Did Rasheed Infect the Team with "Lazy"?

[moiso]

Powe wouldn't have helped us this year but it's his type of agressive hustling mentality that we are missing.  It wasn't replaced with Williams or Wallace.  And the season isn't over, so I shouldn't even say he wouldn't have helped us this year.  It would have been nice to be heading into the playoffs with another warrior type player.

[Chris]

Powe wouldn't have helped us this year but it's his type of agressive hustling mentality that we are missing.  It wasn't replaced with Williams or Wallace.

I agree.  Unfortunately, guys like Powe are not that easy to find. 

[rickyfan3.0...]

He is like the MIB infecting Sayid, Locke, Claire (and Jin next)with evil...

[Mr October]

I disagree about the hustling and playing great last season even before KG got injured. I thought their play all season was mostly inconsistent and frustrating with frequent lethargic starts, some sloppy finishes and thrilling late game heroics to pull out wins and keep our record great. Honestly I don't think they had more than a two week stretch were they played well on both ends of the floor.

I see this season as an extension of the last one. The difference is we're not winning as much because we've had so many injuries to our key players and the team is a little older and slower.

I don't blame Sheed for a problem I think existed before he got here. He's not helping obviously but he's definitely not the cause.

TP. well put.

Injuries and Age - those two issues affect motivation. Why try to kill your body in the reg season for 82 games?

[kenmaine]

Early in the first half of the Nets' game, Sheed is jogging back on defense. He sees his man, Brook Lopez, sprinting toward the hoop, but makes no effort to catch him. Sure enough, a couple of seconds later, a crisp pass is deliverd to Lopez for an uncontested score.

That scene would never have happened in the 07/08 year. Or if it did, KG would go ballistic on the culprit. Ballistic.  There was not one player who got on Sheed for his non-chalance.  not even KG.

   If it's the play I'm thinking of, Sheed wasn't jogging up the court, he was putting out the effort but he was just slower than Lopez. Not amazing given their ages.

This play angered me.  Sheed had a huge headstart on Lopez who ended up dunking with Rasheed way behind him.  I saw total slacking on this play, age had nothing to do with it.  Clifford Ray could have beaten Lopez down the court from where they started.  And Lopez is no Devin Harris in tearms of speed anyway.  I've been thinking of that play since the moment I yelled at the tv when I saw it.

Agree 100%   Seems always a step or two behind on defense, then just gives up and watches the play. He's in a lot of the Nets highlights, just standing there doing nothing!
That's not age. And if it is, then why the hell do you sign a 35 year old in the first place?
Not questioning his desire or heart, and I can't read his mind, but he's been a huge disappointment.

[youcanthandlethetruth113]

I hate to put the blame on one guy, but in '08 and last season without KG, this team hustled their butts off and played great defense.  They started out good this year, but then Sheed started playing lazy, soon after the team followed.

I'm not really blaming Sheed, because frankly, if the team would allow one player's attitude to infect the entire team, that's on them.  It should have been the other way around, their hustle and hard work rubbing off onto Rasheed, but it hasn't.

Again, not really blaming Sheed, because it's on the Celtics if they let Rasheed's attitude infect the whole team.

Seems like none of the players had this attitude until Rasheed got here.  And I loved the Rasheed signing.

He's certainly rubbed off on the team in a bad way, but the blame can't solely be placed on him.

[BudweiserCeltic]

The funny thing is that the main problem is with our starters and how they're playing, yet we're blaming a backup player that gets 23 minutes a game.

I've said it once, I've said it twice, and I've said it some other times... all of this starts with Rondo who this year has pretty much has taken the mantle of a leader in this team. Rondo who's our point-guard, controls our tempo and our rhythm. Rondo, who's the first person to put pressure on the ball, and stop PG penetration. HE's the one you guys have to look at first and foremost when things look a bit funky in the game. And also, get a look at him when things are going well.

But no, everyone loves Rondo he's the man.

People keep bringing up 3rd quarter collapses, yet 3rd quarters are mostly exclusive to starters.

Rasheed, the most powerful player in the NBA. He has superpowers.

[hpantazo]

I hate to put the blame on one guy, but in '08 and last season without KG, this team hustled their butts off and played great defense.  They started out good this year, but then Sheed started playing lazy, soon after the team followed.

I'm not really blaming Sheed, because frankly, if the team would allow one player's attitude to infect the entire team, that's on them.  It should have been the other way around, their hustle and hard work rubbing off onto Rasheed, but it hasn't.

