Time to Bring Bill Walker up?

[Chris]

Not sure if it has already been posted, but Ainge just said on WEEI that both Walker and Giddens are on their way back to Boston today.  He said they are both banged up, and need to rest, and get checked out by the trainers.  He said after a little rest, they will be evaluated next week by the coaches. 

He did not seem to think they would be seeing time for the C's any time soon.

Although he did say that Walker was the best player at the NBDL showcase.  Take it for what it's worth.

[crownsy]

Backup QB syndrome. Doc Rivers got to see these guys play and he evidently felt TA was better or at the very least we needed to showcase some guys for trades down the road..

TA was hurt - and that was the reason for his awful play of late. If he comes back healthy I doubt Bill Walker can match him at this point. TA healthy would rip up the D. League. It's like watching Ricky Davis in the SPL. Scalabrine would be a stud in the D. league..

was he hurt all but the first two weeks?

because if not, hes been sub par at best.

At the begning of the season, I agreed to give tony a chance if others agreed that this year we wouldn't coddle him with

"awwww, but poor whittle tony is still coming back from/ is injured, don't you remember those good 16 games he had in a row 2 major knee surgeries ago? thats the true tony allen, you'll see! just suffer through him for one more year!"

Tony allen is a defensive specialist at best. He is an offensive black hole, and the dumbest basketball IQ player i have ever personally seen, espically with the ball in his hands. he should get 10 minutes a night on the hot hand, tops.

If any other celtics bench player displayed the turnovers, lack of pose, reckless drives, poor shooting touch, silly fouls, reckless passes, and inability to dribble at a high school level at times that tony showed, people would want them benched immediately, and traded soon after.

But because tony is one of the remaining "up and comers" from the bad times, and people feel sorry for him due to his injury bug (hey so do I, that sucks for him.) he is quite literally the most coddled basketball player i have ever seen. anything he does wrong is never tony's fault, its an injury, or your to criticle, or at least he was trying hard.

He's like that little brother in some families that everyone knows is a mess, but no one wants to breach the subject because he's so lovable. It's never their fault either.

People want to believe that tony is somehow going to become the magical package we thought he would be for 16 games, i understand that. They want to believe a switch is going to turn, and finally, he will be a solid guy. You need to get over it, it will not happen.

Tony is what he is, a 8th or 9th man on a good teams bench when he's playing well (which isn't often) and a guy you shift to last resort when he's running cold. He has hurt us VASTLY more than he has helped this year and im tired of making excuses for him

he had his new shot, he's failing at it. Time to try to take some of the pressure off, because he is a giant flop as a 6th/7th man.

[nickagneta]

Backup QB syndrome. Doc Rivers got to see these guys play and he evidently felt TA was better or at the very least we needed to showcase some guys for trades down the road..

TA was hurt - and that was the reason for his awful play of late. If he comes back healthy I doubt Bill Walker can match him at this point. TA healthy would rip up the D. League. It's like watching Ricky Davis in the SPL. Scalabrine would be a stud in the D. league..

was he hurt all but the first two weeks?

because if not, hes been sub par at best.

At the begning of the season, I agreed to give tony a fair shake if others agreed that this year we wouldn't coddle him with

"but poor whittle tiny is injured, do you remeber those good 16 games he had in a row 2 knee surgeries ago? thats the true tony allen, you'll see!"

Tony allen is a defensive specialist at best. He is an offensive black hole, and the dumbest basketball IQ player i have ever personally seen. he should get 10 minutes a night on the hot hand, tops.

If any other celtics bench player displayed the turnovers, lack of pose, reckless drives, poor shooting touch, silly fouls, reckless passes, and inability to dribble at times that tony showed, people would want them benched immeditly.

But because tony is one of the remaining "up and comers" and people feel sorry for him due to his injury bug (hey so do I) he is quite literally the most coddled basketball player i have ever seen.

People want to belive that tony is somehow going to become the magical package we thought he would be for 16 games, i understand that. You need to get over it, it will not happen.

Tony is what he is, a 8th or 9th man on a good teams bench when he's playing well (which isn't often) and a guy you shift to last resort when he's running cold.

TP4U for writing what I was thinking. Save me time typing, get a TP.

[Lucky17]

Not sure if it has already been posted, but Ainge just said on WEEI that both Walker and Giddens are on their way back to Boston today.  He said they are both banged up, and need to rest, and get checked out by the trainers.  He said after a little rest, they will be evaluated next week by the coaches. 

He did not seem to think they would be seeing time for the C's any time soon.

Although he did say that Walker was the best player at the NBDL showcase.  Take it for what it's worth.

