Did Rasheed Infect the Team with "Lazy"?

[marseye]

 

[Ersatz]

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.

Bingo. Rondo is the problem here. He plays really well for two or two and a half quarters and then disappears. Almost every game. The rest of the game he is useless. People want to blame this on Pierce or Ray having the ball more in the fourth quarter and not giving Rondo the chance. But I see it the other way around: Rondo has the ball taken away from him because he refuses to do all those things he does so well early in the game.

This team plays half games because Rondo plays half games.

[Ersatz]

Sheed's a complicated guy, and we knew this when we signed him. I think more than probably any other NBA player, Sheed has a life outside basketball. He's an interesting, smart guy who has lots of interests; he's the complete opposite of the jock whose life will be empty when he quits playing basketball. I think he's perfectly content to just draw his salary. Winning and being the best player he can be is secondary to him, which is why he never developed his considerable talents. I actually respect that, since I only look at my job as a way to pay the bills. Nonwork time is where I want to direct my energies.

Point is, we all knew this when the Celtics signed him, but we thought KG and Ray and PP would make him "care" when it matters. Maybe we deluded ourselves. Maybe we didn't. But we'll really find out in April.

[Spilling Green Dye]

Who is lazier?

-35 yr old who still plays above average defense

-Young buck who signs a contract and refuses to commit to getting in better shape, when conditioning was his biggest flaw.

I think Sheed has been rather lazy this year, yes.  But all too often posters on here (IMO) mistake a player who makes a string of errors and then flops around on the floor as hustle.  Or on the flip side, Rasheed when he makes a slow but deliberate rotation and people refer to it as laziness. 

The fact is that I think just about every player on the roster has gotten lazy, and while Sheed is clearly not helping to resolve this, he is far from the instigator. 

-KG is lazy in regards to being the leader he needs to be. 
-Pierce never was that leader. 
-Rondo has gotten cocky and rather lazy at times. 
-Doc is coaching lazily, and has done nothing new to help out. 

The list can go on.  They might be lazy, but I really do think it has more to do with boredom.  If I were Doc I'd make them stop wearing those warmups that say "NBA World Champions" on the back, and remind them that right now they are champions of nothing. 

[housecall]

Never heard of a team being bored when losing a lot but when winning and became complacent.

[Edgar]

Rasheed  3 for 20
15%  last 6 games

Cold streak or fall into abyss

[sk7326]

Sheed's a complicated guy, and we knew this when we signed him. I think more than probably any other NBA player, Sheed has a life outside basketball. He's an interesting, smart guy who has lots of interests; he's the complete opposite of the jock whose life will be empty when he quits playing basketball. I think he's perfectly content to just draw his salary. Winning and being the best player he can be is secondary to him, which is why he never developed his considerable talents. I actually respect that, since I only look at my job as a way to pay the bills. Nonwork time is where I want to direct my energies.

Point is, we all knew this when the Celtics signed him, but we thought KG and Ray and PP would make him "care" when it matters. Maybe we deluded ourselves. Maybe we didn't. But we'll really find out in April.

You just described David Robinson with that "outside interest" stuff.  Somehow growing moobies and taking the man's money was outside of his worldview.

He has not been the problem though.  Really the team speaks with a bravado they have not earned - winning a title is nice, but it does not mean that you are sudden;y more magical than other players. 

Also, I am not sure internally if the team has really been ready to give itself to Rondo.  Rondo has been flawed but I think a lot of it might be political.

[Bahku]

Who is lazier?

-35 yr old who still plays above average defense

-Young buck who signs a contract and refuses to commit to getting in better shape, when conditioning was his biggest flaw.

I think Sheed has been rather lazy this year, yes.  But all too often posters on here (IMO) mistake a player who makes a string of errors and then flops around on the floor as hustle.  Or on the flip side, Rasheed when he makes a slow but deliberate rotation and people refer to it as laziness. 

The fact is that I think just about every player on the roster has gotten lazy, and while Sheed is clearly not helping to resolve this, he is far from the instigator. 

