Sheed's biggest issue

[Roy Hobbs]

I read in ESPN the Magazine that Rasheed Wallace has the worst second half field goal percentage among all players who have played at least 200 minutes.  He's shooting 33% in the second half of games.

The ESPN blurb attributed that to Rasheed being out of shape, and I think there's something to be said for that.  He came into training camp with a noticeable gut, and began the regular season out of shape.  The excuse at the time was that he'd play himself into game shape, but to this point, he hasn't.

Do you agree that the low FG% is a fact of conditioning?  Is there anything the team can do to get Rasheed in shape, either for the playoffs or next season?

[shookones99]

I definitely think that is the source of the majority of Rasheed's issues.  I was blown away by how out of shape he was coming into the season.  I do think that this season will be a reality check for him and that he will come into camp next season in better shape.  It's too late for this years playoffs however...

[Who]

I don't know if it's conditioning or pure decline in ability.

Either way, I don't want to take a chance on Sheed's shooting + overall play improving next season.

[RAcker]

There is no doubt in my mind that he's still not in the shape he should be in at this point of an NBA season.  

It's not just on the offensive end though.  His defense slacks a lot and he's caught flat footed which causes him to just settle for reach in fouls instead of contesting (which takes considerably more physical effort).

[BballTim]

  Smallish sample size, but his fg% and three poit fg% are both higher when he starts (33 minutes a game) than when he comes off the bench (21 minutes a game). It can't all be fatigue.

[CelticG1]

I can't really see it being him out of shape and if that is the case I think there are only 2 people to blame, Sheed and Doc.

They have practices all the time and I don't see there being any reason why Doc couldn't  just run him ragged in those practices just to get him in shape. Obviously Doc isn't running the starter's (i.e. KG Pierce) ragged in practice because they get significant time during games to play/get themselves into shape more. Since Sheed is playing the lowest amount of minutes of his career and if this has supposedly been a problem in the past wouldn't this be something Doc should recognize and address?

It either comes down to Doc not believing that Sheed is out of shape, or Doc not wanting to address the situation, fuel the fire etc. because of Sheeds reputation and veteran status. It's kind of along the lines of Doc calling Baby out for getting a tech and not really Sheed mostly based on reputation. I could see Doc calling out Baby for not being in shape rather than Sheed because of the same reason

[celts55]

I guess it's tied together, but I would think a big reason his FG% is so low is that he shoots way too many 3s. Now maybe that because he's out of shape and it's a lot easier to just stand outside the line and shot. I'm not sure, but I do think his FG# would be pretty decent if he stay down low where he belongs.

[CelticG1]

I guess it's tied together, but I would think a big reason his FG% is so low is that he shoots way too many 3s. Now maybe that because he's out of shape and it's a lot easier to just stand outside the line and shot. I'm not sure, but I do think his FG# would be pretty decent if he stay down low where he belongs.

Yeah he is shooting more threes than any other time in his career I think. At the clip he is shooting that would sure drag that down. Anyone who shoots threes is generally going to have a lower FG% than someone who is not. If Ray Allen didn't take 3's he would have one of the highest FG %'s in the league.

[Drucci]

I don't know. His conditioning (or lack thereof) and his bad shape are clearly a factor but I've read in the same article (I think) that KG, Pierce and Ray's shooting percentages also decline a lot in the second half (but not that much).

Maybe we've also overlooked the fact that it's not that easy to become a guy coming off the bench after starting for your entire career, maybe it takes time to adjust... but I don't buy that it takes so much time and Sheed's shape is clearly a problem (it's kinda strange that he didn't get in better shape during the course of the season). And it's unacceptable from a veteran to come in such bad shape at his age.

[CelticG1]

Does Sheed really look that much more "out of shape" than Perkins? Sheed seems more agile and can run the floor better. I'm more worried about our starting center who remained stagnant from last year and maybe has even taken a step back.

[Greenbean]

Does Sheed really look that much more "out of shape" than Perkins? Sheed seems more agile and can run the floor better. I'm more worried about our starting center who remained stagnant from last year and maybe has even taken a step back.

You really arent watching the same games I have been. Sheed is consistently the last guy down the court on both ends. I cant remember one fast break where Sheed was anywhere near the basket. Yes Perk is in a lot better shape which is evident by his quicker defensive rotations. Sheeds frame is a lot skinnier than Perks yet he is filling up the same amount of space with baby soft fat.


Sheed spent no time on his body this offseason and it is obvious. I hope he is in better shape 2 weeks from now but it will take a whole new offseason commitment to conditioning to get him in the kind of shape we need him in.

Yes Perk needs to up his play but the first half of this year you could argue he was our most improved player. Now all of a sudden he has taken a step back from last year? I disagree wholeheartedly.

[CelticG1]

Does Sheed really look that much more "out of shape" than Perkins? Sheed seems more agile and can run the floor better. I'm more worried about our starting center who remained stagnant from last year and maybe has even taken a step back.

You really arent watching the same games I have been. Sheed is consistently the last guy down the court on both ends. I cant remember one fast break where Sheed was anywhere near the basket. Yes Perk is in a lot better shape which is evident by his quicker defensive rotations. Sheeds frame is a lot skinnier than Perks yet he is filling up the same amount of space with baby soft fat.


Sheed spent no time on his body this offseason and it is obvious. I hope he is in better shape 2 weeks from now but it will take a whole new offseason commitment to conditioning to get him in the kind of shape we need him in.

Yes Perk needs to up his play but the first half of this year you could argue he was our most improved player. Now all of a sudden he has taken a step back from last year? I disagree wholeheartedly.

Ok I went a little overboard with the Perk/Sheed thing. Is the reason Sheed isn't getting down the court because of being out of shape though? I don't see him huffing and puffing trying to get up the court, I just seem taking his time getting up there. I'm not saying that is any better just pointing out the fact he looks more lazy than out of shape.

As for Perk he has flat out been terrible the last few months. Look it up. For as good as he was at the beginning of the season he's been bad the second half of the season. Maybe he has been beat up which might mean something but when people around here get excited when he comes up with a 7 point 8 rebound performance I just think it's pathetic. What is he averaging 7 rebounds a game?

[wdleehi]

I am going to guess he spends more time outside at the end of games then the beginning of games when they want him to spread the floor for Pierce or KG.


(just a guess)

[EJPLAYA]

is that we set our expectations too high.

[csfansince60s]

is that we set our expectations too high.

I agree with this ONLY if he is in shape. If he is not in shape, that's on him and Doc and Danny, and our expectations of having a professional athlete (to whom the Cs pay the full midlevel) be in shape are more than reasonable and not too high.

I think this raises an interesting question, though regarding union issues and the CBA. If a player is not ready, willing and able to perform (his duties under a contract)due to a lack of personal preparedness, does a team have to pay them?

Sheed's case may be a little borderline and subjective, however, should a player come into camp 100+ pounds over what he left at the end of the season and totally unconditioned, is he ready, willing and able to play, and does he have to be paid if he is not performing his contract???