How would the young guys do if they got Marbury's mins?

[Eja117]

Steph is getting 17 mins a game. He averages 3.2pts, 2.9 assists, and 1.1 rebs on 32% fg and 50% ft shooting

Wouldn't any of our young guys do better than that with those mins or am I being short-sighted?

[Eja117]

I guess he's only taken 6 free throws so far, so that's not a good sample, but he's only made 25% of his 20 3 point attempts

[Redz]

Wouldn't any of our young guys do better than that with those mins or am I being short-sighted?

I think the answer to both questions is hopefully yes.

[Eja117]

fair enough. Touche'

[PosImpos]

Hopefully, yes, but how many more turnovers / reckless plays would they have?  Marbury hasn't been having too many "wow" moments, sure, but he's also played fairly reservedly, as far as I've seen.  I think that's good enough reason to privilege him over, say, Gabe Pruitt.  There's also good reason to suppose that he'll improve.  His current stat averages with the Celtics are pretty awful, but he started out much worse and is now getting better. 

I'd guess that his average for the last few games and his projected numbers, given a consistent rise towards almost being back in playing shape towards the end of the playoffs, will probably make him a much better bench presence.

[Carhole]

his ball movement and drive and dish game is far superior to anything Gabe would be doing at the moment. Gabe would probably be hitting more of the open shots...

I actually feel good about where marbury is at, I would like to see him get more comfortable driving intent on finishing as that was what made him most dangerous previously. But he has been a god send for the ball movement of the second unit and freeing up house. I am assuming he is only going to get better

[TatteredOnMySleeve]

Not very good..
The celtics play their proven young guys who can contribute, Rondo, Perk, BBD, Powe, TA, etc...the rest of the young guys arent deserving of minutes, JR, Bill, Gabe, none of them should be playing more then they are.
Celtics didnt bring in Marbury to back up Gabe Pruitt,  theres a huge difference in what each player can potentially bring us

[StartOrien]

his ball movement and drive and dish game is far superior to anything Gabe would be doing at the moment. Gabe would probably be hitting more of the open shots...

I actually feel good about where marbury is at, I would like to see him get more comfortable driving intent on finishing as that was what made him most dangerous previously. But he has been a god send for the ball movement of the second unit and freeing up house. I am assuming he is only going to get better

I'm with you. Overall I thought that Marbury has been pretty serviceable. He's not hitting his shots, but it doesn't really bother me. He's done a good job at pick and pop distribution, he's definitely got some on court chemistry with Eddie Money and has played ok defense. I'd consider myself a Gabe Pruitt fan, but I'd rather see Marbury out there.

[Jon]

And let's not forget that Marbury has yet to have a huge game.  There may be a game in the playoffs when Rondo gets in early foul trouble and Marbury goes off for 20 and 10, guiding the C's to a win.  While that may not happen, I think we can say that it certainly wouldn't happen for one of the young guys in the playoffs. 

[2short]

Well I hate marbury but I think come playoff time the C's are expecting him to play at the best level he's been with us NOT his worst.  If he is playing at the top of his current game that we've seen he is about even with gabe.  I give gabe the d and outside shot nod while steph. gets penetration.  I'd say the vet thing is the big plus, he hopefully will have his full confidence and could win a game for us.  He hit a running floater last game or the one before that pruitt wouldn't be able to do.  Gabe at this point (and maybe always) will not win a game or take over a game.  So I'd say it was a very good signing if he plays at his best and doesn't wreck chemistry.  He should help us more than gabe.
Side question is what does this do to Pruitts confidence & future with the team.  I love his d and jumper but have we seen the end of him in boston?

[amenhotep04]

I am probably in the minority, but I think the play the last month, Gabe would have outplayed him. He's better defensively, his shot would have fallen more, and balance with Eddie on the floor would be better, especially against a team like Detroit, where Gabe's length would help on the defensive end.

The question however, is what is Marbury going to do in the playoffs? I think he'll do well, but I believe that if Gabe would have gotten those minutes all season long that his play in the playoffs would have been better than anything we get from Marbury this year.

