How is Sheldon doing in Denver....!!!

[soap07]

Last year's team sorely lacked in the rebounding department - which was really the only thing Williams could do. I do think Doc misused him a bit. And I do believe it is hyperbole to say that Shelden/Erden are a wash and I like Semih.

Also, since he lacks much in the way of an offense, and most of his points are putbacks and opportunistic layins, his true shooting % of 52.7 (46th among PF's) is pretty terrible. He's a good rebounder, but a 'okay' defender, and a terrible offensive player. We're not suffering without him, and nobody is regretting letting him go. I'm glad he can get PT with someone, but I'm also glad its not us.

Truth in that he is a good rebounder, nowhere near the best, and an okay defender/terrible offensive player. I would say, though, that he is an upgrade over Erden, with the caveat, of course, being that Erden is only seeing the floor because Perkins and Jermaine are injured. If both were healthy, I wouldn't want either Erden or Shelden seeing the floor.

[greenpride32]

First of all Sheldon was averaging 10 boards a game after the first 3 games of the season.  From there is has been all down hill and he is at 6.2 RPG for the season.

Second, there is a reason this guy can't stick with any team.  Sure he may show flashes of being able to contribute as he did with the C's.  But he's much too inconsistent (reminds me of TA).

Finally, I'll take the all the bigs we have our roster this year over Sheldon.

[soap07]

Wow, 10 boards and less than 6 points in 25 minutes! we really let a gem get away there...

I would note that Shelden's Per 36 numbers are significantly better this year than Erden's. Additionally, Shelden's number's last year as a Celt per 36 are much better than Erden's - including almost twice the PER. Shelden is by no means a starting caliber player on a championship team - but as second or third big off the bench? I see no problem with that.

[guava_wrench]

Wow, 10 boards and less than 6 points in 25 minutes! we really let a gem get away there...

I would note that Shelden's Per 36 numbers are significantly better this year than Erden's. Additionally, Shelden's number's last year as a Celt per 36 are much better than Erden's - including almost twice the PER. Shelden is by no means a starting caliber player on a championship team - but as second or third big off the bench? I see no problem with that.

And like Erden, Shelden played when everyone was injured. When baby returned from the thumb problem, we didn't need Shelden anymore behind KG, Perk, Sheed and Baby.

If we have Shaq, KG, Perk, JO and Baby healthy, Erden doesn't play either.

[indeedproceed]

Truth in that he is a good rebounder, nowhere near the best, and an okay defender/terrible offensive player. I would say, though, that he is an upgrade over Erden, with the caveat, of course, being that Erden is only seeing the floor because Perkins and Jermaine are injured. If both were healthy, I wouldn't want either Erden or Shelden seeing the floor.

I agree. Erden's bad overall numbers are an indicator of something that is pretty blatant: Erden is not a very good player right now. The fact that he plays a majority of his time against second unit guys only makes this more pronounced.

There are all kinds of conditions you can put on it to get his performance in a proper context. For instance..Semih is learning a new language, he's adjusting a new league, a new country and continent for the first time, as he was born, raised and played in Turkey...there is a lot working against him, and in that regard his play has been a surprise, but a pleasant one.

Right now Shelden is having a better year, by the numbers and by performance. But, Shelden is also a 4 year NBA vet, 27 years old, and used to the American style of play, from AAU to college to the NBA. He's also 27 years old. Semih Erden is 24 (we hope), and he should only improve, this season and beyond. Shelden could redefine his skill set some, he could become a better defensive player, and he's never relied on athleticism as much as some undersized PF's (Leon Powe is a good example)..but for the most part the Shelden you see in Denver right now is going to be the Shelden that will be kicking around the league as a fringe rotation player for the next 4 years or so. Reggie Evans, Theo Ratliff (in the latter part of his career), these are who Shelden is.

Semih is 6'11, with good mobility for his size and a developing skill set. If given the choice with the situation this team is in, I'd keep Semih over Shelden now and going forward (mostly for the going forward).

But, saying Semih has been 'good' in the context of other rotation NBA players as of this moment in this year is not true.

[GrandTheftRondo]

Good for him.

Shelden Williams does not belong in a Celtics uniform. Every single time he touched the ball in the finals I cringed.

