Will Rasheed return for this postseason?

[wpdougie2180]

I would love for Rasheed to return for the playoffs just for his post defense, shot blocking, timely shooting, and playoff fouls. While he didn't play great in every game in the playoffs he did play great in some especially the Cavs and Magic (Dwight has no clue what to do against him) series with the current roster he would a match-up nightmare for the Magic, Heat, and Lakers after going up against KG, Shaq, JO, Big Baby, and Perk all game. The Celtics would simply beat teams into submission with that frontcourt and there wouldn't be anything any team could do about it.

[anthony83]

I would love for Rasheed to return for the playoffs just for his post defense, shot blocking, timely shooting, and playoff fouls. While he didn't play great in every game in the playoffs he did play great in some especially the Cavs and Magic (Dwight has no clue what to do against him) series with the current roster he would a match-up nightmare for the Magic, Heat, and Lakers after going up against KG, Shaq, JO, Big Baby, and Perk all game. The Celtics would simply beat teams into submission with that frontcourt and there wouldn't be anything any team could do about it.

 I hope that Sheed back for the playoffs, it would be important for the Celtics.
As Paul Pierce said: "You take away the kids to school, we will be in February"
It would be a missed opportunity if Rasheed does not return, because Boston this year will fight again for the ring, and Sheed has to be part of the ring.

[DinTN]

Really want Sheed back for the playoffs. Can't have enough quality bigs.

Hoping the time away lets him heal & rest to come back stronger.

As far as playing time, he seems to be comfortable with just winning & not the minutes. We may need him due to Perk's injury (may not be back 100% - look at KG), with the age of the other inside players their minutes could be reduced and/or have an injury.

PLEASE come back for another shot!

[nickagneta]

I'm kind of mystified by you guys that want Rasheed back for the playoffs. The selective amnesia of what occurred last year is baffling. Rasheed was out of shape and performed at a severely low level in performance and effort all year until he finally got himself in good enough shape in late April and started playing with some heart.

Do you really believe that after it took Wallace playing 6 months of NBA basketball 3-4 nights a week last year to get in good enough physical condition to bring it in the playoffs that after having nearly a full calendar year off he is just going to return to the form you saw in late May and June?

I think you could probably better expect a worse version of the Rasheed everyone was bashing in December, January and February who couldn't hit an outside shot if you double the diameter of the basket for him, couldn't or wouldn't hustle after a loose ball to save his life, had no lift and was the worst rebounding 6'11"or taller player in the league and who wouldn't go in the low post for offense if his life depended on it all while playing some pretty awesome matador defense.

Is a worse/fatter/more out of shape version of that Rasheed really the guy you want coming back for the playoffs and getting playing time?

[BballTim]

If the celtics clinch a postseason birth or appear to be a lock to clinch one and ask Rasheed to come out of retirement to play for them (say if JO, Shaq, KG, or BBD get injured), do you think he will say yes or no?

I don't know whether or not he would come and actively pursue rejoining the team himself, but if the celtics came to him and asked him to rejoin around the February trade deadline, I think he would.  I'm interested to hear your takes on this.

  What kind of shape are you expecting him to be in by then?

Exactly.  He stayed out of shape for most of last season.  He's not going to be able to whip himself into shape if he's called upon.  Plus unless there is an injury, he is downgrade from all of our bigs with the possible exception of Erden.  No thanks to Rasheed.  Last year was torture enough.

Rasheed was a better defensive player than KG last  year. Low post offense, and defense was verrrry nice from Sheed.

  Rasheed was definitely not a better defender than KG last year.

[jdub1660]

Rasheed played great D on Dwight. That was about it

His shot selection turned into only 3's with horrible %s

Only way Sheed comes back would be if Danny traded BBD and another piece for a single player OR if Erdin doesn't pan out by February and gets cut. I'd prefer option 1, and hope we could land a legit SF(BBD+Quis = Corey Brewer)

Our team would then look unbeatable on paper, and have 3 months to mesh completely and meet LAL in the finals again...