-KG is lazy in regards to being the leader he needs to be. 
-Pierce never was that leader. 
-Rondo has gotten cocky and rather lazy at times. 
-Doc is coaching lazily, and has done nothing new to help out. 

The list can go on.  They might be lazy, but I really do think it has more to do with boredom.  If I were Doc I'd make them stop wearing those warmups that say "NBA World Champions" on the back, and remind them that right now they are champions of nothing. 

Really respect your opinions, SGD, and usually agree with them, but Sheed is not remotely playing "above average defense", nor does he make slow rotations ... he just fails to rotate at all. He rarely gets his hands up on defense, rarely even moves to block the lane or take a charge, rarely posts up, (even though that's his strongest talent), and has shot the tres at 3 for 20 in the last 6 games. He values the ability to run his trap over the good of his team, is hardly EVER on the front of a fast-break, and has just plain become a detriment every time he's on the floor. I'd rather have Glen on the floor any time, because despite his immaturity and mistakes, he hustles his butt off, is never hesitant to take a charge, has a great IQ for knowing where the weak-side rebound will come, plays way beyond his height, and gives 110% every time he's on the floor. I never liked Sheed but gave him the benefit of the doubt when he came here ... sadly, none of the reasons I disliked him have changed, but now he's become OUR problem.

[billysan]

Here's 2 cents on the overall topic.

Sheed has always had talent. Trouble is he knows it. He also has gotten the idea that he can get it done when he wants to, he just isnt in a hurry. He does work hard when it counts and is a good teammate for the most part.

KG is a strong leader, but only when he is on the court. When KG is not on the court, injured, he is not much of a leader. This mainly because he leads by example and with his built up emotional state during the game.

Ray Allen is a quiet type leader. He will quite likely never call anyone out. He is content to work hard and let his play speak for itself. He will come into the gym early and shoot 100 jump shots and is glad to help anyone. They must approach him and making the first move, like Rondo has in recent years.

Paul Pierce is another guy who isnt a vocal leader. He is a guy who will not lead but rather take on the opposition by himself. Fearless in battle and always at the front, knows what to do when he gets there. He just cant pass any of this on to teammates. We have beat this horse to death over the years and most of the old time posters here have an opinion about his lacking leadership that is well documented.

Bottom line IMO is that the real leadership during our 2008 Championship year was from Doc and James Posey. Posey was the in your face guy that fired everyone up in the locker room and practice. The big three listened to him and respected him. Doc used their hunger for a title to motivate them. Later in the year, PJ Brown with Sam Cassell came aboard and supported everything Doc/Posey was doing. Validated it if you will.

We no longer have that kind of respected personality or hunger with the support of two respected veterans on our roster. We have some talented players that think they can turn it on in the playoffs. That remains to be seen, but the odds are against them. They have forgotten the daily effort that it took to get them to the dance.

Hence our inconsistency the past two seasons.

[BudweiserCeltic]

Here's 2 cents on the overall topic.

Sheed has always had talent. Trouble is he knows it. He also has gotten the idea that he can get it done when he wants to, he just isnt in a hurry. He does work hard when it counts and is a good teammate for the most part.

KG is a strong leader, but only when he is on the court. When KG is not on the court, injured, he is not much of a leader. This mainly because he leads by example and with his built up emotional state during the game.

Ray Allen is a quiet type leader. He will quite likely never call anyone out. He is content to work hard and let his play speak for itself. He will come into the gym early and shoot 100 jump shots and is glad to help anyone. They must approach him and making the first move, like Rondo has in recent years.

Paul Pierce is another guy who isnt a vocal leader. He is a guy who will not lead but rather take on the opposition by himself. Fearless in battle and always at the front, knows what to do when he gets there. He just cant pass any of this on to teammates. We have beat this horse to death over the years and most of the old time posters here have an opinion about his lacking leadership that is well documented.

Bottom line IMO is that the real leadership during our 2008 Championship year was from Doc and James Posey. Posey was the in your face guy that fired everyone up in the locker room and practice. The big three listened to him and respected him. Doc used their hunger for a title to motivate them. Later in the year, PJ Brown with Sam Cassell came aboard and supported everything Doc/Posey was doing. Validated it if you will.

