Semih Erden looks awful

[FLCeltsFan]

Apparently he had no practices with the team.  He also had a sore back but they said it wasn't an injury.  Possibly from being cramped up on an airplane for the long flight.  He also doesn't speak much English so everything goes through a translator.  Give the kid a chance to get some practice, learn some English, get in some work outs, get past jet lag and have a couple of months with Clifford Ray.  Then I'll make my conclusions about him.  

[kozlodoev]

You think so, even as a back up for 10-15 minutes a night? Personally I like TAllen ok, especially on defense. But I'd really liek to see Ray's minutes at 25-30 a night this season if he's still with us. I'm not sure Tony's Offense warrants him getting 20-25 minutes a night...

Who would you like to see behind Ray? Or better, what would prefer to see at the off guard spot in general this upcoming season?

I am convinced. Offensively, Fernandez shows up 1 game in 5, and he doesn't bring enough stuff defensively to compensate for this.

I view him as the typical "fool's gold" type of player who will look good on an average to ok team, but will get exposed with a contender, especially a defensively oriented one. That, and his inconsistency will require us to give long minutes to our starters on games when he doesn't show up.

[Surferdad]

The coaching staff should have kept him out of the first game if he was jet-lagged.  Then throw in the concerns voiced by FLCeltsfan over his concenration and intensity, and that fact that he already has a contract (albeit non-guaranteed), and I think you can see where many of us are coming from.

I would say the opposite.  Throw him out there especially if he is jet-lagged to see how he reacts mentally to adversity.  If he can't perform at the level he is used to, will he do stupid things out of frustration or will he stick to the game plan?

The answer in Erdin's case is, do stupid things out of frustration.  I certainly understand that one SL game (and the first one at that, jet-lagged, no practice, etc) is no basis for judging the guy, but there aree now enough questions about this guy to wonder if he's got what it takes.  I will try to catch the 2nd game today after work, but I don't hold out much hope for him.

[ScoobyDoo]

I see your point re Fernandez and Fool's gold. Is your preference to bring back Ray and Tony? Or perhpas sign someone else with more offensive punch behind Ray along with Tony?

I'm curious to people's feed back on it because that spot, along with the obvious issues at center with perk down, are the msot glaring weak spots for us. Or maybe I should say issues I feel we really need to address. I just don't feel comfortable with Ray for 35-40 a night as our off guard solutions this year and beyond. I feel like we need to inject some sort of offensive firepower in there.

[footey]

I did not see game, but understand he has sore back, and just came in from a long flight. Give him some time to see if he is going to help. One game? Please.

[BballTim]

The coaching staff should have kept him out of the first game if he was jet-lagged.  Then throw in the concerns voiced by FLCeltsfan over his concenration and intensity, and that fact that he already has a contract (albeit non-guaranteed), and I think you can see where many of us are coming from.

I would say the opposite.  Throw him out there especially if he is jet-lagged to see how he reacts mentally to adversity.  If he can't perform at the level he is used to, will he do stupid things out of frustration or will he stick to the game plan?

The answer in Erdin's case is, do stupid things out of frustration.  I certainly understand that one SL game (and the first one at that, jet-lagged, no practice, etc) is no basis for judging the guy, but there aree now enough questions about this guy to wonder if he's got what it takes.  I will try to catch the 2nd game today after work, but I don't hold out much hope for him.

  I wouldn't expect a ton of improvement the next day when he's still brand new to the team. I'd like to see him in at least exhibition games (after training camp) before I started to form an opinion on him.

[Birdbrain]

The guy fell down a lot.

Not a good description lol.  Reminds me of Ray.

I caught a few mins and the other Big (aaron gray look-a-like) appeared to grab a few rebounds.

[Q_FBE]

As fellow Celtics fan Mick Jagger sings:

I don't need no "Beast of Erdin"

He flew for hours,
his back is hurting.

All I want is him to grab a few boards!

[lon3lytoaster]

Yea, he looked bad but I'll give him a little more time to prove he can play a little.

Between the flgiht, back, no practices, not speaking english and not playing american ball at all.. well i guess he could get better. Plus he really  wants to be a Celtic..

And there's my optimism for the day.

[kozlodoev]

Yea, he looked bad but I'll give him a little more time to prove he can play a little.

Between the flgiht, back, no practices, not speaking english and not playing american ball at all.. well i guess he could get better. Plus he really  wants to be a Celtic..

And there's my optimism for the day.

Two years since he got drafted, and he never bothered to learn any English? I understand he gets paid to play ball, not to study languages, but the lack of foresight of pro players sometimes amazes me.

[Marqui]

Ah, the silly season.  Nothing better than judging a guy based on 21 minutes played in his first summer league game.  I know it's that time where there isn't much to talk about, but are we really throwing a fit over this guy already?

Exactly

[JHTruth]

Geez, relax. Were you expecting Kevin Durant out there? He was one of the last picks in the draft. A guy drafted in his position has never even made an NBA roster.

It was a long shot that he would ever contribute anyway. If he sucks so be it, it's kind of expected that he is not quite NBA calibre. But he has some tools, give him a few minutes..

[Meadowlark_Scal]

Heyy. i know what will make you guys happy..instead of ever taking any chances on new guys...big guys..we will just go dig up some old players that made you happy at least for a minute in your lives....we'll sign Bill Russell, get Robert Parrish, hey, McHale is still alive and tall, Bird...yaaaa, that's the ticket...why ever try to displease the hardened, experienced scout/players here by trying to develop someone.....just sign someone great will ya.....!

[birdwatcher]

This already reminds me of when we sucked in the 90's and Chris Wallace brought in anybody he could, hoping to find some diamond in the rough. Didn't they actually hold an open audition for a walk on at some point?

[Cman]

Geez, relax. Were you expecting Kevin Durant out there? He was one of the last picks in the draft.

He was THE last person drafted last year.  He'll probably never amount to much.  But it's not as if the future of the Celtics franchise hangs on whether this guy becomes an all star or not.