Rondo, Nate, Bradley
Ray, Delonte
Pierce, Brewer, Wafer, Gody
KG, JO, Sheed
Perk, Shaq, Erdin

[Meadowlark_Scal]

I wouldn't mind if he did, as long as he gets in better shape........and at his age, he can get in better shape. Don't ask me how i know...! (because i been his age b4, and i know!!!). (and i was in full court shape.)

[ducksawce]

I would LOVE to have Rasheed back.  The only condition is that I would only like to have him play spot minutes.

When Rasheed was placed into very specific circumstances during the playoffs (i.e. score off the block, or defend Dwight/Shut down Gasol), he did VERY well.

Rasheed plays best when given very clear directives, and small minutes.  If he were to come back, he wouldn't need to be in top condition.  He'd only play spot minutes anyways, and he'd be fresh to do so for 5-8 minutes at a pop....nothing more...and he'd do it well.

It was only when he was forced to log heavy minutes (especially as Perk or KG's long-duration replacement) that he started chucking up threes and defending lazily.  When the opposite situation occurred, and he was allowed to fulfill his original role (true backup/scoring punch), then he did it very, very well.

I want him back.  Will he come back.  I sure hope so.  As others have said, you can NEVER have to many bigs.  It's very easy to have too many smalls...but bigs?  Nah.  Fouls and fatigue take their toll much more heavily on big men, and for that reason you want as many skilled guys as possible.

Also, Sheed is just hilarious.  We'd have by far the most offensive team in league history, bar none.  The "tude" of this team will be off the charts.

[housecall]

Rasheed didn't come in this past season in shape...its hard to imagine him being in shape after almost a year layoff.I wouldn't bet the farm on it.   

[action781]

I think almost everybody would like Rasheed to return.  But remember, my question was:  "If the celtics ask him to, does Rasheed say yes or no?"

[MBz]

I don't think so.  I also only think the C's will ask if we're having injury issues.  In the postseason we will have KG, Shaq, Perk, Big Baby and Jermaine O'Neal.  Rasheed would probably be the worst player out of the group.  I can't imagine the C's would actually want him.

[Meadowlark_Scal]

Don't go banking on having perk do anything for us next year.....that would be a major mistake. If the choice was sheed, or the hope of perk, better to choose sheed. Haven't we learned enough about the knee here..? You come back from the surgery, then you need to play + 1 year before you are close to yourself. Sheed is actually the only one who can stop himself. Otherwise, if he was in better shape, no one can defend him. Especially with all of our other distractions / offensive weapons, so it would be quite a plus to have him. Miami cannot stop big men, and the lakers aren't getting any shorter...!

[ForexPirate]

you guys forget that sheed got injured very early in the season and never quite recovered from it.  when he first started playing for us, he was changing everyone's mind about him. 

I don't think he was done - just hurt.  Give him some healing time.   I would love to have him back.

[nba is the worst]

I think almost everybody would like Rasheed to return.  But remember, my question was:  "If the celtics ask him to, does Rasheed say yes or no?"

I'd be shocked if he said no - and I find myself agreeing with NickAgenta once again - of what use is an out of shape Sheed?

[GreenFaith1819]

Don't go banking on having perk do anything for us next year.....that would be a major mistake. If the choice was sheed, or the hope of perk, better to choose sheed. Haven't we learned enough about the knee here..? You come back from the surgery, then you need to play + 1 year before you are close to yourself. Sheed is actually the only one who can stop himself. Otherwise, if he was in better shape, no one can defend him. Especially with all of our other distractions / offensive weapons, so it would be quite a plus to have him. Miami cannot stop big men, and the lakers aren't getting any shorter...!

And you bring up a good point....even when Perk comes back in what Jan or Feb, he is looking at a month or two of getting back up to speed...we may not see the Perk we know until 2011-12.

I still think that a Perk at 70-75% is better than no Perk, though.

All things considered this thread is interesting, indeed.