I love it how Nate's lack of playing time during the playoffs is suddenly seen as a validation of Nate not being able to play in this team, while House was faced with the same situation in 2008 and look how that turned out.
I'm sorry, has Nate's lack of playing time validated his inability to play for this team or has it been maybe, oh I don't know, his play?
He has been bad since coming here. He can't guard anyone and doesn't get the Celtics defensive rotations. He's shooting below 41% from the field and just doesn't get any of his team mates involved in the game because he wants to shoot first and foremost. His 22% assist percentage since he's been here is just awful for a PG.
Eddie sat in 2008 because management brought in a true PG in Cassell who then went into a prolonged shooting slump forcing the switch back to Eddie. But here's the point you conveniently leave out. Eddie had earned the trust of his coach but had just slumped badly in March and April of 2008. His lack of ball handling skills further compounded the need to go to Cassell how had many other talents as well as clutch championship experience to offer. Nate has NEVER earned the trust of this coaching staff and brings little else to the table except being able to shoot because he has the ball in his hands so often.
Well, one can also argue that in part the problem is a coaching deficiency.
For one, I can see Nate working quite well with a unit of TA and RA or Pierce. We really haven't seen him playing alongside a playoff type rotation, which is part of the problem of when you chug out 5 man units like Doc likes to do.
I very much think that Nate can play in this team. Sure, his lack of height is a concern and rightly so, but it doesn't mean that there aren't right match-ups out there were we can use him.
Also, it stands to reason that the lack of focus the TEAM had throughout the second half didn't help matters in helping assimilate Nate into this team.
What did Sheed do to gain Doc's trust during the season? Absolutely nothing... other than praying for him to show up, and he did. Everyone in the 2nd unit fell out of favor, except for TA.
I mean, if we're going to judge by regular season, what are we doing in the 3rd round at the moment?
Nate hasn't be given the opportunity. He isn't playing, so things aren't looking out too good for him, but until he gets the opportunity there's really no use in judging him and his capability to produce for us during the playoffs.
For 3 years now I've been mentioning that TA has played much better during the playoffs, particularly as far as turnovers are concerned. Finally this year he has been given the opportunity, and we're seeing the results. Does that mean that he would have played like this before? No, but it doesn't mean that he couldn't have helped us in the past either.
Also, there are quite a few situation in which Nate's strength can be used to exploit, like against Jason Williams for example.
With all that said, I'm very happy with the current rotation (except when he's using Finley). But that doesn't give me the excuse to judge Nate's playing when he hasn't been playing if you get my drift.
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