[Roy Hobbs]

Don't get to know Giddens too well... I don't think he stays a Celtics for very long. I'd be shocked if he wasn't moved in the next week. Just my crazy thoughts though

I don't think so.  I think he fits the Celtics defensive system well.  They brought him in for extended workouts, which makes me feel as though they're interested in keeping him.