Again, not really blaming Sheed, because it's on the Celtics if they let Rasheed's attitude infect the whole team.

Seems like none of the players had this attitude until Rasheed got here.  And I loved the Rasheed signing.

He's certainly rubbed off on the team in a bad way, but the blame can't solely be placed on him.

I have to disagree. Rasheed is not to blame for any of this stuff. So many people on here are quick to put the blame on him because he wasn't here last year and because he is perceived as lazy last year on the Pistons. Last year's team went all out because they were not sure of how good or bad they were without KG. Guys tried to step up (Rondo and Davis and Perk) and it was exciting and unknown for them, and eventually they were not good enough to reach the ECF but they almost did. This year's team, the players know they are stacked, and they came out to start the season steamrolling teams without going all out. They had a few injuries and realized they can just chill until the playoffs because (in their minds) they have what it takes to beat anyone. The only role Sheed may play in this is that he makes them more stacked than they have ever been in the KG-Pierce-Ray era. That's it. I would also like to remind people that Sheed was not brought in to replace KG or be Bill Walton. He was brought in to play the role that PJ Brown played in 2008 and replace the so-called big man they had last year named Mikki Moore. 

[arctic 3.0]

The funny thing is that the main problem is with our starters and how they're playing, yet we're blaming a backup player that gets 23 minutes a game.

I've said it once, I've said it twice, and I've said it some other times... all of this starts with Rondo who this year has pretty much has taken the mantle of a leader in this team. Rondo who's our point-guard, controls our tempo and our rhythm. Rondo, who's the first person to put pressure on the ball, and stop PG penetration. HE's the one you guys have to look at first and foremost when things look a bit funky in the game. And also, get a look at him when things are going well.

But no, everyone loves Rondo he's the man.

People keep bringing up 3rd quarter collapses, yet 3rd quarters are mostly exclusive to starters.

Rasheed, the most powerful player in the NBA. He has superpowers.

you are absolutely right about rondo's role in this situation.

[hpantazo]

The funny thing is that the main problem is with our starters and how they're playing, yet we're blaming a backup player that gets 23 minutes a game.

I've said it once, I've said it twice, and I've said it some other times... all of this starts with Rondo who this year has pretty much has taken the mantle of a leader in this team. Rondo who's our point-guard, controls our tempo and our rhythm. Rondo, who's the first person to put pressure on the ball, and stop PG penetration. HE's the one you guys have to look at first and foremost when things look a bit funky in the game. And also, get a look at him when things are going well.

But no, everyone loves Rondo he's the man.

People keep bringing up 3rd quarter collapses, yet 3rd quarters are mostly exclusive to starters.

Rasheed, the most powerful player in the NBA. He has superpowers.

you are absolutely right about rondo's role in this situation.

for Rondo though, it may be less to do with laziness and more to do with tiredness, since we don't have a backup pg (at least not until Nate learns a few plays)

[sk7326]

He did not inject "laziness" or anything like that ... really what has happened to the team on that front stems from lots of things ... those cringe inducing speeches Paul Pierce makes about his place as an all time ____ ... Perkins' scowling at every call ... the team often characterizing themselves as "champions" or "knowing how to win" because they happened to do it ONCE - that suddenly they are exclusive owners of the secret to all that is great.

there has been a lack of a team trying to "prove" something -

[wiley]

I hate to put the blame on one guy, but in '08 and last season without KG, this team hustled their butts off and played great defense.  They started out good this year, but then Sheed started playing lazy, soon after the team followed.

I'm not really blaming Sheed, because frankly, if the team would allow one player's attitude to infect the entire team, that's on them.  It should have been the other way around, their hustle and hard work rubbing off onto Rasheed, but it hasn't.

Again, not really blaming Sheed, because it's on the Celtics if they let Rasheed's attitude infect the whole team.

Seems like none of the players had this attitude until Rasheed got here.  And I loved the Rasheed signing.

He's certainly rubbed off on the team in a bad way, but the blame can't solely be placed on him.

I have to disagree. Rasheed is not to blame for any of this stuff. So many people on here are quick to put the blame on him because he wasn't here last year and because he is perceived as lazy last year on the Pistons. Last year's team went all out because they were not sure of how good or bad they were without KG. Guys tried to step up (Rondo and Davis and Perk) and it was exciting and unknown for them, and eventually they were not good enough to reach the ECF but they almost did. This year's team, the players know they are stacked, and they came out to start the season steamrolling teams without going all out. They had a few injuries and realized they can just chill until the playoffs because (in their minds) they have what it takes to beat anyone. The only role Sheed may play in this is that he makes them more stacked than they have ever been in the KG-Pierce-Ray era. That's it. I would also like to remind people that Sheed was not brought in to replace KG or be Bill Walton. He was brought in to play the role that PJ Brown played in 2008 and replace the so-called big man they had last year named Mikki Moore. 

