Cut Gabe Pruitt! Here is why!

[the_Bird]

I can't believe people believe the OP's story.  I know this is the internet and all, but can't we have SOME standards before we believe whatever is written?  There's nothing here; default should be, if you have absolutely no way of ascertaining if someone is being truthful, that you be skeptical.  

I mean, what if I start a thread about how I saw Leon Powe eating a live kitten before a game, what percentage of y'all would start calling for him to be arrested?

[blake]

Well, I can tell you as a manager, if I found my employees out drinking just a few hours before needing to be at work, they would be on VERY thin ice.

But can you say you have never stayed out late on a work night?  I don't think we should be throwing stones in a hypocritical manner.

[Roy Hobbs]

The DUI is one thing, but him staying out the night before is no big deal.  He knows he doesn't get a whole lot of burn.  He assumes that any time he does have is going to be taken by Marbury starting Friday.  The guy just probably wanted to go out and blow off some steam. 

I disagree with this reasoning.  Since Pruitt plays fewer minutes, he's justified in being less than fully prepared to play?  I would think that the fringe players in the rotation would be the ones *most* ready to get into a game.  Perhaps this is one reason why Pruitt consistently looks less focused on the court than other players on the team.

The superstars in the league can still perform at a high level even when they're not in premium shape.  The lesser players, not so much.  This is potentially another sign that Pruitt isn't as focused on basketball as he should be.

(And yes, I know that description applies to a ton of players.  However, when those players are struggling, it's fair to criticize them for their lack of focus).

[RAcker]

Well, it appears that Gabe likes his booze and his T&A, but appartenly isn't paying enough attention to his PT.  

[Hoops]

The DUI is one thing, but him staying out the night before is no big deal.  He knows he doesn't get a whole lot of burn.  He assumes that any time he does have is going to be taken by Marbury starting Friday.  The guy just probably wanted to go out and blow off some steam. 

Should he have done this?  No, but professional athletes do this kind of stuff all the time.

You all are professionals in whatever you do.  Can everyone here tell me that they haven't gone to work after a long night out?  The fact that he didn't have to be at work until 9 a.m. seems like a good enough excuse to go out and have a few drinks.

Bad comparison. A lot of professionals have jobs where functioning at 100% isn't critical at all times. Pruitt's job requires that he be in peak physical and mental condition the moment he steps on the court to do his job.

I'm an attorney and if I come into work in less than peak condition (I don't ever drink, but I do have a 2 year old that has caused me much sleep deprivation), I bill fewer hours in the day. It doesn't change the fact that I still have to get those hours billed at some point. Even in a regular job without billable hours, there's an understanding that if you have a slow and/or unproductive day, you can make it up later by working extra hours or being extra efficient. But in basketball, once the game is over, it's over - if you weren't on top of your game, you can't make that up later.

[blake]

I disagree with this reasoning.  Since Pruitt plays fewer minutes, he's justified in being less than fully prepared to play?  I would think that the fringe players in the rotation would be the ones *most* ready to get into a game. Perhaps this is one reason why Pruitt consistently looks less focused on the court than other players on the team.

We have no reason to believe that he acted like this before hearing about Marbury coming to town.

[Roy Hobbs]

I disagree with this reasoning.  Since Pruitt plays fewer minutes, he's justified in being less than fully prepared to play?  I would think that the fringe players in the rotation would be the ones *most* ready to get into a game. Perhaps this is one reason why Pruitt consistently looks less focused on the court than other players on the team.

We have no reason to believe that he acted like this before hearing about Marbury coming to town.

Even if that's true, he knows 1) the Celtics needed him against the Clippers, and 2) he has a contract for next season that isn't fully guaranteed.  Him deciding to "blow off steam" by acting irresponsibly (allegedly) would in my opinion be a negative character trait.

[blake]

I'm an attorney and if I come into work in less than peak condition (I don't ever drink, but I do have a 2 year old that has caused me much sleep deprivation), I bill fewer hours in the day.

OK assume you are working on a case for a client.  Of the total billable hours, assume your work represents less than 1%.  Then imagine that your firm is going to bring in someone who is going to do your job next week, and your billable hours will not even be needed except maybe looking up precedents for a couple of hours a day(practice).  No matter how hard you try the next day, there is no way they aren't going to bring in this new guy to do your job.

I see these two situations in the same light.  I would not blame you for hanging out with some buddies until the sun comes up.

[MattG12]

I can't believe people believe the OP's story.  I know this is the internet and all, but can't we have SOME standards before we believe whatever is written?  There's nothing here; default should be, if you have absolutely no way of ascertaining if someone is being truthful, that you be skeptical.  

