What I like about Shelden Williams

[Fafnir]

Sheldon is not a blend of Power/BBD at all!

He's an awful awful offensive player. BBD/Powe are both solid offensive options, in different ways.

Sheldon is a more typical 4th/5th big.

Interesting because the stats don't really back you up there. Shelden Williams has basically the same shooting percentage as BBD does from the floor, and also shoots a better % from the free throw line. He actually can finish around the basket and shoots the outside jumper as well as BBD does. Unless you are changing your story to BBD is an AWFUL offensive player as well I think you are overdoing the comment against Williams.

Uh, have you actually looked at their stats?

Williams is awful:
http://www.82games.com/0607/06ATL15A.HTM
http://www.82games.com/0708/07ATL14A.HTM

Comparison:
http://www.basketball-reference.com/play-index/tiny.cgi?id=s9fQ4

They shoot comparable percentages but that's because Glen takes more jumpers. Inside Davis is actually a better finisher by a fairly large margin. Also Shelden turns it over more, doesn't pass as well, and lacks BBD's (limited but there) handle.

His picks also are worse than Davis's, but that's probably more due to being new to the team than anything.

They're not in different stratospheres, both are bench bigs after all. But offensively Shelden is awful to bad, Davis is average.

[Birdbrain]

BBD haters trying to find someone to take his minutes. Powe couldn't do it, now trying out Shelden. lol

Just as ridiculous as those who are too hard on BBD are those who are too easy on him and refuse to admit the guy has some pretty serious flaws. It isn't like the guy has a 90% complete game and one glaring weakness. He has 3-4 glaring weaknesses. Just ask all those other GM's who could have signed him this offseason for a song. There is a reason DA tried so hard to go out and fill his spot and why no one out there wanted any part of the Big Baby.

As far as Powe goes, Powe DID take away his minutes and if it weren't for the injury you would have seen a ton of Powe in the playoffs and very little BBD. Just like the year before.

None of this true but, TP for your opinions.

[Spilling Green Dye]

Sheldon is not a blend of Power/BBD at all!

He's an awful awful offensive player. BBD/Powe are both solid offensive options, in different ways.

Sheldon is a more typical 4th/5th big.

Interesting because the stats don't really back you up there. Shelden Williams has basically the same shooting percentage as BBD does from the floor, and also shoots a better % from the free throw line. He actually can finish around the basket and shoots the outside jumper as well as BBD does. Unless you are changing your story to BBD is an AWFUL offensive player as well I think you are overdoing the comment against Williams.

Uh, have you actually looked at their stats?

Williams is awful:
http://www.82games.com/0607/06ATL15A.HTM
http://www.82games.com/0708/07ATL14A.HTM

Comparison:
http://www.basketball-reference.com/play-index/tiny.cgi?id=s9fQ4

They shoot comparable percentages but that's because Glen takes more jumpers. Inside Davis is actually a better finisher by a fairly large margin. Also Shelden turns it over more, doesn't pass as well, and lacks BBD's (limited but there) handle.

His picks also are worse than Davis's, but that's probably more due to being new to the team than anything.

They're not in different stratospheres, both are bench bigs after all. But offensively Shelden is awful to bad, Davis is average.

BBD "finished around the rim" b/c he took KG's spot and completely benefited from getting open looks from Pierce, Rondo, Perk, etc.  Sheldon is literally creating for himself off of offensive rebounds (ala Powe), and rarely has an open dunk. 

[celts55]

I'm going to go out on a limb here and say, Williams played a good game last night. He also play fairly well his first game. The second game was better than the first.
Really that's all I know right now. Since it looks like Davis will be out 6-8 weeks, I guess that will give Williams ample time to show what he can do and Doc to deside who plays when Davis returns. Until Davis returns, I don't see why this is a issue at all. For now, Williams looks like he might be a pretty desent 4th big and play 12-15 minutes per game. We'll see.

[Spilling Green Dye]

EJPlaya, TP to you for all of the posts... especially the first one that made me laugh.  When I was reading what you had written, I thought "I didn't know I posted in this thread yet.."..

Having said that I like what I see from Sheldon so far.  His defense down low seems good, his rebounding has been very good, he can hit free throws, and most of all he has ATTITUDE.  He plays every play.  Sure, he has his limitations, but he is a nice role player whose limitations can be worked around.  I'm anxious to see how he'll play by the end of the season.

[Fafnir]

Sheldon is not a blend of Power/BBD at all!

He's an awful awful offensive player. BBD/Powe are both solid offensive options, in different ways.

Sheldon is a more typical 4th/5th big.

Interesting because the stats don't really back you up there. Shelden Williams has basically the same shooting percentage as BBD does from the floor, and also shoots a better % from the free throw line. He actually can finish around the basket and shoots the outside jumper as well as BBD does. Unless you are changing your story to BBD is an AWFUL offensive player as well I think you are overdoing the comment against Williams.

Uh, have you actually looked at their stats?

Williams is awful:
http://www.82games.com/0607/06ATL15A.HTM
http://www.82games.com/0708/07ATL14A.HTM

Comparison:
http://www.basketball-reference.com/play-index/tiny.cgi?id=s9fQ4

They shoot comparable percentages but that's because Glen takes more jumpers. Inside Davis is actually a better finisher by a fairly large margin. Also Shelden turns it over more, doesn't pass as well, and lacks BBD's (limited but there) handle.

His picks also are worse than Davis's, but that's probably more due to being new to the team than anything.

