Despite Wafer's mistakes last night, we need him. We need that speed and energy.

[soap07]

When I was at the Sloan MIT Conference, the opening panel included Rockets GM Daryl Morey and Jeff Van Gundy. The discussion evolved to players who's athleticism superseded their basketball IQ...

Morey mentioned as an example one player, a wing that came off Houston's bench a couple years ago. He wouldn't say who because he was still playing in the league and he wanted to be respectful. This player only knew how to do two things - "shoot" or "drive to the hoop". When he got the ball, he had no other thoughts - shoot or drive. He was awful defensively and his only usefulness was "shooting" or "driving", which made him a rotation player on the Rockets but that he was one of the dumbest players in the league.

Morey wouldn't confirm who he was talking about, but the crowd figured it out with 20 minutes or so. Keep in mind, both Morey and Van Gundy, in an earlier discussion, openly bashed Bonzi Wells by name, so it's not him.

I wonder who it could've been.

[Senninsage]

A lot of times you think the Celts are lacking proper motivation, and this guy always goes out there with energy, like he's looking to prove something.

Earlier in the season, it looked more like he was trying to prove to everybody that he was good individually. But lately, I think he is trying to prove more that he can help the team, and not so much himself.

He had some mistakes last night, but he did a number of great things as well. He's not perfect, but he's a guy this team needs.

[RedsCeltics34]

I remember Wafer being pretty solid with the Rockets in that 7 game series vs the Lakers a few years back.

[Donoghus]

If Von Wafer is playing anything but garbage minutes for us in the playoffs, we're in trouble.

[TheTruthFot18]

I always thought Wafer was a decent backup 2. What I love more about him now is hes no longer a spot up three long two shooter. Hes incredibly aggressive and comes up with nice steals and slashes to the basket almost with rondo quickness. Hopefully he can step it up in teh playoffs if he gets a few minutes.

[Steve Weinman]

Wafer's got some talent, but I don't think I've seen a player have as poor of a two minute stretch of basketball since Shelden Williams.

LOL...good one RH,last i saw SW will probably be the starting c for our round#1 opponent in the playoffs.tp

I'm pretty much limited to exclusively pick-up ball at this point.

-sw

[BballTim]

Wafer's got some talent, but I don't think I've seen a player have as poor of a two minute stretch of basketball since Shelden Williams.

  I think Baby's had a few of those stretches recently.

[BballTim]

If Von Wafer is playing anything but garbage minutes for us in the playoffs, we're in trouble.

  I can't imagine him getting many minutes instead of having a PP/Green wing combo with Ray on the bench.

[Senninsage]

I'm still stunned that many more aren't sharing this opinion. Did we pay attention to the two penetration plays that Wafer had last night against the Wizards in the 3rd quarter? In both instances, he gave flawless passes to Jermaine O'neal. Both baskets should have been scored by Jermaine, but it wasn't for lack of effort obviously.

Still, I've been accustomed to seeing those result in turnovers lately, but Wafer's passes were surprisingly accurate and on point.

That stuff doesn't show up in a stat sheer, but Wafer was fantastic last night, and if Doc doesn't give him playoff minutes after that performance, even with his mistakes, then I'll have to say Doc doesn't know what he's doing.

[BballTim]

  Stunned is a pretty strong word. Wafer probably played well last night but those "mistakes" are the kind of things that can cost you playoff games.

[Chris]

I'm still stunned that many more aren't sharing this opinion. Did we pay attention to the two penetration plays that Wafer had last night against the Wizards in the 3rd quarter? In both instances, he gave flawless passes to Jermaine O'neal. Both baskets should have been scored by Jermaine, but it wasn't for lack of effort obviously.

Still, I've been accustomed to seeing those result in turnovers lately, but Wafer's passes were surprisingly accurate and on point.

That stuff doesn't show up in a stat sheer, but Wafer was fantastic last night, and if Doc doesn't give him playoff minutes after that performance, even with his mistakes, then I'll have to say Doc doesn't know what he's doing.

