How big of a miscalculation is POB?

[xmuscularghandix]

they said, their treating the kid like a rookie. he's like a stray dog that hasn't gotten any love. give him time and think of him like a rookie, the kid is gonna be good. he's played like 4 minutes so far this season, how cany he already be considered a mistake? esspecially when he's basically taking over for scott pollard.

[cordobes]

I think what Nick is saying is that the fiscal irresponsibility of giving a leeser player like O'Bryant the cash may cost the Celtics from getting a player of better quality.

----

About O'Bryant, I'm just glad people are not using Nelson as a scapegoat for his lack of basketball ability. It was one of the most bizarre and nonsensical arguments I've ever read here. 

[Chris]

I don't see how there was any miscalculation here.  They did not sign POB as a rotation player for early in the year.  They signed him as a project, who could provide some length against certain teams, and with some coaching might eventually be able to earn more minutes (maybe not until next year).  From the moment the signed him, they expected BBD to be the backup center, and then to likely bring someone in midseason like PJ.

I also think that the biggest reason he did not dress last night was simply because he was a horrible matchup against Houston.  Their only guy over like 6'9" is Yao, and POB is way too weak to be able to defend him, while BBD is a great matchup, because he is able to keep him out of the post.  All of their other big men, are undersized, but very strong.  At this point in his career, POB is only really a good matchup against long, athletic teams.  For example when we play Toronto, I fully expect him to dress, to give us another body at the end of the bench, who can match up with the length and quickness of Bosh, JO, and Bargnani. 

The only thing that was miscalculated was some of the fans expectations, which were way too high.

[Chris]

True about the 30th pick, and a couple years down the road I might feel differently, but I would have rather picked Mario Chalmers with that pick. He would have been a great backup pg to Rondo and seems to be playing very well for Miami. I think that spot was a bigger need than JR's.  I wasn't impressed at all though with the preseason play by him. Hopefully the D league will help like it appears to have helped Gabe.

No question POB needs to get up the floor faster. I was hard on BBD his first 3 games, but he played a fair amount better last night. I wish he wouldn't take that awful looking jumper though.

Mario Chalmers is just a less athletic, and worse shooting version of Gabe Pruitt.  He wouldn't be seeing any more minutes on this team than Pruitt is.

[crownsy]

I think what Nick is saying is that the fiscal irresponsibility of giving a leeser player like O'Bryant the cash may cost the Celtics from getting a player of better quality.

----

About O'Bryant, I'm just glad people are not using Nelson as a scapegoat for his lack of basketball ability. It was one of the most bizarre and nonsensical arguments I've ever read here. 

i think people were saying that we didn't know what the kids ceiling was because don never played him (true, he doesn't fit a run and gun offense. if don had been thier, he would not have drafted him) not that don was responsible for his lack of improvement (false, he could have been working hard at practice, specifically on the conditioning he lacks.)

[crownsy]

True about the 30th pick, and a couple years down the road I might feel differently, but I would have rather picked Mario Chalmers with that pick. He would have been a great backup pg to Rondo and seems to be playing very well for Miami. I think that spot was a bigger need than JR's.  I wasn't impressed at all though with the preseason play by him. Hopefully the D league will help like it appears to have helped Gabe.

No question POB needs to get up the floor faster. I was hard on BBD his first 3 games, but he played a fair amount better last night. I wish he wouldn't take that awful looking jumper though.

Mario Chalmers is just a less athletic, and worse shooting version of Gabe Pruitt.  He wouldn't be seeing any more minutes on this team than Pruitt is.

I disagree, and he plays much better defense. Gabe is annoying on defense because of length, but mario understands man defense could be the next hunter of a deep bench.

But CDR should have been the pick above all.

[cordobes]

I think what Nick is saying is that the fiscal irresponsibility of giving a leeser player like O'Bryant the cash may cost the Celtics from getting a player of better quality.

----

About O'Bryant, I'm just glad people are not using Nelson as a scapegoat for his lack of basketball ability. It was one of the most bizarre and nonsensical arguments I've ever read here. 

i think people were saying that we didn't know what the kids ceiling was because don never played him (true, he doesn't fit a run and gun offense. if don had been thier, he would not have drafted him) not that don was responsible for his lack of improvement (false, he could have been working hard at practice, specifically on the conditioning he lacks.)

