Tommy hates Scal...

[celts55]

First about the post, it's just not true. If anything I would have to say Tommy loves the guy. On that call, he did argue it at first, but the replay clearly showed he was wrong. So he admitted his mistake. This is not the first time I've seen that.

As for Scal. Let me start by admiting I am not the biggest of fans, but I must admit, he's played pretty well the last two games. This makes me think that he's one of thoughs guys who just plays better when he starts. With the starters on the court all he really need to do is play D and stay out of the way on offense. Stand in the corner and take the wide open 3 when it comes his way. I think with the second unit he feels like he has to do too much.

That being said, there are a lot of guys who play better when they don't feel the need to press. Off the bench the guy is terrible, but he's not bad starting.

[Bankshot]

The OP is totally wrong about Tommy hating Scal.  He points out stupid mistakes of all the players on the Celtics.  When Powe made that dumb foul in overtime to stop the clock and give Toronto 2 free throws, he pointed it out and said you absolutely cannot do something like that.  In the same game he criticized Rondo for letting Ukic blow by him.  So, you are wrong.  He criticized Scal, but that doesn't mean he hates him.

[pearljammer10]

How can 'Doc start scal.....ugh, he is a bone-head...! Start OBryant, at least play him now when Perk is hurt, all i can hope for is that Doc is showcasing these guys to trade them...! Scal = 6'9" O Bryant = 7'...okay....don't tell me Scal is better, and no one has seen POB play any real minutes.....no one is worse than scal, he is proof that if you play anyone long enough, they might get a little better, scal is a bit better than he was before, but so is the Iraqi army..! And why didn't doc foul toronto with 14 seconds left up by 3..is he brain dead..? Wait 4 secs, foul...duh....exchange foul shots, Doc is a very scary coach, I swear!!!!

Posts like this frustrate me.  Scal has contributed in two straight starts, has decent numbers, and the team has generally played well with him on the court.  Yet, both he and the coach that played him are being criticized, because a lazy stiff at the end of our bench didn't get playing time.  I'm baffled.

I'll tell you what I'm baffled by. Calling one of our own young players a "lazy stiff" when you haven't even gotten the chance to see him play any meaningful minutes because are coach is too much of a moron to get length in the game...Yet you are able to see Scal play, and watch how badly he is during his time. Scal has played two MEDIOCRE games out of the 39 this season...Thats pathetic. And dont tell me he does "the little things that dont show up on the stat sheet", we have a team full of players that can do that. The only stat that shows on Scals resume is the ability to pick up stupid fouls in small minutes.

O bryant over Scal anyday. Hopefully Doc will realize we need some length on the floor at somepoint.

[crownsy]

mabey if he started working (POB) for the first time in his career, he would get minutes.

I realize you like him pearl, but i think i'll trust the media reports, coachs reports, scouting reports, and the fact that his won players get on him to hustle, and the fact that he DOES NOT EVEN RUN THE FLOOR when he's in garbage time to tell me that the kid has little to no work ethic at the moment.

He's clearly talented, but he's also clearly less than driven.

[Shiz1111]

Tommy doesn't hate Scal. He has no problem pointing out his mistakes, but all in all I think Tommy has more of a soft spot for Scal than anything.

I can't say I agree about Scal's play. I used to have a huge problem with Scal myself but he's definitely made me shut up about it this season. The past two games have really been solid for him and I was actually dissapointed when he fouled out of the last game (yep, actually a little disappointed...there's a first time for everything I guess). He's been playing some really solid defense and hitting a few big shots. When those shots are falling, I like him in there these days. Especially when it seems like our team isn't doing so well, I'll take whatever I can get. He does make some downright stupid moves at times, definintely, but I don't think he's all THAT bad anymore.

[Andy Jick]

If you can't appreciate the things that Scal brings out there on the floor you really don't understand basketball.

not true...

if danny could rid himself of scal he would in a heartbeat, but there aren't any takers for a player who received a contract based upon jason kidd's presence next to him.

there is NO reason for scal to continue to shoot and shoot the ball all freakin' night...i cannot believe that doc wants scal chucking it up all night as the focal point of the offense.

scal is a token player who will be lucky to be in the nba once his contract expires.  but to say one doesn't "understand" basketball because we can't stand him is simply untrue.  we're all entitled to our comments here...i fully understand the game but i do not prefer scal's game and see very little out of the guy that i appreciate.  he is deficient in many areas, and at times he appears to be in his own world...

what i cannot stand is how people here continue to defend him, yet those same people often berate BBD or powe...

[Roy Hobbs]

I'll tell you what I'm baffled by. Calling one of our own young players a "lazy stiff" when you haven't even gotten the chance to see him play any meaningful minutes because are coach is too much of a moron to get length in the game...