I mean, what if I start a thread about how I saw Leon Powe eating a live kitten before a game, what percentage of y'all would start calling for him to be arrested?

That is seriously the funniest thing I've ever read on here. TP!

[blake]

Him deciding to "blow off steam" by acting irresponsibly (allegedly) would in my opinion be a negative character trait.

I don't disagree that it is a negative character trait, but with the situation I don't think it is worth getting fired.

[Roy Hobbs]

I'm an attorney and if I come into work in less than peak condition (I don't ever drink, but I do have a 2 year old that has caused me much sleep deprivation), I bill fewer hours in the day.

OK assume you are working on a case for a client.  Of the total billable hours, assume your work represents less than 1%.  Then imagine that your firm is going to bring in someone who is going to do your job next week, and your billable hours will not even be needed except maybe looking up precedents for a couple of hours a day(practice).  No matter how hard you try the next day, there is no way they aren't going to bring in this new guy to do your job.

I see these two situations in the same light.  I would not blame you for hanging out with some buddies until the sun comes up.

Am I still getting paid, and expecting to have a job with the law firm next year?  In such case, I can't see myself working less than 100%, especially since I know that the legal community is a small one and poor lawyers are quickly black-listed from other reputable firms.

[blake]

Am I still getting paid, and expecting to have a job with the law firm next year?  In such case, I can't see myself working less than 100%, especially since I know that the legal community is a small one and poor lawyers are quickly black-listed from other reputable firms.

I would have to say that you are probably in the minority of people who have not had a night run late during a work week.

[jdpapa3]

People were condemning drunk driving in the first post, and here they are condemning Gabe for staying out late the night before a game. Those are two different subjects, guys.

In the context of drunk driving, I thought people were being harsh on a young kid. That was on a non-game night in the kid's hometown where he was hanging out with college buddies. So, I consider that excusable. I have seen no evidence that he wasn't able to handle himself on the road so I give him the benefit of the doubt, since I have done this exact thing.

IF HE DID stay out and drink til late before an afternoon game, then it's inexcusable. This is not something that I would do, and that's what I'm basing my opinion on.

Attacking someone's logic doesn't make a lot of sense.
Maybe look in the mirror before you condemn others.

[KG_ended_Bias]

To me it is not the fact that Gabe was having a drink or 4 in his personal time, It is just that his timing is extremely poor being that it happens right before games & right after games. Meaning that it is probably happening all the time & he needs a little help! Drink a little when you have 2 or 3 days between games, not right after a terrible loss & right before a Sunday primtetime game thats all. And maybe I was a little harsh in saying cut him, but I would definitely send him back to the D-League as punishment & make him work himself back up by proving he is doing the right things on & off the court.

[Hoops]

I'm an attorney and if I come into work in less than peak condition (I don't ever drink, but I do have a 2 year old that has caused me much sleep deprivation), I bill fewer hours in the day.

OK assume you are working on a case for a client.  Of the total billable hours, assume your work represents less than 1%.  Then imagine that your firm is going to bring in someone who is going to do your job next week, and your billable hours will not even be needed except maybe looking up precedents for a couple of hours a day(practice).  No matter how hard you try the next day, there is no way they aren't going to bring in this new guy to do your job.

I see these two situations in the same light.  I would not blame you for hanging out with some buddies until the sun comes up.

Well, I guess part of it is about doing right by your employer. Money doesn't grow on trees and I believe in the old-fashioned notion of an honest day's labor for a day's wages. It's not fair to the employer to make them pay for anything less than a full day's work. Since we're throwing out hypotheticals, imagine having a job picking blueberries where you get paid by the bucket. It's a very fair system in the sense that if you're lazy and only pick 2 buckets worth, you're only going to get paid for 2 buckets. But someone else, working the same 8 hour shift might pick 15 buckets. Same hours, but different pay based on the value provided to the employer. But most jobs don't work like picking blueberries - you get paid a salary and there's an expectation that you'll put in the necessary effort to deserve that salary.

I'd be ticked if I was paying a guy nearly a million bucks and he didn't bring his A game to the table every night.

The other thing is that your hypothetical is rooted in selfishness. Whether your contribution is 1% or 70%, there's an expectation that you'll give the full 1% or 70%. If everyone who's contribution was 1% only gave half effort, then it would be like everyone give 1/2 of a percent. 1/2 percent across the board is 50%, which is a lot less than 100%.

The prospect of bringing in Marbury shouldn't change anything. Pruitt is still under the obligation to be ready to play at anytime.

Anyhow, that was a long-winded rant that could be summed up by saying "I think your logic is wrong."

EDIT: And speaking of doing right by your employer, I've got to get back to it at work and bill some hours!!!