Scalabrine's biggest problem this year

[Spicoli]

The only reason why Scal is still on the team is because DOC really likes the way he swings the ball from one side of the court to the other. That ball swing alone, is worth about 20-25 minutes a night, regardless if he sucks in literally every other area of basketball.

[PosImpos]

Scal is just awful.  Bill Walker cannot be worse than him at SF.  I'd even prefer to have Giddens out there.  At least Giddens rebounds well. 

Scal should only ever play at PF, and then only when we are dealing with injuries.

Scal should never under any circumstances play more than 10 minutes a game, and should not play at all when the other bigs are healthy.

[cornbreadsmart]

     i love how some people said scal did a commendable job guarding rashard lewis in last year's playoffs because he stayed in front of him once or twice the entire series.lol. i can't wait until scal is gone. i think it's hilarious that this guy has had whole page articles in the heraldon him. it's embarassing that everyone doesn't realize how terrible a player he is.oh, and scal makes plenty of mistakes.

[Tradetime]

The only reason why Scal is still on the team is because DOC really likes the way he swings the ball from one side of the court to the other. That ball swing alone, is worth about 20-25 minutes a night, regardless if he sucks in literally every other area of basketball.

Well then, sign me up. I will gladly never mix it up with the bigs down low for a board, and I'd love to make 5 mil per. Where do I sign?

[rav123]

The only reason why Scal is still on the team is because DOC really likes the way he swings the ball from one side of the court to the other. That ball swing alone, is worth about 20-25 minutes a night, regardless if he sucks in literally every other area of basketball.

Well then, sign me up. I will gladly never mix it up with the bigs down low for a board, and I'd love to make 5 mil per. Where do I sign?

No way! Pick me, I'll do it for a million a year and a lunchable.

[Bahku]

Scal's biggest problem is that he contributes next-to-nothing offensively, and very little defensively. I'm still astounded by the blind love this guy gets and how people will invent skills to apply to his game simply because he's such a "good guy" ... yes, he is a good guy, and how can you not be endeared to his personality and effort?

But I've been watching much more closely this year to try and discern these amazing attributes and talents that he adds to the Celtics that people keep speaking of, simply because I want to give the guy the benefit of the doubt before making a final judgement on his game. I mean all these bloggers that I know and respect for their integrity and basketball IQ think he's great.

People whose opinions I value think that he's truly a very productive and valued member of this team, so I figured I MUST be missing something, and need to be more objective and watch him more closely. But despite my more attentive observance, and despite all the claims I read to the contrary, and despite the genuine affinity I feel for the guy and his effort, I still just do NOT see any consistent production from him on either end of the floor.

Yes, sometimes he drains a three, and sometimes he gets a block or two and rebound here-and-there, but it's the exception, not the rule, and when he comes on the floor I cringe, because I KNOW nine times out of ten that he's going to be of very little significance, and that someone else is going to have to work twice as hard to take up the slack.

I know this is near sacrilege to some, and I beg your forgiveness if you're one of those ... I truly WANT to see him produce, I WANT him to be a vital part of this team's success, I WANT to cheer for the big red-headed Gumbah, because he is just so endearing, and I mean that ... but the God's-honest truth is I CAN'T, because he's just plain not very good.   

[DinTN]

The only reason why Scal is still on the team is because DOC really likes the way he swings the ball from one side of the court to the other. That ball swing alone, is worth about 20-25 minutes a night, regardless if he sucks in literally every other area of basketball.

He has one asset - an expiring contract. Trade him before the deadline for something useful. Add JR/Walker/Hudson and draft picks if you have to. Whatever trade it takes!

[scoop]

Decent 10th man. Plays good defence versus fellow tweeners. Rebounding is the weakest point. Must start hitting the long shot at better rates.

[rav123]

You know, Scal may be good and all (in that he doesn't screw anything up), but if we're going to lose, I'd rather see some highlight dunks player development (for Giddens/Walker/Hudson) while we're at it.

BTW Did anyone see Shelden's failed dunk! I liked it though when Hudson threw it up for the Giddens slam afterwards. DON'T GIVE UP ON THE PLAY!!

[slamtheking]

His biggest problem is that he sucks.  Everything else is correctible.

TP -- snorted coffee out my nose on that one.

[moiso]

If Scal were black, he wouldn't be in the NBA.  Justin Reed was twice as good as Scal and nobody has heard from him for a few years.  It's pretty much a joke the players that Scal has taken minutes from over the years.  I realize Doc talks about his IQ, but if that's the only reason then Tom Thibedeau may as well be the backup pg.

[slamtheking]

Scalabrine found success the past two years because he was on the floor with players who were very good offensively.  His biggest asset has always been that he makes very few mistakes, plays decent defense, knows when to defer his shot, and can hit an open 3 (the only thing of the 4 he isn't doing this year). 

Whoa, whoa, whoa.....   Found success?  He's a train wreck.  he was slightly less of a train wreck last year.  This year he is a full fledged train wreck again.

He has 12 games this year where he was scoreless (including tonight in 23 minutes).  He has 13 games where he grabbed no rebounds.  He has played in 23 games.  So over 50% of the time he gets either no points or no rebounds.

He is 392nd in the league in scoring per 48 minutes.  The list only goes to 415.  That includes everyone who has played even a minute this year.

http://www.nba.com/statistics/player/Scoring.jsp?season=22009&league=00&conf=OVERALL&splitScope=PER48&qualified=N&position=0&splitType=9&yearsExp=-1&splitDD=&pager.offset=350


He is 167th out of 168 in rebounds per 48 minutes among forwards.  He managed to beat out Jarvis Hayes who has played two minutes in one game this year.

http://www.nba.com/statistics/player/Rebounds.jsp?season=22009&league=00&conf=OVERALL&qualified=N&position=2&splitType=9&yearsExp=-1&sortOrder=7&splitDD=All+Teams&pager.offset=150

There's just no excuse for that from someone playing either PF or SF.  none.  Just the sheer odds of standing in a random space on the floor should be able to produce better numbers than that.

Must be leading the league in Intangibles per 48 minutes to justify his playing time

[2short]

scals only problem is that doc likes him too much!
Scal is a great vet to have AT THE END OF THE BENCH.  He should be a filler in certain spots at pf and sf.  Never our #1 backup option at either spot.  Doc tends to rely on vets he's comfortable with (hence he isn't that good of a coach)
With the starters I can't see why billy walker in at sf or sheldon williams at pf would hurt us.  Williams will get rebounds and has proven to play good interior d and keep the ball alive on offensive glass.  Walker is unproven but can stay with faster sf where it is impossible for scal to do.
I don't blame scal for going in when the coach calls his name, I think doc needs to work the lineups better and not rely on the vets & team that danny has set him up with

[thirstyboots18]

scals only problem is that doc likes him too much!
Scal is a great vet to have AT THE END OF THE BENCH.  He should be a filler in certain spots at pf and sf.  Never our #1 backup option at either spot.  Doc tends to rely on vets he's comfortable with (hence he isn't that good of a coach)
With the starters I can't see why billy walker in at sf or sheldon williams at pf would hurt us.  Williams will get rebounds and has proven to play good interior d and keep the ball alive on offensive glass.  Walker is unproven but can stay with faster sf where it is impossible for scal to do.

I don't blame scal for going in when the coach calls his name, I think doc needs to work the lineups better and not rely on the vets & team that danny has set him up with

Good points, 2short.  tp 4 u

[Change]

If Scalabrine is bad, Sheldon Williams isn't far behind. At least Scal goes all out with his 'intangibles'. I yearn for Mikki than watch Sheldon Fumble another pass, or whiff on a dunk.