It's official.

http://www.realgm.com/src_wiretap_archives/56480/20090108/celtics_recall_giddens_and_walker/

It's a good time to bring them up. The team actually has some time next week to actually practice (between the games vs. Jersey on Wed/Saturday).

[crownsy]

Not sure if it has already been posted, but Ainge just said on WEEI that both Walker and Giddens are on their way back to Boston today.  He said they are both banged up, and need to rest, and get checked out by the trainers.  He said after a little rest, they will be evaluated next week by the coaches. 

He did not seem to think they would be seeing time for the C's any time soon.

Although he did say that Walker was the best player at the NBDL showcase.  Take it for what it's worth.

It's official.

http://www.realgm.com/src_wiretap_archives/56480/20090108/celtics_recall_giddens_and_walker/

It's a good time to bring them up. The team actually has some time next week to actually practice (between the games vs. Jersey on Wed/Saturday).

thats all im asking. no one is saying either of them should play major minutes.

but do i want to see them worked in during blowouts (IF WE EVER HAVE ANOTHER BLOWOUT!@!@!@, thier saved someone the snappy respose) if for nothing else than to have a team go "huh, alright we'll take that kid for our vet big"

you bet.

TP for the info.

(to clear the above up, since i know i was hard on tony and it sounded like a straight switch with walker for 20 minutes a night was what i wanted, what i want is tony's minutes chopped to 10  and redistributed. He kills us getting 20+ a night. id rather see those other 10-12 go to a combo of pruitt/walker/giddeons/heck, even scal than watch tony murder us for long stretches while doc shakes his head after every stupid turnover.)

[nickagneta]

I heard Ainge on EEI and he said great stuff about Pruitt even so far as to say he is their best perimeter defender. Considering he's the only guy all year that actually runs his man of the three and yet can stay in front of him, I'd have to agree.

[Toine43]

I heard Ainge on EEI and he said great stuff about Pruitt even so far as to say he is their best perimeter defender. Considering he's the only guy all year that actually runs his man of the three and yet can stay in front of him, I'd have to agree.

If Ainge thinks Pruitt is the Celtics' best perimeter defender, then why the hell has he not taken all of TA's minutes?

[nickagneta]

I heard Ainge on EEI and he said great stuff about Pruitt even so far as to say he is their best perimeter defender. Considering he's the only guy all year that actually runs his man of the three and yet can stay in front of him, I'd have to agree.

If Ainge thinks Pruitt is the Celtics' best perimeter defender, then why the hell has he not taken all of TA's minutes?

Ya got me. Maybe he's got dirt on Ainge like Marbury on Thomas.

[ManUp]

I heard Ainge on EEI and he said great stuff about Pruitt even so far as to say he is their best perimeter defender. Considering he's the only guy all year that actually runs his man of the three and yet can stay in front of him, I'd have to agree.

If Ainge thinks Pruitt is the Celtics' best perimeter defender, then why the hell has he not taken all of TA's minutes?

Ha ha ha. Good Question.

Good luck getting an answer.

[KCattheStripe]

I heard Ainge on EEI and he said great stuff about Pruitt even so far as to say he is their best perimeter defender. Considering he's the only guy all year that actually runs his man of the three and yet can stay in front of him, I'd have to agree.

If Ainge thinks Pruitt is the Celtics' best perimeter defender, then why the hell has he not taken all of TA's minutes?

Ha ha ha. Good Question.

Good luck getting an answer.

Because Ainge isn't the coach.

[Chris]

I heard Ainge on EEI and he said great stuff about Pruitt even so far as to say he is their best perimeter defender. Considering he's the only guy all year that actually runs his man of the three and yet can stay in front of him, I'd have to agree.

If Ainge thinks Pruitt is the Celtics' best perimeter defender, then why the hell has he not taken all of TA's minutes?

Well, Ainge was a little wishy washy with it.  He did say Pruitt was their best perimeter defender, but in context, it sounded like he may have specifically meant last night, because he was just talking about how Pruitt was the only one who could keep Brooks in front of him.

[ssspence]

POB > SIMS

no way. not possible. the guy is crushing his competition, even in the d-league.

[xmuscularghandix]

POB > SIMS

no way. not possible. the guy is crushing his competition, even in the d-league.

i'm going with POB.

[Toine43]

I heard Ainge on EEI and he said great stuff about Pruitt even so far as to say he is their best perimeter defender. Considering he's the only guy all year that actually runs his man of the three and yet can stay in front of him, I'd have to agree.

If Ainge thinks Pruitt is the Celtics' best perimeter defender, then why the hell has he not taken all of TA's minutes?

