Besides Scalabrine...

[scoop]

Starting isn't that important. It's the same reason why House didn't start for Rondo or Posey didn't start for KG two seasons ago. The goal is to mess with the rotations as little as possible. Happens a lot, most NBA coaches follow this philosophy, I don't get the surprise.

Starting Giddens in front of Hudson was important. It tells everyone that Doc has Giddens in front of Hudson. Even though last night, Hudson would have made more sense to start since the team needed a pg.

I don't know, starting Giddens offered the team more defensive balance, has he has the length to guard Turkoglu and allowed Tony Allen to harass the ball-handler. But I agree Giddens is ahead of Hudson in the rotation. I'd be surprised if he wasn't.

[Chief]

Starting isn't that important. It's the same reason why House didn't start for Rondo or Posey didn't start for KG two seasons ago. The goal is to mess with the rotations as little as possible. Happens a lot, most NBA coaches follow this philosophy, I don't get the surprise.

Starting Giddens in front of Hudson was important. It tells everyone that Doc has Giddens in front of Hudson. Even though last night, Hudson would have made more sense to start since the team needed a pg.

I don't know, starting Giddens offered the team more defensive balance, has he has the length to guard Turkoglu and allowed Tony Allen to harass the ball-handler. But I agree Giddens is ahead of Hudson in the rotation. I'd be surprised if he wasn't.

I'm not at practice, so I don't get the privelege to see how well people play with no pressure. I do, however, get to watch all the games where pressure can make some good practice players into a bundle of nerves. I also, have a bit of Doc Rivers' talent evaluation history on my side. Examples:

Telfair over Rondo
Scals over Gomes, Powe, and Baby
Lafrentz over Perk and Big AL
Wally over Delonte

Sometimes we see some things months before Doc does. I'm going on record, from what I've seen, that Hudson is the 2nd best pg on our team. Also, from what I've seen, Giddens can't handle the pressure.

[wdleehi]

Starting isn't that important. It's the same reason why House didn't start for Rondo or Posey didn't start for KG two seasons ago. The goal is to mess with the rotations as little as possible. Happens a lot, most NBA coaches follow this philosophy, I don't get the surprise.

Starting Giddens in front of Hudson was important. It tells everyone that Doc has Giddens in front of Hudson. Even though last night, Hudson would have made more sense to start since the team needed a pg.

I don't know, starting Giddens offered the team more defensive balance, has he has the length to guard Turkoglu and allowed Tony Allen to harass the ball-handler. But I agree Giddens is ahead of Hudson in the rotation. I'd be surprised if he wasn't.

I'm not at practice, so I don't get the privelege to see how well people play with no pressure. I do, however, get to watch all the games where pressure can make some good practice players into a bundle of nerves. I also, have a bit of Doc Rivers' talent evaluation history on my side. Examples:

Telfair over Rondo
Scals over Gomes, Powe, and Baby
Lafrentz over Perk and Big AL
Wally over Delonte

Sometimes we see some things months before Doc does. I'm going on record, from what I've seen, that Hudson is the 2nd best pg on our team. Also, from what I've seen, Giddens can't handle the pressure.

Weren't they all rookies when they started proving themselves?

[vinnie]

I get a kick out of questioning Doc's evaluation of the young players. I would like to know the list of young players who got little or no playing time under Doc who are now playing key roles on other teams.

Second, the continued defense of Scal is mind blowing. He does asbolutely nothing on the court and is a complete and total waste of a roster spot. I cannot wait until he is long gone and hard to find.

[Overrated]

In Doc's system of rotations (is there any system at all though?), I think Lester Hudson is the weakest link. If Doc has Eddie bringing the ball up the floor (which has happened several times surprisingly), there is really no hope for Lester unless it's garbage time. He already has Rondo and Marquis in front of him, and now Tony has been playing point too. To this day I'm befuddled as to why Ainge took him in the draft if he's not going to be implemented somehow.

[Rtpas11]

In Doc's system of rotations (is there any system at all though?), I think Lester Hudson is the weakest link. If Doc has Eddie bringing the ball up the floor (which has happened several times surprisingly), there is really no hope for Lester unless it's garbage time. He already has Rondo and Marquis in front of him, and now Tony has been playing point too. To this day I'm befuddled as to why Ainge took him in the draft if he's not going to be implemented somehow.

I think Ainge took him because he has an upside. The downside of that is Doc does not trust the youngins. Ainge isn't going to tell Doc how to coach (whom to start or substitute in games). If it ever came to that Ainge would be looking around for a new coach.

[Overrated]

In Doc's system of rotations (is there any system at all though?), I think Lester Hudson is the weakest link. If Doc has Eddie bringing the ball up the floor (which has happened several times surprisingly), there is really no hope for Lester unless it's garbage time. He already has Rondo and Marquis in front of him, and now Tony has been playing point too. To this day I'm befuddled as to why Ainge took him in the draft if he's not going to be implemented somehow.

