Pruitt better have some skills

[Michael Anthony]

Look how successful we were this post season with House manning the point, and Pierce running the offense. Pruitt could certainly fill that role for 10-12 minutes a night, while playing better defense. No question.

As for his draft position, the draft talent pool has improved dramatically in the last three or four years, with quality pros now available well into the 40's:

Davis
Gomes
Powe

Carl Landry
AAron Gray
DJ Strawberry
Craig Smith
Daniel Gibson
Paul Milsap
Ronny Turiaf
Louis Williams
Mickael Gelabale
Andre Blatche

[ManUp]

In my opinion, House was nothing more than passable at the point all season. He's probably the most replaceable one of our free agents. I'd be willing to bet that the only thing House does better than Pruitt is hit the 3.

[CT34]

I think the person that Cs have there eye on is Jannero Pargo.  It's one reason why Posey isn't being offered the full MLE.  If Posey got to another team the Cs will have more money to offer Pargo and looking to bring back Tony Allen to replace Posey.  The best thing the Cs would like to happen is for Posey to comeback at a 3 year deal and also sign Pargo to a 2 year deal with a player option after year 1. 

[moskqq]

No need to get too defensive about Pruitt.....I never meant to imply that his career is over....I only stated a personal opinion.  I'll conclude my remarks by suggesting that Pruitt could develop the mindset of a PG but lacks those instincts at present.

Further, to be effective at the PG position (in addition to having the mindset of a PG) Pruitt must vastly improve his handles so that he could become an effective penetrator to disrupt interior defenses to create offense for himself or to feed uncovered teammates.

To do these things Pruitt must learn to use his BODY to shield his dribbling (instead of turning his back against pressure) so that he maintains court vision.  May sound simple but those abilities are difficult to master.

[johnnyrondo]

And its not just Lue.  There are still a good number of other options out there, whether it is Cassell, Williams, Dooling, Arroyo, or even Dickau (remember, House was known as a defensive sieve before last year as well).

If the C's are throwing O'bryant out there as their backup big and Dan "Couldn't even guard yet assembled IKEA furniture three years ago, I can only imagine how bad he is now" Dickau as their backup pg then they will not be repeating. GPA will have wasted a yr and be a yr older and we will have squandered something good. Trying to save a million or so on the backup pg position is like buying a Porsche, but asking if you can get a discount if you get hubcaps instead of rims. Eddie House doesn't want the bank. He just wants two years. it's not a big risk. Just pay him. I don't know how anyone who watched Eddie for 100 games or so could think he's so replaceable, just to possibly save a million. And I'm pretty sure his son ball boys for free, so we save there

[rondofan1255]

Signing Pargo at first glance, and retaining House and TA might look a bit worse on paper, but I would think there wouldn't be a drop off, really. However, the price on Pargo might be pretty high.

This is all for nothing if Posey doesn't sign.

[Cman]

And its not just Lue.  There are still a good number of other options out there, whether it is Cassell, Williams, Dooling, Arroyo, or even Dickau (remember, House was known as a defensive sieve before last year as well).

If the C's are throwing O'bryant out there as their backup big and Dan "Couldn't even guard yet assembled IKEA furniture three years ago, I can only imagine how bad he is now" Dickau as their backup pg then they will not be repeating. GPA will have wasted a yr and be a yr older and we will have squandered something good. Trying to save a million or so on the backup pg position is like buying a Porsche, but asking if you can get a discount if you get hubcaps instead of rims. Eddie House doesn't want the bank. He just wants two years. it's not a big risk. Just pay him. I don't know how anyone who watched Eddie for 100 games or so could think he's so replaceable, just to possibly save a million. And I'm pretty sure his son ball boys for free, so we save there

TP for that last statement.  But I disagree with your overall sentiment.  Relax, DA will work out something good at the point.  The priority right now is to resign Posey or find a passable replacement for him.  PG is 2nd, or even 3rd priority right now (another big man is arguably a higher priority).

Replacement PGs I would be okay with: Stoudamire, Pargo (if he comes for cheap), Lue.  Of course, I would love House back, but it won't be the end of the world is Cs sign someone else.

[zerophase]

theres a high chance that the celtics will be another miami, which is 1 and done.

[vwoodruff]

What is this assessment based upon?  He only played about 100 minutes last season, so I'm not ready to write off his career as a point guard just yet.

I ask you:  would people have thought Chauncey Billups had the "handles, the mindset []or the leadership ability to man the point for a championship team" in his first 100 minutes of NBA action?