Well, Ainge was a little wishy washy with it.  He did say Pruitt was their best perimeter defender, but in context, it sounded like he may have specifically meant last night, because he was just talking about how Pruitt was the only one who could keep Brooks in front of him.

Still though...

If Ainge thinks Pruitt is the Celtics' best even a respectable perimeter defender, then why the hell has he not taken all of TA's minutes?

[SalmonAndMashedPotatoes]

Backup QB syndrome. Doc Rivers got to see these guys play and he evidently felt TA was better or at the very least we needed to showcase some guys for trades down the road..

TA was hurt - and that was the reason for his awful play of late. If he comes back healthy I doubt Bill Walker can match him at this point. TA healthy would rip up the D. League. It's like watching Ricky Davis in the SPL. Scalabrine would be a stud in the D. league..

was he hurt all but the first two weeks?

because if not, hes been sub par at best.

At the begning of the season, I agreed to give tony a chance if others agreed that this year we wouldn't coddle him with

"awwww, but poor whittle tony is still coming back from/ is injured, don't you remember those good 16 games he had in a row 2 major knee surgeries ago? thats the true tony allen, you'll see! just suffer through him for one more year!"

Tony allen is a defensive specialist at best. He is an offensive black hole, and the dumbest basketball IQ player i have ever personally seen, espically with the ball in his hands. he should get 10 minutes a night on the hot hand, tops.

If any other celtics bench player displayed the turnovers, lack of pose, reckless drives, poor shooting touch, silly fouls, reckless passes, and inability to dribble at a high school level at times that tony showed, people would want them benched immediately, and traded soon after.

But because tony is one of the remaining "up and comers" from the bad times, and people feel sorry for him due to his injury bug (hey so do I, that sucks for him.) he is quite literally the most coddled basketball player i have ever seen. anything he does wrong is never tony's fault, its an injury, or your to criticle, or at least he was trying hard.

He's like that little brother in some families that everyone knows is a mess, but no one wants to breach the subject because he's so lovable. It's never their fault either.

People want to believe that tony is somehow going to become the magical package we thought he would be for 16 games, i understand that. They want to believe a switch is going to turn, and finally, he will be a solid guy. You need to get over it, it will not happen.

Tony is what he is, a 8th or 9th man on a good teams bench when he's playing well (which isn't often) and a guy you shift to last resort when he's running cold. He has hurt us VASTLY more than he has helped this year and im tired of making excuses for him

he had his new shot, he's failing at it. Time to try to take some of the pressure off, because he is a giant flop as a 6th/7th man.

The ENTIRE bench has been inconsistent, and yet time and again all we hear about is how TA is the one who has to go.  Yeah, let's improve the bench by removing its best player...that makes sense. 

TA's got the 60th best net PER in the league, which is the equivalent of being the 2nd best player on the worst team in the league.  That net PER is 5th on the team, ahead of Powe, House, and Perk, among others.  Yes, he makes the bad turnovers that make everyone cringe, and so everyone picks up on that because it's easy to see.  But the 2nd unit's problems are not limited to stupid TA turnovers.  At their root, the 2nd unit struggles because there's no point guard and no veteran leadership (lots of those stupid turnovers would be eliminated if TA played with a real point guard).  That's why Pruitt needs to play--he's the best point on the team other than Rondo.  He can do everything Eddie House can do, and a bunch of other things House can't do (like dribbling, defending the perimeter, creating his own shot and shots for others, shooting off-the-dribble, etc...), and even if it makes us younger it's the best thing we can do right now to improve from within.  We need Gabe's fresh legs.  Eddie should only play point when he's hitting his shot--and even then the cost to the flow of our offense probably isn't worth it.  Luckily, he can play the 2 when Gabe's the point, because Gabe has enough length to guard 2s.  But even with TA out, Doc hasn't played Gabe enough...instead those extra minutes at the 2 went to House, even when he wasn't hitting anything.

But getting back to the point of this thread--Bill Walker.  Since TA reinjured the ankle, it makes sense to give some run to Bill in the next few games.  He's definitely not the answer to what ails the 2nd team (since he's neither a point guard or a veteran), but in the short term he could be very beneficial because he is the answer to what ails this team in general: there's not one instigator on this team.  Say what you want about the other things Posey did or didn't do, but what he was absolutely great at was getting under the other team's skin.  Right now, we don't have any one like that.  We need an instigator, somebody willing to hit the other team in the mouth once in a while.  Teams have been pushing, grabbing, clutching, and bumping us around since the Laker game, and we haven't hit them back.   Bill can do that.  Bill's tough and we need toughness right now.