Let me be really clear on this. I do not hate BBD. I posted time and time again about how much better he was playing last year taking over for KG. He did a great job for a few reasons. He was in the best shape of his life. He looked muscular and trim. (for him) He was playing very good team defense and taking a lot of charges. He was hitting that outside jumper with more consistency and spreading the floor a bit. He was finishing a little better around the rim due to being able to jump a bit better due to being lighter. He was passing the ball very well from the post. That being said, he was benefiting from starter minutes. He had PP, Rondo, Ray, and Perk out there to distract the other team and benefited from that. He had Perk rebounding the ball very well which didn't make his rebounding such a big deal. There were reasons that he was so successful but most of them started with his weight.
This year he is CLEARLY heavier than he was last season. He doesn't have the muscle tone he had. His belly is obviously hanging farther over his shorts than last year. The result is he once again can not get ANY lift off the floor and also can't slide into position as well. He has taken a few charges due to just standing there, but all those charges he was getting last year in rotation are for the most part getting called as blocks. Don't let 2 in that Portland game fool you into thinking he is getting anywhere close to as many.
The reason I think he ought to be benched for a short while is that he obviously has a sense of entitlement. He thinks his play last year guaranteed him minutes. He CHOSE to come back fat. Had he come back in better shape than the year before (he had a lot of time to eat right and run on that treadmill with that broken hand) we wouldn't be having this discussion. I REALIZE BBD is an overall better player than Shelden. I realize he has more upside. He may however not be a better fit for that second unit. Maybe he would be best server being a starter on a mediocre team. What I don't understand though is the mentality that a guy should be allowed to not give the effort in the offseason and put himself in a position where he can't do the things that allowed him to play to his potential. Hustle on the floor doesn't make up completely for laziness off it. Shelden filled his role VERY nicely while he was out and IMO is a better fit for that second unit. Even if it proves not to be true, it should at least light a fire under BBD to get him to focus on what it takes to be successful.