Roy,

It was pretty obvious early that Billups had "it." I'm not saying that he didn't need to develop his skills, but I can remember early that he played with a pretty healthy confidence and wasn't afraid to shoot the big shot. I say this because I initially thought he was a reach at #3 and then was p---ed when the Kenny Anderson trade went down.

Gabe... not so much. Of course, he has a much better supporting cast that he might defer to more than Billups did back in 98 or whenever that Duncan debacle occured.

[indeedproceed]

What is this assessment based upon?  He only played about 100 minutes last season, so I'm not ready to write off his career as a point guard just yet.

I ask you:  would people have thought Chauncey Billups had the "handles, the mindset []or the leadership ability to man the point for a championship team" in his first 100 minutes of NBA action?

Roy,

It was pretty obvious early that Billups had "it." I'm not saying that he didn't need to develop his skills, but I can remember early that he played with a pretty healthy confidence and wasn't afraid to shoot the big shot. I say this because I initially thought he was a reach at #3 and then was ****ed when the Kenny Anderson trade went down.

Gabe... not so much. Of course, he has a much better supporting cast that he might defer to more than Billups did back in 98 or whenever that Duncan debacle occured.

Gabe Pruitt shoots 19.3 shots per 48 mins.

Lebron shoots 21, Kobe shoots 20.6, Iverson shoots 19.2, Carmelo shoots 19.6

I think its safe to say Pruitt has a healthy confidence in his shot.

[CelticsWhat35]

theres a high chance that the celtics will be another miami, which is 1 and done.

And that is based on what exactly?  Going into this past season, everyone said the team would need a year to gel, and that year 2 would be their best chance at winning it all.  Well, we won it all in year 1.  Now you're saying we're gonna just be another Miami Heat?  I realize that the free agent market isn't exactly what we expected it to be a year ago, but they still have most of their core players in tact, and technically haven't lost anyone yet.

No matter what happens in free agency, if this team stays healthy, they'll be one of the favorites to win again.

[vjcsmoke]

Err they can't afford to pay House any more than that if they want to sign Posey.  The problem is that Posey wants more money.  What you giveth to Posey you must taketh away from House.  It's that SIMPLE.

[crownsy]

Err they can't afford to pay House any more than that if they want to sign Posey.  The problem is that Posey wants more money.  What you giveth to Posey you must taketh away from House.  It's that SIMPLE.

not true, the LLE and bird contracts have zero to do with posey.

[crownsy]

theres a high chance that the celtics will be another miami, which is 1 and done.

i was not aware we have a franchise center who will eat himself up to 300 pounds and a fragile gaurd who plans to hurt himself badly for the next 2 years.

To be another miami we'd have to be utterly terrable for the next 2 years, like, 35 wins bad. pardon me if i laugh out loud at this setiment.

Not winning another title, if that happenes, won't make us miami, it will make us 80% of all NBA teams that win a title. To be miami you'd have to go from best to utter, utter trash, in one year.

[Jonny CC]

The backup point guard ranks are starting to slim down. Not a lot of quality there. Anthony Johnson was a very good pickup for the Orlando Magic, I would have been very happy with him. Pity. Looking at the rest (unrestricted free agents):

Point/Combo Guards: Jannero Pargo, Eddie House, Sebastian Telfair, Keyon Dooling, Shaun Livingston, Juan Dixon, Kevin Ollie, Earl Boykins, Jason Williams, Dan Dickau, Darrell Armstrong, Carlos Arroyo, Tyronn Lue, Royal Ivey, Salim Stoudamire, Alex Acker, Sam Cassell, Damon Stoudamire, Smush Parker, Blake Ahearn

Jannero Pargo would cost a fair bit of money so let's rule him out for now. Keyon Dooling is looking for more money than Eddie House is so if Eddie leaves for lack of money, Keyon probably won't be arriving. Livingston's health issues make him too undependable for my liking. Not a great deal of talent available. Bassy might be the best player in that remaining group outside of Eddie House.

I'd rather the C's didn't sign any of - Kevin Ollie, Earl Boykins, Jason Williams, Dan Dickau, Darrell Armstrong, Tyronn Lue, Royal Ivey, Salim Stoudamire, Alex Acker, Sam Cassell, Damon Stoudamire, Smush Parker, Blake Ahearn - to be the primary backup. A few of those guys would be solid 3rd string point guards but I'd like Pruitt to have that role.

Doesn't leave much -  Eddie House, Sebastian Telfair, Keyon Dooling, Shaun Livingston, Juan Dixon, Carlos Arroyo.

The Celts will end up with Marbury as the backup pg next year.  It's just a matter of minutes before he's cut and he will end up signing with the C's.