Is Stiemsma the real deal? Have we found a Perk replacement?

[Fafnir]

Right now, Stiemsma has, BY FAR, our team's best individual Defensive Rating at just .98 points per possession (even KG, the god of this stat, is still up at 1.04 ppp).  

That's because he hardly played in our first three games where we got killed defensively. (we were at the bottom of the league)

Playing the Pistons and Wizards twice is a healthy way to lower your defensive rating. (though we were still a 108 against detroit)

[Greenbean]

His timing on shot blocking is so exceptional, I dont see how that shouldnt also translate to timing on getting rebounds, even if he cannot box out very well.

KG has never been able to box out well, but his timing is so good, even with diminished athleticism he has been able to be an average to above-average rebounder at his position.

One thing I noticed last night is that he was setting picks better. He was making solid contact where he was whiffing on ill timed picks earlier in the year.

Maybe he just needs to get a feel for NBA game speed and he will become a better rebounder.

If his skill set looks like this by the end of the year, we have a solid rotation player.

Elite weakside shot blocking defender
Reliable open jump shooter
Average Rebounder

Right now he has 1.5 of these 3 skill sets (need to see mroe shooting).

[snively]

If Troy Murphy can carve out a lucrative NBA career with only two above-average skills (elite perimeter shooting from the PF position and solid defensive rebounding), then things are looking pretty good for Stiemsma if his shot-blocking and mid-range J hold up

[Tai]

If there's one way to describe Stiemsma, it is NOT timid. No way. I won't accuse anyone specifically, but any implications of that must come from him being from Turkey; a Euro, basically. Or, you're just comparing him to Krstic; big man with a jumpshot, and so on, but not as physically built as other centers.

Seeing him play, timid is NOT how I'd describe him.

[Boris Badenov]

His timing on shot blocking is so exceptional, I dont see how that shouldnt also translate to timing on getting rebounds, even if he cannot box out very well.

KG has never been able to box out well, but his timing is so good, even with diminished athleticism he has been able to be an average to above-average rebounder at his position.

One thing I noticed last night is that he was setting picks better. He was making solid contact where he was whiffing on ill timed picks earlier in the year.

Maybe he just needs to get a feel for NBA game speed and he will become a better rebounder.

If his skill set looks like this by the end of the year, we have a solid rotation player.

Elite weakside shot blocking defender
Reliable open jump shooter
Average Rebounder

Right now he has 1.5 of these 3 skill sets (need to see mroe shooting).

Positioning is the other ingredient in rebounding. KG's is very good. Stiemsma's is bad - perhaps because his focus on shot-blocking leaves him out of position. I wouldn't be surprised to see Doc rein him in a bit, in terms of pursuing guys out to 10-15 feet for a block.

[mmmmm]

Right now, Stiemsma has, BY FAR, our team's best individual Defensive Rating at just .98 points per possession (even KG, the god of this stat, is still up at 1.04 ppp).  

That's because he hardly played in our first three games where we got killed defensively. (we were at the bottom of the league)

Playing the Pistons and Wizards twice is a healthy way to lower your defensive rating. (though we were still a 108 against detroit)

Oh yes, certainly.  I don't think I disguised the fact that these are all just silly, early-season small sample numbers.

The main point of them was simply to show that his various numbers don't yet scream, "timid!".   They may later on, but not so far.

They are a good start.  That's all.

[Cdash]

He looks like a very mediocre player who's good at blocking shots and can hit the jump-shot from the high-post.

[mmmmm]

Where is this myth that Stiemsma is a poor rebounder coming from? 

One person tosses that out there without support and then people start hedging their opinions as if it is a truism!

Stiemsma' rebound rates so far for us have been fine.  He's grabbed 20% of all defensive rebound chances, which is fine.  His rebound rates overall map to about 9 total rebs per 36 minutes, which is also fine.

Someone mumbled that they didn't think he had good rebound numbers in the D-League.  That's bogus.  In his 4 games this season before getting called up by the Celtics he was averaging 10.8 rebounds per game (on 36.1 minutes per game).  In 2009-2010 in 45 games he averaged 9.2 rebounds per 36 minutes (7.4 defensive) and posted a DRB% of 25.1, which is awesome.

So please, let's stop propagating this myth before there is any evidence to support it.

We may find that, indeed, in the NBA, he has shortcomings as a rebounder.  But there is absolutely ZERO evidence of that so far. 

[CelticsFanNC]

  I think he is a good back up Center in a historical perspective but in a league devoid of true centers he could probably turn his skill set into being a decent starting center fairly quickly with the right coaching.   

  He's a really good shot blocker, good rebounder and has a nice mid range jump shot right now.   

[action781]

danny ainge pulled some guy from the d-league and found a starter caliber nba player

He was d-league defensive player of the year.

[Fafnir]

Where is this myth that Stiemsma is a poor rebounder coming from?  

Who mentioned it though others have been concerned based on what we've seen in a C's uniform. I'd include myself among those skeptics because of the subjective eye test of his minutes.

 In 2009-2010 in 45 games he averaged 9.2 rebounds per 36 minutes (7.4 defensive) and posted a DRB% of 25.1, which is awesome.  

You have to remember that the D-League is often a faster paced game and also against lesser competition.

http://www.basketball-reference.com/nbdl/players/o/obryapa01d.html

Patrick O'Bryant was a below average rebounder in the NBA. Yet in the D-League he was an even better rebounder than Stiemsma, putting up better rebounding rate and reb/36 for a slower paced team.

[CFAN38]

He will be/already is a decent backup in this league. He will never develop the post game both offensively and defensively to be a legit starter at C. But has a nice skill set coming off the bench.

[celticslove]

He will be/already is a decent backup in this league. He will never develop the post game both offensively and defensively to be a legit starter at C. But has a nice skill set coming off the bench.

can you also look in your crystal ball if we can bring banner 18 this year? 

[nickagneta]

Okay so let's say as a "precaution" O'Neal is out again on Wednesday and Steimsma has another solid starting performance, when O'Neal returns Friday what happens to Steimsma?

Does he continue to start?

Does he go to the bench and get the nod as the backup and does Doc make Wilcox earn the minutes over Steimsma?

Or is he relegated to third string once again even though he may have shown to be more in tune with what the C's need and playing more consistently productive basketball than the two veterans in front of him?

[LooseCannon]

Patrick O'Bryant was a below average rebounder in the NBA. Yet in the D-League he was an even better rebounder than Stiemsma, putting up better rebounding rate and reb/36 for a slower paced team.

Obviously, one player is a small sample size.  Players such as Earl Barron and Sean Williams didn't have as much of a drop in rebounding as O'Bryant.

Speaking of Williams, who is third behind Chiek Samb and Stiemsma in NBADL career blocks per game, he is shooting over 70% with 29.6 points and 12.7 rebounds per 36 minutes in 3 games for Dallas.  Of course, the caveat is that he has only played 17 minutes and also has 16.9 fouls per 36 minutes.  Still, Williams was on my list of D-League bigs the Celtics should consider gambling on.