The good plays were nice, but I don't think they completely wipe out all of the bad plays.  

And it was not just the missed dunk late in the game.  There were multiple times when he was out of control on his drives, and got stuck up in the air without any place to go.  There was also the fast break when he waited too long to pass it to a wide open Green.  And so on.  

The kid is clearly very talented, but he doesn't know how to put it together with the mental part of the game yet.  And its not like this is something new.  This has been the rap on him for his whole career, which is why he has not had a ton of opportunities, despite putting up good numbers in Houston, and having a ton of talent.  

[blink]

I think VW was pretty bad at the start of the season.  He seemed selfish with the ball, and didn't seem to put for a celtic-like effort on D.  But funny thing, along the way after the fight with Delonte, and probably getting yelled at a LOT by Doc, I think somewhere mid season he started playing better and bought into the culture somewhat.  Doc seemed to get more comfortable with finding his spots for Von and I changed my mind around the middle of the year about him. 

Just like Senninsage says, he brings energy and a bit of fire.  I would rather have Von's 110% effort with his jaw dropping plays and head scratching dumb plays than Sasha or Murphy just sleepwalking out there.  I think Von should be active through the whole playoffs unless an injury to one of our bigs forces our hand to include Murphy.  To me, Murphy seems out of synch / out of shape / and unfocused when he is out there. 

Von can create his own shot, get to the hoop, and generate energy that our 2nd unit (and lately our 1st unit) needs really badly.  I don't think he should be playing 20 min a night, but 10-12 minutes with all out energy on D and hopefully getting to the hoop to energize the team would be a huge help.  I am pulling for Von to play well.

A lot of times you think the Celts are lacking proper motivation, and this guy always goes out there with energy, like he's looking to prove something.

Earlier in the season, it looked more like he was trying to prove to everybody that he was good individually. But lately, I think he is trying to prove more that he can help the team, and not so much himself.

He had some mistakes last night, but he did a number of great things as well. He's not perfect, but he's a guy this team needs.

[Steve Weinman]

I'm still stunned that many more aren't sharing this opinion. Did we pay attention to the two penetration plays that Wafer had last night against the Wizards in the 3rd quarter? In both instances, he gave flawless passes to Jermaine O'neal. Both baskets should have been scored by Jermaine, but it wasn't for lack of effort obviously.

Still, I've been accustomed to seeing those result in turnovers lately, but Wafer's passes were surprisingly accurate and on point.

That stuff doesn't show up in a stat sheer, but Wafer was fantastic last night, and if Doc doesn't give him playoff minutes after that performance, even with his mistakes, then I'll have to say Doc doesn't know what he's doing.

Stunned that more people aren't willing to draw definitive conclusions based on a sample size of all of one game against one of the league's weakest teams in early April?

I happen to like certain parts of what Wafer brings to the table as well, but considering a) what he takes off the table, b) the fact that he has played 516 minutes all year and c) last night was his first appearance of more than three minutes in more than a month, you may want to excuse those of us who won't be ready to decide Doc "doesn't know what he's doing" if doesn't immediately grant Wafer playoff minutes.

That's not to say that I'd have a problem seeing him get playoff minutes in the certain spots, but I might shy from advocating for said minutes with such bombast.

On an unrelated note, Chris' remark about Wafer/TA is this week's frontrunner for "Comment I Wish I'd Thought Of First."

-sw

[Fafnir]

  Stunned is a pretty strong word. Wafer probably played well last night but those "mistakes" are the kind of things that can cost you playoff games.

Those mistakes allowed the wizards to win last night. I shudder to think how I'd feel if he did it in the playoffs.

[Steve Weinman]

  Stunned is a pretty strong word. Wafer probably played well last night but those "mistakes" are the kind of things that can cost you playoff games.

Those mistakes allowed the wizards to win last night. I shudder to think how I'd feel if he did it in the playoffs.

I don't think Wafer's mistakes will lead to a single Wizards win in the playoffs.  So there!  Play him 40 minutes per night!

-sw