Sign me up for the Semih Sucks Bandwagon

[Spilling Green Dye]

Don't be mad at Semih, be mad at either Danny or Doc for having 5-man rotation where Semih gets as many minutes as he does.  He's also the only injured player on the roster who is actually playing, and played valuable (while hurt) minutes in the big win in Miami.

Like some have mentioned before, when the guards are driving into the lane it is difficult to defend as a center.  He's also a rookie from a foreign country. 

Honestly I think the duo of Semih & Davis is a terrible defensive combination.  On the offensive end both of those guys pretty much rely on other players to set them up for a score, but at least Davis can get to the line. 

My only concern would be if Semih is getting this many minutes in the playoffs, which would indicate that the Celtics would have major injury issues. 

[Fafnir]

5-man rotation with Semih?

I think you mean four man rotation since we have KG/Shaq/BBD/Semih at the PF/C spots right now. Its impossible to go shorter than a 4 man rotation in the regular season especially when Shaq should only be going 20 minutes in any game as is.

Currently we're missing two other Cs due to injury, that hurts you.

[Tai]

Calling this topic unfair is a huge understatement. I'd like to see Avery Bradley play too if possible, but not so Erden can sit at this point. Erden's been fine this season for a guy basically thrust into his minutes, and to see him get blamed for the loss to Toronto (I guess Rondo being out didn't count?) is kinda disgusting.

[hpantazo]

Calling this topic unfair is a huge understatement. I'd like to see Avery Bradley play too if possible, but not so Erden can sit at this point. Erden's been fine this season for a guy basically thrust into his minutes, and to see him get blamed for the loss to Toronto (I guess Rondo being out didn't count?) is kinda disgusting.

TP, well put

[LooseCannon]

This guy is an abosulte waste of minutes. I havent seen someone pick up fouls at a rate that rivals Mikki Moore since...well, Mikki Moore.

There have been Celtics who have picked up fouls at rates higher than Erden, but they all played limited minutes.  The most recent ones are Patrick O'Bryant, Bill Walker, Scott Pollard, and Pervis Ellison.

Due to his limited minutes, Harangody actually leads the team in fouls/36 minutes.

Looking at some of the usual suspects....Andris Biedrins was committing fouls at about the same rate as Erden in his rookie season.  Danny Fortson picked up fouls at a higher rate than Erden over his last four seasons.

Players committing fouls at a higher rate than Erden this season include Laker Derrick Caracter and Minnesota rookie Nikola Pekovic, while Kyrylo Fesenko of Utah and John Brockman of Milwaukee aren't far behind.

Players in the past 11 seasons to commit fouls at rate at least as high as Erden:
15mpg in at least 20 games - Mengke Bateer, Danny Fortson
any mpg in 40+ games - Eric Montross, Don Reid, Danny Fortson, Mario Kasun, John Edwards, Jerome James, David Harrison

[Eddie20]

Can't believe what I'm reading!

You're bashing an unfinished product. Soft? He's playing through an injury that will require surgery. How many rookies do you think can go to a star heavy veteran team, play with that kind of injury, not understand 90% of what anyone is saying, and light it up?

All the tools are there for him to succeed. He runs the floor well. Has good mobility for a player his size. Has good hands. Is a good passer (did anyone see that entry bounce to Baby yesterday?). Sets solid screens.

Let him continue to learn the system, the language, and the way the NBA game is officiated. The last one is such an important aspect that many are completely dismissing.

Okur was 23 his first year with the Pistons (one year younger than Semih). He shot 42% from the field and averaged 6.9 ppg and 4.7 rpg in 19 mpg.

Confidence breeds success. Let's give him a chance to get comfortable before he's considered the next O'Bryant!

[Spilling Green Dye]

5-man rotation with Semih?

I think you mean four man rotation since we have KG/Shaq/BBD/Semih at the PF/C spots right now. Its impossible to go shorter than a 4 man rotation in the regular season especially when Shaq should only be going 20 minutes in any game as is.

Currently we're missing two other Cs due to injury, that hurts you.

Good catch, I actually had a typo there and meant that Semih shouldn't be one of the 5-players on the court for nearly as many minutes as he is getting.  That's either Danny's fault for not getting enough healthy/reliable bigs, or Doc's fault for playing Semih so many minutes. 

[hpantazo]

Can't believe what I'm reading!

You're bashing an unfinished product. Soft? He's playing through an injury that will require surgery. How many rookies do you think can go to a star heavy veteran team, play with that kind of injury, not understand 90% of what anyone is saying, and light it up?

All the tools are there for him to succeed. He runs the floor well. Has good mobility for a player his size. Has good hands. Is a good passer (did anyone see that entry bounce to Baby yesterday?). Sets solid screens.

Let him continue to learn the system, the language, and the way the NBA game is officiated. The last one is such an important aspect that many are completely dismissing.

