the one thing I wanted out of the draft was a raw 7 footer with potential.  That's the one thing. 

My reasoning was simple... Rajon Rondo wouldn't have become the player he became had he not had mentors like Doc Rivers, Danny Ainge, Sam Cassell, Ray Allen, Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce during his early years.  It was like a master-class in being an NBA star.  But KG has never had a true apprentice.  A true 7 footer for him to mentor.  Maybe Fab Melo is that guy... he's certainly as raw as it gets.  Probably too raw. 

http://espn.go.com/boston/columns/nba/story/_/id/8113246/tracing-fab-melo-journey

I'll be the first to admit he wasn't my first choice in the draft. But I'll also admit that i didn't really know a lot about him. The more I look into it the happier I am with this pick. I think he has a lot of upside, and is still learning. He's definitely a project... can either be a very serviceable NBA big man or a bust depending on the environment. I think a team like ours can bring the best out of him.

Now lets just hope KG comes back. There isn't a better mentor out there

TP for the article....hope the Cs don't use him as trade bait...I think many on this board will hold his poor academic choices against him forever....he has paid his penalty by a lower draft position and consequent less $$$$$...

academic indifference does NOT equate to basketball indifference...some people don't get that and think that if you are a lazy student that you are a lazy hoopster...silly

http://espn.go.com/boston/columns/nba/story/_/id/8113246/tracing-fab-melo-journey

I'll be the first to admit he wasn't my first choice in the draft. But I'll also admit that i didn't really know a lot about him. The more I look into it the happier I am with this pick. I think he has a lot of upside, and is still learning. He's definitely a project... can either be a very serviceable NBA big man or a bust depending on the environment. I think a team like ours can bring the best out of him.

Now lets just hope KG comes back. There isn't a better mentor out there

This to me sums up why he struggled academically and with his immaturity issues...

"Imagine as a 17-year-old you packed your bags and flew to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil to pursue your lifelong dream not knowing any Portuguese, not knowing what school or life in Brazil was like, and you did it without your parents or any kind of adult supervision," Ross said. "How do you think you would have done? Personally, I would have folded.


I mean, how well can you do in college with that? Think about all the small-town valedictorians that either flunk out or are barely hanging on in college, who speak the language natively and learned using that language all their lives (I don't have the stats but reportedly it happens often)... if they can't do it, it should be understandable that Fab struggled! You can't speak to his failure in education and just attribute it to laziness or work ethic. The guy put in WORK from freshman to sophomore year! Everyone that talks about him (people who actually KNOW him, coaches and scouts alike) said the guy is a hard worker... I think I will take their word for it rather than the word of people who just look from the outside!

Quote from: LarBrd33 on June 29, 2012, 09:28:49 PM

the one thing I wanted out of the draft was a raw 7 footer with potential.  That's the one thing.  

My reasoning was simple... Rajon Rondo wouldn't have become the player he became had he not had mentors like Doc Rivers, Danny Ainge, Sam Cassell, Ray Allen, Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce during his early years.  It was like a master-class in being an NBA star.  But KG has never had a true apprentice.  A true 7 footer for him to mentor.  Maybe Fab Melo is that guy... he's certainly as raw as it gets.  Probably too raw.  

Well, he did have Patrick O'Bryant, who he couldn't reach, and he had Semih Erden the year before last, who seemed to be developing nicely with KG as a mentor until Danny shipped him out of town.  Stiemsma seems to be turning into a real pro under this team's tutelage, as well.

I have high hopes for Fab Melo.

Yeah... hard to believe O'Bryant was a 9th pick.  Dude was a serious bust well before he arrived in Boston.  Erden was the 60th pick... a nobody.

It can't just be any ol 7 footer.  I wanted it to be one who was athletic and had serious potential.  I really don't know if Fab Melo is that guy either.  It almost sounded like that Perry Jones kid was a better fit for the "super athletic, 6'10+ kid with serious potential"... and ideally the best fit for "raw physical freak with unlimited potential in the right situation" was Andre Drummond, I guess.  Anyhow... at least Melo displays the ability to play defense.  He's only been playing basketball since 9th grade, apparently.  If he has the right attitude, he could learn a lot.

I'm going to start calling him Fabrico de Melo.  I like that so much better than "Fab" or "Melo".

The same people who give grief to Fab Melo for underperforming academically wanted Royce White someone with rap-sheet.    A little hypocritical. Hopefully Fab proves all his naysayers wrong.

Quote from: LarBrd33 on June 29, 2012, 10:06:04 PM

Quote from: Celtics18 on June 29, 2012, 09:39:41 PM

Quote from: LarBrd33 on June 29, 2012, 09:28:49 PM

the one thing I wanted out of the draft was a raw 7 footer with potential.  That's the one thing.  

My reasoning was simple... Rajon Rondo wouldn't have become the player he became had he not had mentors like Doc Rivers, Danny Ainge, Sam Cassell, Ray Allen, Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce during his early years.  It was like a master-class in being an NBA star.  But KG has never had a true apprentice.  A true 7 footer for him to mentor.  Maybe Fab Melo is that guy... he's certainly as raw as it gets.  Probably too raw.  

Well, he did have Patrick O'Bryant, who he couldn't reach, and he had Semih Erden the year before last, who seemed to be developing nicely with KG as a mentor until Danny shipped him out of town.  Stiemsma seems to be turning into a real pro under this team's tutelage, as well.

I have high hopes for Fab Melo.

Yeah... hard to believe O'Bryant was a 9th pick.  Dude was a serious bust well before he arrived in Boston.  Erden was the 60th pick... a nobody.

It can't just be any ol 7 footer.  I wanted it to be one who was athletic and had serious potential.  I really don't know if Fab Melo is that guy either.  It almost sounded like that Perry Jones kid was a better fit for the "super athletic, 6'10+ kid with serious potential"... and ideally the best fit for "raw physical freak with unlimited potential in the right situation" was Andre Drummond, I guess.  Anyhow... at least Melo displays the ability to play defense.  He's only been playing basketball since 9th grade, apparently.  If he has the right attitude, he could learn a lot.

I still think that Semih Erden will be a good NBA player.

Is Stiemer that much better than Semih. Stiemer gets more blocks but Semih bothered a lot more shots.