And those that think that Doc plays the players who deserve it or are ready, like it's some objective criteria that he uses, I would have to completely disagree with.  Doc has his biases and favorites.  Doc's strength is his ability to get guys to play their hearts out for him.  And that is an incredible ability to have. But aside from the series against the Lakers last year, I don't see anything remarkable about who he puts on the floor and rotations he uses.

[TatteredOnMySleeve]

I am probably in the minority, but I think the play the last month, Gabe would have outplayed him. He's better defensively, his shot would have fallen more, and balance with Eddie on the floor would be better, especially against a team like Detroit, where Gabe's length would help on the defensive end.

The question however, is what is Marbury going to do in the playoffs? I think he'll do well, but I believe that if Gabe would have gotten those minutes all season long that his play in the playoffs would have been better than anything we get from Marbury this year.

And those that think that Doc plays the players who deserve it or are ready, like it's some objective criteria that he uses, I would have to completely disagree with.  Doc has his biases and favorites.  Doc's strength is his ability to get guys to play their hearts out for him.  And that is an incredible ability to have. But aside from the series against the Lakers last year, I don't see anything remarkable about who he puts on the floor and rotations he uses.

Gabe Pruitt play better? thats laughable imo... Gabe Pruitt isnt that good, he doesnt bring much to the table, if anything, his defense honestly wasnt any better then marburys has been...and he was shooting 30 % from the field and 29% from 3 when he played.....theres a reason the celtics took the risk to bring in marbury, if they thought pruitt could outplay him, why make the move

[amenhotep04]

I am probably in the minority, but I think the play the last month, Gabe would have outplayed him. He's better defensively, his shot would have fallen more, and balance with Eddie on the floor would be better, especially against a team like Detroit, where Gabe's length would help on the defensive end.

The question however, is what is Marbury going to do in the playoffs? I think he'll do well, but I believe that if Gabe would have gotten those minutes all season long that his play in the playoffs would have been better than anything we get from Marbury this year.

And those that think that Doc plays the players who deserve it or are ready, like it's some objective criteria that he uses, I would have to completely disagree with.  Doc has his biases and favorites.  Doc's strength is his ability to get guys to play their hearts out for him.  And that is an incredible ability to have. But aside from the series against the Lakers last year, I don't see anything remarkable about who he puts on the floor and rotations he uses.

Gabe Pruitt play better? thats laughable imo... Gabe Pruitt isnt that good, he doesnt bring much to the table, if anything, his defense honestly wasnt any better then marburys has been...and he was shooting 30 % from the field and 29% from 3 when he played.....theres a reason the celtics took the risk to bring in marbury, if they thought pruitt could outplay him, why make the move

Why make the move?  Marbury's ceiling is higher.  Doc doesn't like to play young point guards unless he has to. Gabe barely got much play, so I wouldn't put too much stock in his shooting.  Tony hasn't been exactly doing much, but Doc likes him.  He plays him.  I'm not saying Gabe is God's gift to basketball, but I wouldn't go so far as to make objectivist claims about Doc's ability to evaluate whether or not a player can or cannot contribute either.

Here's my point, we talk about players, coaches etc. in polar terms.  Either the person 'is' or 'is not'.  Most of the players in the NBA have the ability to play in this league.  But they also have to find the right system, and get the opportunity.  There's a lot of gray.  Just like when we draft someone and people talk about a player that hasn't even stepped onto the court taking the job of a veteran.  We overstate things.  Marbury is good.  Not as good as he'll be in two or three weeks.  But Gabe isn't as bad either.

[EJPLAYA]

We saw how they would do with his minutes and that is why Ainge went out and signed Marbury.

He is doing a great job managing the game and being smart with the basketball. He attacks when it is there, and backs it back out when it isn't. His shot will start falling more.

[Jon]

I think the combination of Ainge's success in the second round and the years of putting our hopes in young players have made some people make more out of Gabe Pruitt than is there.  In the two years he's been here, despite the team having no real backup PG for Rondo, he's yet put himself into the rotation.  Furthermore, his upside is that he becomes an average backup PG.  That's hardly worth developing.  

While I'll grant you that Marbury's yet to be a revelation off the bench.  He's played OK and has the potential to be a major impact player off the bench.  Gabe can't do that now or down the road.