We no longer have that kind of respected personality or hunger with the support of two respected veterans on our roster. We have some talented players that think they can turn it on in the playoffs. That remains to be seen, but the odds are against them. They have forgotten the daily effort that it took to get them to the dance.

Hence our inconsistency the past two seasons.

I absolutely agree with nothing you're saying here.

[billysan]

Here's 2 cents on the overall topic.

Sheed has always had talent. Trouble is he knows it. He also has gotten the idea that he can get it done when he wants to, he just isnt in a hurry. He does work hard when it counts and is a good teammate for the most part.

KG is a strong leader, but only when he is on the court. When KG is not on the court, injured, he is not much of a leader. This mainly because he leads by example and with his built up emotional state during the game.

Ray Allen is a quiet type leader. He will quite likely never call anyone out. He is content to work hard and let his play speak for itself. He will come into the gym early and shoot 100 jump shots and is glad to help anyone. They must approach him and making the first move, like Rondo has in recent years.

Paul Pierce is another guy who isnt a vocal leader. He is a guy who will not lead but rather take on the opposition by himself. Fearless in battle and always at the front, knows what to do when he gets there. He just cant pass any of this on to teammates. We have beat this horse to death over the years and most of the old time posters here have an opinion about his lacking leadership that is well documented.

Bottom line IMO is that the real leadership during our 2008 Championship year was from Doc and James Posey. Posey was the in your face guy that fired everyone up in the locker room and practice. The big three listened to him and respected him. Doc used their hunger for a title to motivate them. Later in the year, PJ Brown with Sam Cassell came aboard and supported everything Doc/Posey was doing. Validated it if you will.

We no longer have that kind of respected personality or hunger with the support of two respected veterans on our roster. We have some talented players that think they can turn it on in the playoffs. That remains to be seen, but the odds are against them. They have forgotten the daily effort that it took to get them to the dance.

Hence our inconsistency the past two seasons.

I absolutely agree with nothing you're saying here.

Ok

[Birdbrain]

I remember getting into a few discussions ( I was vehemently against it) around whether Sheed was a good idea.  Some of the posters as I recall that said I was incorrect for questioning it appear to have bad memories and still feel compelled to complain about other additions/non-additions to the team.  Kind of ironic don't ya think.

Oh and as soon as Sheed was added I was on board with it.  This is an example of being a fan.  I think some of you need to look up the definition.

Posey was never a leader of the team.  Nice piece though.

[JHTruth]

Posey did not make this team play hard, I'm sorry. Guy averaged like 15 minutes a night. Do the Hornets play crazy hard every game because Posey is there?

What we're seeing is a team after 3 very long seasons on some not so fresh legs. The team in 08 was just impossibly focused and played every game all out. I think that pace is just not sustainable. To expect this team to play all out this year seems a tad bit of a stretch. I agree that the team is just struggling to find the energy in the regular season. It's not easy when you know you want to play deep into the playoffs again..

[cdif911]

Posey did not make this team play hard, I'm sorry. Guy averaged like 15 minutes a night. Do the Hornets play crazy hard every game because Posey is there?

but he gave everyone man hugs!  Man hugs are inspiring.... Sheed, get on the man hug action

[billysan]

Posey did not make this team play hard, I'm sorry. Guy averaged like 15 minutes a night. Do the Hornets play crazy hard every game because Posey is there?

but he gave everyone man hugs!  Man hugs are inspiring.... Sheed, get on the man hug action

I think Man-Hugs from Posey were more productive than Sheed's dancing....but then I am not a dancin with guys kinda guy. Posey was a guy the big three respected. He had been there and they hadnt so when he spoke they listened. He played hard and showed an attitude on both ends of the court that only KG still duplicates consistently.

The difference with the Hornets is that they arent listening, our big three at least listened to him that first year. Not sure if they still would, especially lacking the support of PJ and Sam.