I think Ainge took him because he has an upside. The downside of that is Doc does not trust the youngins. Ainge isn't going to tell Doc how to coach (whom to start or substitute in games). If it ever came to that Ainge would be looking around for a new coach.

That said, I think Ainge would make a good coach in addition to the role he already has. I really don't care for Doc at all.

[Johhny Least]

Two things:

First, there's a reason that Bill Walker was sent down to D-League this year and JR wasn't.  And the the same reason can account for the fact that JR started the last game while Walker rode the pine.

Second, I sure hope the old adage about doing things that 'don't show up in the box score' applies to Scal, because his stat line seems to suggest that he is worthless out there.  Scal did give us some good minutes last year after KG went down, but so far this year he has been nothing but a liability in my mind.  I hate to see him get minutes at the 3 spot, because I think that both JR and Walker should be getting those minutes.  I'm pretty sure that Walker could get at least one rebound if he was playing in Scal's place.  People defend Scal by saying that he's smart.  But so his is Stephen Hawking, but that doesn't mean that he should be on an NBA roster.

[Chris]

First, there's a reason that Bill Walker was sent down to D-League this year and JR wasn't.  And the the same reason can account for the fact that JR started the last game while Walker rode the pine.

Of course there is a reason...we just don't know what it is.  I think there is a pretty good chance that it has to do with Walker recovering from a knee surgery, and being significantly over his playing weight, and clearly a step or 3 slow.

[Edgar]

Scali is not the weak link.  When the team is healthy, he is the perfect 12th man.


The weak link is the last three players on the bench.  The fact that they are not at a level that they can earn minutes when there are a few injuries is a major sticking point.

I don't trust Doc's evaluation of young players. Giddens can't get off the bench then suddenly starts. That makes no sense. Is he now ahead of Scals when everyone is healthy?

I only know what I see when Doc finally puts the players in the game. Here are my evaluations:

Hudson-This kid has game.
Giddens-Has not shown any confidence in two years.
Walker- High energy guy who needs to work on his jumper.
Sheldon- Very smart player, who when plays within himself, is ok
Scals- Is just awful. Without a 3pt shot, he is not worth playing

In order worst to role player:

Scals
Giddens
Walker
Hudson
Sheldon

Putting Giddens in to start makes it so that the rotations off the bench aren't messed with, and I'm fine with that. Besides, if we put Giddens in with the bench, his weaknesses may be more exposed than with the starters.

Realize that with the lineup we had last night, the bench didn't include Wallace or even TA. Just Hudson, House, Scal, BBD, and Shelden. You want Giddens off the bench, ONE of those other guys have to start. Given the circumstances, I'm ok with Giddens starting. You know Scal's not going to be benched, whether you like it or not, and I know you don't want him starting, so I think Doc did ok.

After all...we did win.

I agree with this statement , and oppinion, tp and thanks for helping me to explain without using my poor english


I am not ready to give credit of that to doc tough

[Bankshot]

First, there's a reason that Bill Walker was sent down to D-League this year and JR wasn't.  And the the same reason can account for the fact that JR started the last game while Walker rode the pine.

Of course there is a reason...we just don't know what it is.  I think there is a pretty good chance that it has to do with Walker recovering from a knee surgery, and being significantly over his playing weight, and clearly a step or 3 slow.

How was he playing in the Dleague if he's injured?

[Fafnir]

First, there's a reason that Bill Walker was sent down to D-League this year and JR wasn't.  And the the same reason can account for the fact that JR started the last game while Walker rode the pine.

Of course there is a reason...we just don't know what it is.  I think there is a pretty good chance that it has to do with Walker recovering from a knee surgery, and being significantly over his playing weight, and clearly a step or 3 slow.

How was he playing in the Dleague if he's injured?

His conditioning isn't the best since coming back from his knee injury.

[Chris]

First, there's a reason that Bill Walker was sent down to D-League this year and JR wasn't.  And the the same reason can account for the fact that JR started the last game while Walker rode the pine.

Of course there is a reason...we just don't know what it is.  I think there is a pretty good chance that it has to do with Walker recovering from a knee surgery, and being significantly over his playing weight, and clearly a step or 3 slow.

How was he playing in the Dleague if he's injured?

His conditioning isn't the best since coming back from his knee injury.

Exactly.  He was basically on a rehab assignment in the D-league, so he could work himself back in shape.  I never said he was STILL injured, just that he was still out of shape after the injury.  And unfortunately, he is not good enough to get playing time on this team unless he is in better shape.

[Overrated]

In light of Hudson being waived, everyone who said he was the weakest link (including myself!) gets a cookie.

[BASS_THUMPER]

Scali is not the weak link.  When the team is healthy, he is the perfect 12th man.


The weak link is the last three players on the bench.  The fact that they are not at a level that they can earn minutes when there are a few injuries is a major sticking point.

cosign..

ive seen scal step up and make a diffrence..seems like most here are brand new fans. and never seen his moments.


many times scal had to start and did well..