Okur was 23 his first year with the Pistons (one year younger than Semih). He shot 42% from the field and averaged 6.9 ppg and 4.7 rpg in 19 mpg.

Confidence breeds success. Let's give him a chance to get comfortable before he's considered the next O'Bryant!

Semih has a nice shot, soft hands, toughness, moves well without the ball, and is an excellent passer for a big man. He also stays in the paint, unlike many other european big men, and he has a great feel for the game. In a few years, imo, he will be an excellent starting center in the NBA. People have to give the guy some time like you said.

[birdwatcher]

Can't believe what I'm reading!

You're bashing an unfinished product. Soft? He's playing through an injury that will require surgery. How many rookies do you think can go to a star heavy veteran team, play with that kind of injury, not understand 90% of what anyone is saying, and light it up?

All the tools are there for him to succeed. He runs the floor well. Has good mobility for a player his size. Has good hands. Is a good passer (did anyone see that entry bounce to Baby yesterday?). Sets solid screens.

Let him continue to learn the system, the language, and the way the NBA game is officiated. The last one is such an important aspect that many are completely dismissing.

Okur was 23 his first year with the Pistons (one year younger than Semih). He shot 42% from the field and averaged 6.9 ppg and 4.7 rpg in 19 mpg.

Confidence breeds success. Let's give him a chance to get comfortable before he's considered the next O'Bryant!

Semih has a nice shot, soft hands, toughness, moves well without the ball, and is an excellent passer for a big man. He also stays in the paint, unlike many other european big men, and he has a great feel for the game. In a few years, imo, he will be an excellent starting center in the NBA. People have to give the guy some time like you said.

The guy doesn't even speak English yet he's out on the court with the blessing of Doc and his teammates. That should speak volumes. Whoever said Harangody would do better is nuts. We're small enough when Baby plays center, and Luke will be better as a stretch 4, not hanging in the paint like Semih does...He rebounds okay and finds his way to the line. He's no all-star, he may never be a legit starting center, but he's a solid role player who will get better.

[cajunceltic]

Wow, I surely would have liked Semih to take it to ZA-ZA during the late 3rd, early 4th quarter when it was already garbage time however it just did not happen. That is who I envision Semih to project to be in this league, a ZA-ZA type who will be a solid role player. I am really disappointed that Doc did not call any post up plays for Semih during what amounted to be extended Garbage time tonight.I still think there is so much of this kid's game that we have not seen and tonight was one of those nights that would have been a great opportunity to get a closer look. Well I am calling my shot! Semih gets double digit points against Jersey as Gino gets funky!

[snively]

Semih does suck.  Below average to terrible in almost all the important big man areas: poor rebounder, poor finisher, terrible awareness in the post, weak defender against face-up bigs, extremely foul-prone and ineffectual help defender.  He can move his feet pretty well on the pick and roll and he makes some nice passes, but overall, he definitely does suck.

Waste of a roster spot, IMHO.  Nothing against the guy and I don't hold anything against his selection at #60, but that doesn't change my assessment.

[Atzar]

Semih does suck.  Below average to terrible in almost all the important big man areas: poor rebounder, poor finisher, terrible awareness in the post, weak defender against face-up bigs, extremely foul-prone and ineffectual help defender.  He can move his feet pretty well on the pick and roll and he makes some nice passes, but overall, he definitely does suck.

Waste of a roster spot, IMHO.  Nothing against the guy and I don't hold anything against his selection at #60, but that doesn't change my assessment.

Right, and he'll never get better at any of it either.  Never mind the fact that he's 24, he's a rookie, he's playing in a new country with different rules, he doesn't speak much English and he's playing with a shoulder that needs surgery.  But yeah, this is still as good a time as any to decide that he's not worth his roster spot.

Come on.

[2short]

Semih does suck.  Below average to terrible in almost all the important big man areas: poor rebounder, poor finisher, terrible awareness in the post, weak defender against face-up bigs, extremely foul-prone and ineffectual help defender.  He can move his feet pretty well on the pick and roll and he makes some nice passes, but overall, he definitely does suck.

Waste of a roster spot, IMHO.  Nothing against the guy and I don't hold anything against his selection at #60, but that doesn't change my assessment.

Can't remember how many teammates & coaches were on camera praising his learning the celtics defense right away and how good he was on the help defense.  How can a guy who has given you quality minutes, injured, before he should be ready to play be a waste of a roster spot? 
So far he's outperformed Jermaine Oneil.

[Jeff]

So far he's outperformed Jermaine Oneil.

wow, hadn't even thought of it that way till now - TP

"availability is an ability" - Doc

[2short]

So far he's outperformed Jermaine Oneil.

wow, hadn't even thought of it that way till now - TP

"availability is an ability" - Doc

ps-a healthy jermaine is a different story but happy that semih could provide us depth minutes at center
makes you stand back and look at the team danny has assembled
rondo is injured, nate, delonte, bradley
our center spot is deep, let perk come back to 100%
sf is only issue