Hey, I'm not the one calling him a lazy stiff.  That's Don Nelson, Chris Mullin, and Doc Rivers, in so many words.  As for meaningful minutes, Paddy has had three seasons to show he can do something, and hasn't yet.  As for Doc being a moron, I think we can cut him some slack about not developing the young guys after he just won a championship, at least for now.

Yet you are able to see Scal play, and watch how badly he is during his time. Scal has played two MEDIOCRE games out of the 39 this season...Thats pathetic. And dont tell me he does "the little things that dont show up on the stat sheet", we have a team full of players that can do that. The only stat that shows on Scals resume is the ability to pick up stupid fouls in small minutes.

The Celtics are 10-2 the past two seasons when Scal starts.  Doc and Danny both trust him enough to contribute, and he adds defense and spacing when he's in the game.  You don't get a lot of rebounds, but he also keeps his man off the board.  He doesn't turn the ball over a lot (unlike Paddy), and generally, the shots he takes are good ones.  He's essentially a 10th man who can contribute when called upon.  He's not a star, but he's not as universally terrible as you and others suggest.  Scal has made more meaningful contributions in the past two games than Paddy O'Blount has in his three year career.

O bryant over Scal anyday. Hopefully Doc will realize we need some length on the floor at somepoint.

I'm sure Doc realizes that, and the fact that he sticks with BBD and Scal over POB suggests just how bad Paddy in fact is.

[pearljammer10]

Im not ready to cut some slack, championship or not...If any single coach in the league had the players around him that Doc does he would have won the championship last year too. No set rotation, awkward substitution, bad play calls down the stretch is nothing to cut slack by.

Scal hardly provides good stats. He averages ten minutes a game, one bucket, one rebound and virtually no steals or blocks...Heck in 3 minutes a game Patty average as many points, more rebounds, and more blocks than scal. As far as tenth men go Scal isnt a horrible option, but there is no reason not to give the kid a chance when their is a dire need for length and a big center.

Plus the thread is about tommy's reaction to Scal anyway, which clearly is negative more than 75 percent of the time.

[jgod213]

Im not ready to cut some slack, championship or not...If any single coach in the league had the players around him that Doc does he would have won the championship last year too.

I know, i hate how over-rated that Popovic guy is, not to mention that Phil Jackson fella - and don't get me started on Red Auerbach 

Players win games, but coaches put those players in position to be successful.  We can debate the merits of the Doc Rivers coaching philosophy all day, but the bottom line is whatever he did last year allowed his players to be successful in the biggest situations.  How the hell can you not cut a guy slack after he helped bring your team its first banner in decades?

Also, why are we still even talking about POB? Doc understands the team needs length, he's said it flat out, yet he continues not to play O'Blount...that should tell you right there how far away he is from doing anything besides scoring buckets in garbage time.  Pretty sure Doc has a decent idea of what POB brings to the table since he is forced to watch his lazy "butt" all day, every day in practice.

[greg_kite]

Im not ready to cut some slack, championship or not...If any single coach in the league had the players around him that Doc does he would have won the championship last year too. No set rotation, awkward substitution, bad play calls down the stretch is nothing to cut slack by.

Scal hardly provides good stats. He averages ten minutes a game, one bucket, one rebound and virtually no steals or blocks...Heck in 3 minutes a game Patty average as many points, more rebounds, and more blocks than scal. As far as tenth men go Scal isnt a horrible option, but there is no reason not to give the kid a chance when their is a dire need for length and a big center.

Plus the thread is about tommy's reaction to Scal anyway, which clearly is negative more than 75 percent of the time.

I agree with you on both but scaled down a bit.  Most of the players seem to love playing for Doc.  He made Pierce start playing the right way instead of as a ball hog.  He's not perfect but he's not clueless either.

Scal I could do without but as much as I don't want to admit it, the guys who make the big bucks and see these guys day in and day out probably know the team and the game a little bit more than we do.  However, I do still believe that O'Bryant would do well if given a chance.  I saw what he did in the preseason and I was impressed, preseason or not.

[EJPLAYA]

If you can't appreciate the things that Scal brings out there on the floor you really don't understand basketball.

not true...

if danny could rid himself of scal he would in a heartbeat, but there aren't any takers for a player who received a contract based upon jason kidd's presence next to him.

there is NO reason for scal to continue to shoot and shoot the ball all freakin' night...i cannot believe that doc wants scal chucking it up all night as the focal point of the offense.

scal is a token player who will be lucky to be in the nba once his contract expires.  but to say one doesn't "understand" basketball because we can't stand him is simply untrue.  we're all entitled to our comments here...i fully understand the game but i do not prefer scal's game and see very little out of the guy that i appreciate.  he is deficient in many areas, and at times he appears to be in his own world...

what i cannot stand is how people here continue to defend him, yet those same people often berate BBD or powe...

