Sign me up for the Semih Sucks Bandwagon

[Who]

Definition of success for Semih Erden ...

Short Term: To be a serviceable to good third string center (relative to other third string centers) which I think he has been for most of time so far (struggling lately) and is capable of being over the course of the season.

Long Term: To become a very good to excellent third string center and stick around in the NBA for 8+ seasons.

A higher ceiling would to become a borderline rotation player, a 4th/5th big in the depth chart, but I would consider that quite unlikely given his flaws as a defender and rebounder + his disappointing amount of development while playing pro ball over in Europe ... but that would purely be icing on the cake ... As a #60 pick, just hanging around in the league as a quality third string center should be seen as a success.

[Redz]

Definition of success for Semih Erden ...

Short Term: To be a serviceable to good third string center (relative to other third string centers) which I think he has been for most of time so far (struggling lately) and is capable of being over the course of the season.

Long Term: To become a very good to excellent third string center and stick around in the NBA for 8+ seasons.

A higher ceiling would to become a borderline rotation player, a 4th/5th big in the depth chart, but I would consider that quite unlikely given his flaws as a defender and rebounder + his disappointing amount of development while playing pro ball over in Europe ... but that would purely be icing on the cake ... As a #60 pick, just hanging around in the league as a quality third string center should be seen as a success.

Hope for a Gortat (less a couple of inches)

Hope for better than a Bret Szabo

Probably end up with Eric Fernsten

[gar]

Sign me up for the Semih is Human bandwagon. Not your average human but a 7' human who can run the floor and is pretty agile for a big guy. I like his toughness. I like that he hangs in there even though the refs are picking on him and he gets no respect.

Semih works hard and does get confused at times. But what he brings to the table is hard to find.

[jpd985]

For an NBA rookie playing with an injured shoulder, trying to learn the Celtics defense along with the English language and the NBA game he has exceeded my expectations. Once (or if) Jermaine comes back healthy I don't expect to see him get many minutes. I am happy with what he has been providing and expect him to get better.

[Birdbrain]

Sign me up for the Semih is Human bandwagon. Not your average human but a 7' human who can run the floor and is pretty agile for a big guy. I like his toughness. I like that he hangs in there even though the refs are picking on him and he gets no respect.

Semih works hard and does get confused at times. But what he brings to the table is hard to find.

Agreed.  He's works hard and is much better athlete than I had assumed.  He's got some building blocks to work with.  I think given time he could be nice bench player for the C's.  This is a learning year for him.

[cajunceltic]

Well I am officially getting up out of the prediction business  , I predictated Semih would get double digits points and we would see Gino this game instead he gets the quick hook and we hang on for a victory. I think I am still in the glass is half full camp however he is not ready be a consistent performer for us this year. It looks like Doc will go with the small ball option to buy some minutes for KG and Shaq until J.O. and Perk come back.

[GreenEnvy]

Honestly, I was bewildered by the guaranteed contract this summer. His Summer League play did not help at all. I was not sold by his FIBA play.

Then training camp opened. And all the vets praised him.

Then the preseason games began. And he showed promise.



He has talent. He just looks raw and sometimes overmatched. He is trying to rush his shots instead of finishing them. Also he commits silly fouls and never gets the benefit of the doubt from the refs.

He definitely has NBA-level skill, intelligence and tools. He is just wet behind the ears.

I was on the Semih Sucks Bandwagon before it started moving, but now I'm believing Ainge, the coaching staff, the vets, and my eyes.

[Rondo_is_better]

Ugh. I'm not gonna get on the bandwagon just yet but tonight was tough to take....

[Redz]

Ugh. I'm not gonna get on the bandwagon just yet but tonight was tough to take....

sure looked like Doc jumped on the bandwagon tonight

[guava_wrench]

His finishing tonight was difficult to watch.

[LooseCannon]

If the Boston Celtics had the Semih Erden of this year instead of Shelden Williams last season, would the Celtics be NBA champions?

[thirstyboots18]

No.  Sheldon was not the reason the Celts lost game seven last year...the loss of Perk was.  Erden  would have no better luck against the Laker bigs in the finals.  Now if the Celts had had Shaq...who knows....

[LooseCannon]

Still, KG and Sheed played more minutes in game 7 and ran out of energy.  Having a big who could give 5-7 mediocre minutes to rest to those two might have allowed them to finish strong enough in the fourth quarter.  Would Erden have played well enough to earn Doc's trust in that role in a way that Shelden Williams couldn't?

[thirstyboots18]

I don't know...maybe earlier in the series.  I believe that Doc would NOT trust a rookie in a game seven situation...maybe I am wrong, but I think Erden is only getting his minutes now because of absolute necessisty.  That said, I am glad he IS getting playing time (despite his injury) and I wish Harangody was getting a little meaningful time, too.  I think it would help us later in the year if everyone was ready to blend in to the game at any time...not to take the game over, or be a savior, but to give the first 7 or 8 players a little break or maybe even a big break (like sitting out a game to heal little bumps and bruises or weariness before it becomes a crucial issue.)

[guava_wrench]

No.  Sheldon was not the reason the Celts lost game seven last year...the loss of Perk was.  Erden  would have no better luck against the Laker bigs in the finals.  Now if the Celts had had Shaq...who knows....

But Shelden was so bad in the finals that he removed himself as an option to eat minutes in game 7. Since the actual reason we lost game 7 was Sheed losing steam due to too many minutes, a replacement for Shelden who didn't inbound to the opposing could have gone a long way.

Sheed can defend Pau when his back doesn't give out.