Is it Time To Give Gabe Pruitt A Shot At Backup PG?

[rondohondo]

2short made a good point in another thread, pruitt actually played better than Marbury last year.. I think it is time to give him a real shot at backup PG, at least for the 1st half of the season. If he doesn't cut it we still have Scal + TA as about 5.5 MIL in expiring contracts to trade at the deadline for a backup PG.

Pruitt has a good stroke and fresh legs so he should be able to defend against 2nd stringers.

[BudweiserCeltic]

He sucks as a PG, he doesn't know how to run an offense. He'll have to show something in the summer league. I would like to see him get a shot strictly as a SG though, but we simply have no space for him in that role.

His defense is a big positive for him though.

[rondohondo]

He sucks as a PG, he doesn't know how to run an offense. He'll have to show something in the summer league. I would like to see him get a shot strictly as a SG though, but we simply have no space for him in that role.

His defense is a big positive for him though.

Well my thinking is , if we can sign Grant Hill it would be a perfect situation for Pruitt. Grant Hill is still very effective as a PG on the offensive end. Grant Hill would run the offense and Pruitt would be a spot up shooter which is probably the best role for him on offense.

Then on defense Pruitt is a pretty solid defender and has the foot speed to guard PG'S

[Who]

No, 3rd string or waived.

Too big a risk to be depending on an unproven youngster for the backup point guard role on a contender.

[celticinorlando]

no..it is time to release him

[JBcat]

No, 3rd string or waived.

Too big a risk to be depending on an unproven youngster for the backup point guard role on a contender.

The same could have been said about Baby and Powe within the last 2 years as back up players.  I'd like to see what he does in the summer league first before making that call.  I don't think we can make a valid opinion on what improvements he has made since we hardly saw him play last year. 

[Coach]

I am a Pruitt fan.  His on the ball defense was about 1000x better than Rondo's last season.  He understood the concept of keeping the ball infront of you.  Rondo looked like he was trying out to be a Spanish Matador.

[celticinorlando]

pruitt stinks.

[wdleehi]

No, 3rd string or waived.

Too big a risk to be depending on an unproven youngster for the backup point guard role on a contender.

The same could have been said about Baby and Powe within the last 2 years as back up players.  I'd like to see what he does in the summer league first before making that call.  I don't think we can make a valid opinion on what improvements he has made since we hardly saw him play last year. 

Except they both showed something when injuries got them a chance on the floor.  Pruitt didn't.

[amenhotep04]

Give him the same chance that Marbury had.  If he doesn't do well, then get rid of him.  The second unit played well with him at the one when TA was hurt.  If Gabe is playing the one and Eddie at the two, and it's done consistently (please Doc learn how to rotate players), then we'll have a solid second unit back-court.

Move TA, not Gabe.

[celticinorlando]

move them both. pruitt and tony are deadweight on this team

[jdpapa3]

I like Pruitt for his potential, but at some point it has to turn into results.
I am willing to give him some more time, but not a lot. He was given the opportunity last year to run the backup point for a few weeks, and his defense was great, imo. The problem was that he is just not a go getter and doesn't look for his offense in the least bit. He just dribbles up the court, hands it off and then you don't notice him for the rest of the possession.

This summer I'd like to see him more assertive on offense. I'd like to see him take his man to the hole and actually look for his own offense. One underrated part of Gabe's game is his passing. He actually looked good with his passing in pick and roll situations. I remember a few "thread the needle" passes with Leon Powe in situations like these. The problem is that he's too scared to drive. You can't baby a kid along when you are competing for a championship.

It's possible that this kid makes the leap this year to a solid roleplayer. It is also possible that we waive him. Either direction wouldn't surprise me. He is a deadeye shooter in warmups and then shoots a crap percentage in games.

His off the court behavior scares me a bit. I am torn on Pruitt, and I would imagine the front office is, also.

[KungPoweChicken]

If Pruitt is what I have to be excited about this off season, the word disappointing can't even do justice.

[2short]

I like Pruitt for his potential, but at some point it has to turn into results.
I am willing to give him some more time, but not a lot. He was given the opportunity last year to run the backup point for a few weeks, and his defense was great, imo. The problem was that he is just not a go getter and doesn't look for his offense in the least bit. He just dribbles up the court, hands it off and then you don't notice him for the rest of the possession.

This summer I'd like to see him more assertive on offense. I'd like to see him take his man to the hole and actually look for his own offense. One underrated part of Gabe's game is his passing. He actually looked good with his passing in pick and roll situations. I remember a few "thread the needle" passes with Leon Powe in situations like these. The problem is that he's too scared to drive. You can't baby a kid along when you are competing for a championship.

It's possible that this kid makes the leap this year to a solid roleplayer. It is also possible that we waive him. Either direction wouldn't surprise me. He is a deadeye shooter in warmups and then shoots a crap percentage in games.

His off the court behavior scares me a bit. I am torn on Pruitt, and I would imagine the front office is, also.

This pretty much sums up my thoughts on Pruitt except the off court behavior.  Besides the 1 incident he's an angel compared to posey, marbury etc.
I think Pruitt came to us with a great jump shot which was really all he had.  The kid looked lost his 1st season and NEEDED to go to d league and work on other things.  I said this about giddens and some people didn't agree.  But pruitt definately worked on his defense and I would say is a legit nba pg defender.  His shooting fell off but I feel that is from inconsistant pt.  As jdpapa put he has to be more assertive.  He needs some of rondo's confidence and one could argue rondo has extra to give  

[celticinorlando]

If Pruitt is what I have to be excited about this off season, the word disappointing can't even do justice.

TP for you...if we end the offseason with pruitt, tony, scal, giddens, walker and some bargin bin schleps...then this offseason stinks again.

here will be our bench  

PG pruitt
SG eddie, tony and hudson
SF giddens, walker
PF Scal
C Swift and mikki moore