The reason why Don Nelson didn't play him is exactly the same Doc is not playing him: he's a bad basketball player. Unlike Biedrins, for example.

Btw, I'd take JR Giddens over CDR every day and twice on Sunday. Mario Chalmers I'd like to have.

[OhioGreen]

Not sure what some of you guys are expecting from POB!?  Give the kid a break!  If your'e expecting 8-10 min 12 pts 8 boards and 3 blks, yeah you're gonna be disappointed!  Heck, he's only played 4 min in a game where our whole team stunk the joint out!
Who of Scal, Sam, JR, Walker or Pruitt has player so much better than POB?  Evidently no one, cause none of them are getting any run!
The only way Walker, Pruitt, JR, or POB are gonna show what they have is by somebody getting injured--maybe a couple of somebodies(heaven forbid!).  Like Ryan Gomes a few years back, it's the only way Doc will play these young guys extended minutes.  He WILL NOT play a rookie/young guy over a vet, regardless of how bad that vet might be--See Scal!
Until they all get a real chance, let's try and give them the benefit of the doubt!

[moiso]

POB has showed flashes of real talent, and I don't think most of us are down because of a lack of production.  But when Doc Rivers is publicly saying that he has an effort problem, of course we have the right to be dissappointed in him.

[cdif911]

POB is a nice pickup. He just needs to be properly motivated. I think Doc can do it - if anyone can.

professional athletes generally either are motivated or they're not - its rare to see a guy suddenly "get it" after not doing so for the previous 3 or 4 years - now there's a difference in not being motivated in general, or because of a situation - Vince Carter's tank show in Toronto was purposeful non-motivation - Manny was the same thing - a guy like POB just seems like he can't be motivated under any circumstances, which is super worrysome

[crownsy]

opp, wrong thread hehe.

[Tr1boy]

Because danny got us a title he is an amazing GM but he is not perfect so lets not butter every move he makes.

Patrick obryant if you think about it, wasn't paid practice pilon cash, he was paid 1 million plus a year so he could be even at 75 percent of what pj brown brought us.

I don't think he has been lazy or not trying (i think he is tired of hearing this) but the real truth imo is that other celtics players are just that much more faster. Also its not fair to ask a guy with his height to try to be up to speed with everyone else. Duncan would be prob last at all the drills the celtics would ahve but rivers wouldn't dare say anything about him.

There was some kind of miscommunication with ainge and rivers on this one. (you don't research on a car you will buy , test drive it endlessly and them blame the car it stinks)

Another thing about giddens and walker to me is, you couldn't have done any better with what the celtics had to work with. Chalmers? CDR? i don't think so. Not athletic enough for dannys system. Giddens at this time just needs more time to transition into the nba, but there is no doubt his athletism and speed are up there. He will be a factor next year

[CoachBo]

Potentially, quite a big miscalculation - but it's too early to know. Gotta wait at least until the quarter pole for an evaluation.

However, as I've been pointing out since the summer, this guy simply doesn't care enough to play hard. You need look no further than Chicago Friday night to see a 7-footer playing like an eight-year-old on Saturday morning: running aimlessly up the floor and doing nothing. You can't coach effort, folks. This guy has been a lazy, unmotivated player since college, and I can tell you conclusively that absolutely nothing has changed.

I continue to be really disappointed in the summer of penny-pinching and dumpster diving the Celtics had after winning a championship. Danny is going to have to fix the summer of inaction, or this team doesn't have the bench to repeat.

[Brickowski]

Low risk, high reward.  So let's assume that POB doesn't pan out.  So what? 

[Sweet17]

professional athletes generally either are motivated or they're not - its rare to see a guy suddenly "get it" after not doing so for the previous 3 or 4 years - now there's a difference in not being motivated in general, or because of a situation - Vince Carter's tank show in Toronto was purposeful non-motivation - Manny was the same thing - a guy like POB just seems like he can't be motivated under any circumstances, which is super worrysome

It's not rare. Two words - Mark Blount.