They're not in different stratospheres, both are bench bigs after all. But offensively Shelden is awful to bad, Davis is average.

BBD "finished around the rim" b/c he took KG's spot and completely benefited from getting open looks from Pierce, Rondo, Perk, etc.  Sheldon is literally creating for himself off of offensive rebounds (ala Powe), and rarely has an open dunk. 

52% of Shelden's inside shots were assisted, compared to 62% of BBDs. I don't think that makes as big a difference as their conversion rate would indicate. BBD scores well above 50% inside, Sheleden well below.

[Spilling Green Dye]

Sheldon is not a blend of Power/BBD at all!

He's an awful awful offensive player. BBD/Powe are both solid offensive options, in different ways.

Sheldon is a more typical 4th/5th big.

Interesting because the stats don't really back you up there. Shelden Williams has basically the same shooting percentage as BBD does from the floor, and also shoots a better % from the free throw line. He actually can finish around the basket and shoots the outside jumper as well as BBD does. Unless you are changing your story to BBD is an AWFUL offensive player as well I think you are overdoing the comment against Williams.

Uh, have you actually looked at their stats?

Williams is awful:
http://www.82games.com/0607/06ATL15A.HTM
http://www.82games.com/0708/07ATL14A.HTM

Comparison:
http://www.basketball-reference.com/play-index/tiny.cgi?id=s9fQ4

They shoot comparable percentages but that's because Glen takes more jumpers. Inside Davis is actually a better finisher by a fairly large margin. Also Shelden turns it over more, doesn't pass as well, and lacks BBD's (limited but there) handle.

His picks also are worse than Davis's, but that's probably more due to being new to the team than anything.

They're not in different stratospheres, both are bench bigs after all. But offensively Shelden is awful to bad, Davis is average.

BBD "finished around the rim" b/c he took KG's spot and completely benefited from getting open looks from Pierce, Rondo, Perk, etc.  Sheldon is literally creating for himself off of offensive rebounds (ala Powe), and rarely has an open dunk. 

52% of Shelden's inside shots were assisted, compared to 62% of BBDs. I don't think that makes as big a difference as their conversion rate would indicate. BBD scores well above 50% inside, Sheleden well below.

A 10% variance alone is pretty sizeable.  That increased BBD's inside fg% close to 5%.  Also, when BBD got it assisted to him it was typically wide open.  I haven't seen Sheldon get that kind of opportunity.  I'm not saying Sheldon is a great finisher around the hoop, I just believe he is a better finisher 1 on 1 around the hoop than BBD.

[Fafnir]

Well the numbers don't indicate that. He's a better dunker, but the goal is to get the ball in the basket. Doesn't matter too much how you do that.

[Vermont Green]

It is hard to find stats to prove all basketball observations but I think it is pretty clear that Davis is much better offensively than the Williams we have seen so far.  He also gets by sufficiently as rebounder and defender.  I can't imagine wanting Williams to be the one taking a big shot at the end of the game (or anytime during the game) where as Davis can be that guy when needed.  

Davis has a better outside shot and finishes better.  That is what I see with my eyes when I watch them play.  Williams is going to be far more limited in the shots he takes so his percentage may be deceivingly high.  I don't think either is going to dominate the boards or be a shut down defender.  I don't see all that much difference on the Def/Reb end so far although Williams does appear to focus more on rebounding and thereby will get a few more.

Williams has shown steady improvement right through preseason and the first two games.  You don't get the feeling that his ceiling is all that much higher than what we are seeing now but who knows, he has already surprised me frankly.  The Celtics may not need more than what Williams can contribute from their 4th or 5th big but Davis is better and would have far more trade value around the league if it comes to that.  Davis is also much better if he needed to step in as a starter or 3rd big in the event of an injury.  No way I see Williams doing that.

I guess this tread wasn't intended to compare Williams and Davis but it is hard not to do that I guess.

[indeedproceed]

I like that Shelden Williams had replaced Starbury as "easiest Celtic to make fun of"

It was touch and go for a while this summer when all we had was Scalabrine being white and a lil chubby and Giddens/Walker/Hudson being not ready for primetime.

[Celtics1990]

I like how he's always around the ball.  So far, per 48 minutes, he has the highest rebounds per game average on the team.

[Fafnir]

I like how he's always around the ball.  So far, per 48 minutes, he has the highest rebounds per game average on the team.

Yup, he rebounds well. If he keeps that up, the C's will be just fine till BBD is back.

[Chris]

52% of Shelden's inside shots were assisted, compared to 62% of BBDs.

I think this can simply be explained by the fact that Davis catches about 50% more passes inside than Williams does.  Is there a stat for fumbled passes?  Because I think Williams would give Minnie Moore and Mark Blount a run for their money.

(and, no, I am not comparing those three guys as players...I think Williams is much more servicable because of his defense and rebounding.  But for some reason, none of them could ever catch a pass inside.)

[Chris]

I like that Shelden Williams had replaced Starbury as "easiest Celtic to make fun of"

It was touch and go for a while this summer when all we had was Scalabrine being white and a lil chubby and Giddens/Walker/Hudson being not ready for primetime.

I am assuming you are leaving Tony out, because he went from funny to sad a couple years ago?

[moiso]

I like that Shelden Williams had replaced Starbury as "easiest Celtic to make fun of"

It was touch and go for a while this summer when all we had was Scalabrine being white and a lil chubby and Giddens/Walker/Hudson being not ready for primetime.

Have you seen him smile?  Wow.