You have your right to your opinion, but the issue isn't with someone saying they can't stand Scal. It is people saying he is the worst ball player in the NBA. Then making personal insults about the guy. It shows you they don't truly want to consider if the guy adds value. If you truly are saying the guy can't play at all you DO NOT understand the game, or you are overstating his lack of skills because you hate the guy. That isn't a question. If he truly could not play at all and was one of the worst players in the league then he wouldn't get one minute out there. He also wouldn't be so productive out there while he is playing. Stop going on and on about how great BBD is because of his good defense, but then ripping Scal when he plays better fundamental D than BBD does. Powe too for that matter, who I love. He is a much better shooter than BBD is. The guy is shooting 43% from the floor and 40% from 3. Considering that 60+ % of his shots are from 3 it makes his overall fg % make much more sense. He is TIED with PP for 3 pt % lead on this team. Yes I know he doesn't shoot as many as House or Ray or PP, but you can't dismiss those numbers! Go look at all the guys in the NBA that are considered great shooters that are below him in %. It is very easy. If you have developed this hatred for Scal he could put up 20 and 10 and you'd still hate him. If you look at what the guy has done then you'll realize that he isn't as bad as many try and make him out to be. It's all about the pasty white guy with red hair that signed a bigger contract than he was worth. If it isn't then they truly don't understand the game.

[EJPLAYA]

Im not ready to cut some slack, championship or not...If any single coach in the league had the players around him that Doc does he would have won the championship last year too.

I know, i hate how over-rated that Popovic guy is, not to mention that Phil Jackson fella - and don't get me started on Red Auerbach 

Players win games, but coaches put those players in position to be successful.  We can debate the merits of the Doc Rivers coaching philosophy all day, but the bottom line is whatever he did last year allowed his players to be successful in the biggest situations.  How the hell can you not cut a guy slack after he helped bring your team its first banner in decades?

Also, why are we still even talking about POB? Doc understands the team needs length, he's said it flat out, yet he continues not to play O'Blount...that should tell you right there how far away he is from doing anything besides scoring buckets in garbage time.  Pretty sure Doc has a decent idea of what POB brings to the table since he is forced to watch his lazy "butt" all day, every day in practice.

If they were having practices you might be right, but multiple times Tommy and Gorman have stated the guys haven't practiced in a very long time. They have played so many games that there haven't been gaps in the schedule to practice. Wherever you're getting this "every day in practice" line it is blatantly false. This gap coming up will be the first time in a few weeks that they have practiced. Can you tell me where he is supposed to "earn it in practice" with that schedule? This isn't the offseason and training camp.

[cornbreadsmart]

i disagree that scal is good at spacing. the last couple of games he was fine but i can think of countless times where scal is left wide open to shoot, then upfakes with nobody really challenging. he then will usually dribble too close to a teammate or dribble once pick it up to early and often throws a risky pass to get out of trouble. they should just rename him "does the things that don't show up on a stat sheet scalabrine". i think it's hilarious that anyone thinks he's good at the little hings. ya . he's excellent at injuring his own teammates,grabbing shirts before the inbounds(hysterical that he got bagged more than once on this).
  i think he's mostly comedic relief cuz i DO trust doc won't play him a minute of the post season. i would never taunt a player on my own team. that's embarassing. but since he didnt get into prime shape AGAIN i don't know whyt anyone cares how he feels about it.

[Roy Hobbs]

i disagree that scal is good at spacing.

Scal is shooting 40% from 3PT and has an eFG% of .545.  90% of his shots are jumpers.  I think he obviously spaces the floor better than the typical power forward.

...i can think of countless times where scal is left wide open to shoot, then upfakes with nobody really challenging. he then will usually dribble too close to a teammate or dribble once pick it up to early and often throws a risky pass to get out of trouble.

Despite his alleged risky passing and terrible dribbling Scal averages by far the fewest turnovers per minute on the team.

[Finkelskyhook]

If you can't appreciate the things that Scal brings out there on the floor you really don't understand basketball. All you Scal haters are just jumping on the bandwagon bashing a good guy who is a great teammate due to the fact that Danny overpaid him. If he was making veteran minimum we wouldn't have anywhere near the amount of negativity. If the guy didn't have the physical traits (red hair and pasty with a "not so hardened" physique) people also wouldn't pick on him as much. That's why the "Scalabrine" chants happen. Quite honestly these guys are a bunch of bullies looking for someone to pick on.

Scal is a very good defender who can come in and play a couple positions. He rarely hurts the team when he is out there. When he is shooting well he can be very valuable. The guy knows how to play and plays within himself 99% of the time. Keep it up Scal! You played solid out there and can say one thing even the big three can't. When you start for us we are undefeated.

Amen.

If the haters get their wish and he's traded, he'll be resigned 30 days after he's bought out.  Management and coaching knows his value if most people in here don't.