For you guys who are jumping on me about a quick mention of a possibility of why Eddie isn't being signed while at the same time writing the disclaimer that I didn't necessarily think it was true but was just theorizing, I think you need to understand, I wanted Eddie back if someone with definitively more PG skills isn't availble for about the same money.
Read the original post for Pete's sake.
It was a theory, that's it. Not a shot a Eddie. But be realistic.
1.) Eddies doesn't have extendedly proficient PG skills, he's more of a shooter. I can admit that and still think Eddie is a hell of a player.
2.) In the midst of a playoff drive and considering the lack of just about any questionably negative comments coming out of the player's mouths all year, his comments while not expletive laced and venemous, were definitely a gripe about his playing time.
3.)If you want to get technical about his late season slump here are his #'s for Nov-Feb and then for Mar-Apr of the regular season.
Nov-Feb 7.7 PPG 41.7FG% 40.5 3PT% 19.3 MPG
Mar-Apr 7.0 PPG 38.6FG% 36.0 3PT% 18.6 MPG
That's over 10 % off. Not exactly just a little off.
on points one and two, nick, i think while maybe technically accurate, IMO they miss the bigger point.
Eddie's investment in and commitment to the team and it's success is unquestionable - gripe or no gripe. plus, all he did was point out the obvious. and when players don't express the desire to play, people say "he's too wishy-washy"....actually the more i think about it, i LIKE the way he handled not getting the PT. if he had declined to comment or gave some some pat reply it could have stirred to pot even more because people would be talking about how he was "secrectly" steamed about the whole thing. but by saying that it was hard not playing, but he focusing his energy on being ready to play when his number was called, he confrimed that he was feeling what ANY competitive player would feel in that cuircumstance and also confirmed that his energy was focused in the right place ...which proved truthful by how he handled himself on the sideline and how he handled himself once he got in the games....
there simply is nothing that Eddie did that would be a reason to not bring him back. i think that is pretty clear. if anything his demeanor while not playing (ie his staying mentally in the game even from the sidelines) is a reason TO bring him back. when you have a guy have to come in cold the way he did in the playoffs after being a key reserve all year and immediately find ways to contribute....that's a check the positive not negative column.
the other thing that the playoffs highlighted is that the absolute necessity for a "true" PG as a backup was overstated. and i was in the camp wanting another ballhandler to be able to run the offense. but when all was said and done, Eddie's shooting and defense proved way more important than having another "true"PG...it helped keep teams more honest in their attempts to collapse on Pierce, RA and KG.
anyway, like with Posey, he's not irreplaceable, but whoever you get, i think needs to be able to knock down open shots and play good D. i think that was the right recipe. Pruitt fits the mold, but he may be a year away from being ready...