I think you're correct not to blame any actual losses thus far on Sheed. But you also shouldn't hesitate to criticize laziness, and there's no question that Sheed is the laziest player on the team...

I also disagree with Chris about last year's team being infected with laziness....I think they were headed straight for a repeat until Garnett's injury.

To summarize, it's fine not to blame Sheed for the Celtics woes.  I would put much more blame on injuries, for example.  However, when the team is losing, it's natural to point fingers at the team's laziest guy.  Sheed has brought this kind of attention on himself with plays like the one described above involving Lopez, with swiping for blocks, for not playing down low and rebounding, etc...

There is not a sole cause for the losses (like last year's loss of Garnett).  If there were, it would be much easier to know it and possibly solve it.  So under these murky circumstances we have to look for egriegous examples of things like selfishness, laziness, etc...

Imo Sheed is an egriegous offender in terms of laziness.  And being a low minute sub is no excuse.  He obviously was important enough to be in all the photo ops with the big 3, making it a big 4 in essence.  He compared himself to Garnett quite favorably.  And he predicted the most wins in Celtics history, and clearly he felt it was his addition to the team that merited such a prediction.  So bench or not, big minutes or not, he has to take responsibility. 

[Greenbean]

I think you're correct not to blame any actual losses thus far on Sheed. But you also shouldn't hesitate to criticize laziness, and there's no question that Sheed is the laziest player on the team...

I also disagree with Chris about last year's team being infected with laziness....I think they were headed straight for a repeat until Garnett's injury.

To summarize, it's fine not to blame Sheed for the Celtics woes.  I would put much more blame on injuries, for example.  However, when the team is losing, it's natural to point fingers at the team's laziest guy.  Sheed has brought this kind of attention on himself with plays like the one described above involving Lopez, with swiping for blocks, for not playing down low and rebounding, etc...

There is not a sole cause for the losses (like last year's loss of Garnett).  If there were, it would be much easier to know it and possibly solve it.  So under these murky circumstances we have to look for egriegous examples of things like selfishness, laziness, etc...

Imo Sheed is an egriegous offender in terms of laziness.  And being a low minute sub is no excuse.  He obviously was important enough to be in all the photo ops with the big 3, making it a big 4 in essence.  He compared himself to Garnett quite favorably.  And he predicted the most wins in Celtics history, and clearly he felt it was his addition to the team that merited such a prediction.  So bench or not, big minutes or not, he has to take responsibility. 


[/quote]

What he should ultimately take reponsibility for is his extra layer of warmth he put on for the Boston winter. After all the talking that you alluded to, I figured this guy was training like Rocky for one last run at another title. Instead, we get the fattest version of Sheed ever. This version also forgot how to shoot.

I think Sheed has played himself into decent shape, but his mind still has to catch up. I only see him playing aggressive defense when his offensive game is rolling. This is sad but he is a veteran but from the same cloth as Shaq IMO. He needs to be engaged to be effective. That's why in the playoffs we will see a different player.

Until that starts, as I said it in another thread, if this guy starts shooting at his career clip from three, it will have a positive effect on his overall game. As much as everyone wants him to stay in the post, Sheed making threes would have a huge effect on the offense.

[Chris]

I also disagree with Chris about last year's team being infected with laziness....I think they were headed straight for a repeat until Garnett's injury.

Maybe "Lazyness" is not the word, but this team was in cruise control last season, just like this season.  The difference was, last year they had the fire-power to turn it on at the end of the game, and win the games that they are losing this season.

It became the norm last season for them to start every game like they just woke up.  They would constantly fall behind in the first half, because of lazy play, and then have to make up for it in the second half. 

To me, the only difference between this season and last season, is that last season, Pierce and Allen (and KG early in the year) had more left in the tank to take the game over at the end, and put it away.

[housecall]

I feel each player has his own individual set of issues going on,not one player in particular is responsible for the problems the Celts have at the moment.Sheed's problem is more obvious because i see him not playing one on one defense when he should,not getting back on defense quick enough,etc.I think chemistry has been destroyed somewhat due to everyone going thru their own individual stuff whether its injuries,baby's problems at the start of the season,Quis didn't get on the same page early,then injuried his finger,the team(individually)seem to be in different places mentally.