I'm glad he fits well in Denver but there is no way in hell him being gone is any detriment to our team.

[GreenEnvy]

Sheldon seems like a really likable person. I'm sure he is pleasant to be around and a hard worker.

He is definitely NBA talent, and will probably have a lasting career as a reserve. However, I don't believe he could be relied on by a contender. It wasn't entirely his fault because he wasn't prepared, but I still shudder thinking about him playing in game 7. Not even his actual play (which was brutal), but just seeing him enter the game gave me this sense of uneasiness.

Ugh.

[Bankshot]

After Shelden's performance in the Finals, I don't care what he is doing in Denver to be honest.

[Celtics4ever]

I think Erden has more upside than Vitaly Potapenko.  He moves well, has decent size and can catch and finish. Both guys hustle though Vitaly has a better shot and was stronger.  I think Semi has more upside as he has better hands and motor.  You can't teach height and height that can run the floor is sometimes a rarity.

That being said I oft think height is what Sheldon lacks.  He is a short 6-9 ( aka probably only 6-7) and against bigs of any size he struggles.  Hence, he was owned by the Lakers.

[Shots]

Well, nice for Sheldon

I'd say Sheldon, even with those numbers, he would without much doubt be 6th in the depth rotation on the Cs - injuries aside. Considering how he looked for the Cs last year, I'm not even sure I'd prefer him over Erden, considering his height limitations. I also like the versatility and potential of Harangody.. So regardless, I don't see why he'd fit here.

Shame he couldn't post those numbers last year. I would disagree with those stating he didn't get any chances last year, remember that Glen Davis was out for a lot of November and December, I can remember seeing quite a bit of (terrible) play from him.

[Meadowlark_Scal]

Sure, like some have said, his bad games include 12 points in 10 minutes vs SA...which then doc sat him all game thereafter, odd, well, doc did get rid of powe, then sheldon, then lasme...all rebounders...it is a terrible sight to see the celts put up a shot, then everyone turn to go play D..no rebounds, no championship. Yes, i am glad, KG is healthy, and shaq is doing great, also, again i have seen "when" bbd goes after rebounds, he can get a good amount of them..why he doesn't do it more often....?

   Sheldon did NOT get hardly ANY playing time here, don't gloss it over, doc played that fool scal instead....for no basketball reason. and at 6'9"...don't say you can't get it done at that height, uh, Dennis Rodman...if you didn't appreciate him, you prob didn't play bball ever, rebounding is neccessary, Leon Powe was the X factor in why we won that championship, we were beaten down by the dirt the lakers got away with in #6, but with stronger rebounding, we could have put it away b4 that.

[Fafnir]

I'm not all that high on Erden, but Sheldon is an even worse offensive player.

I shudder as I type that remembering his little stint of time in the Finals....

[Meadowlark_Scal]

how can you dismiss that he didn't play for 3 months prior to the playoff game, and all he did was throw 1 bad pass....was he the only Celtic out there, god, micro-analyze..exaggerate...geeesh, he wasn't even in for 5 minutes...come on...and it was on a REBOUND that he grabbed, no one could have stepped up in front of kobe...? Looked like Kobe wanted the ball more. Agg, you guys make up your own world here...basketball is diff over in the west...hahahhaha, it isn't that diff, and sheldon had 30 points earlier in a game..go ahead, make up stories that make you feel better... I don't want to talk about it anymore...are there any real people here, ones that really ever played basketball before or currently..?

[Meadowlark_Scal]

Sheldon, last night vs Memphis, 23 minutes, 9 rebounds, 9 points.  He would have been a better bench guy than gody, or wafer, and bbd always played a lot harder, after doc put sheldon in HIS spot.....that is all i am saying.

[guava_wrench]

People need to realize that there was no need to invest in Williams if the team wasn't sold on him having a future in Boston. Might as well play Scal if he is a better fit.

Based on how the playoffs went last season, I don't see how we can fault this approach. One problem is that people are focusing on just the 4th quarter of our final game and not all the other games.

We also need role players who fit what we need. We aren't going to change the offense or defense for Shelden. If he fits Denver's system better than he fit the systems all the prior years when he was a borderline player, good for him.