Don't be shocked if Fabulous Melo starts

[Rondooooooooo]

his real name is Fabrico

[Celtics18]

Tommy point for Change.  I would be shocked, but in a very positive way, if Fab Melo were to start at center for the Boston Celtics this season.

[jgod213]

Here's my prediction: Melo will play more minutes in the NBDL this year than he does minutes in his first two NBA seasons combined.

I think THAT is a realistic prediction and shows you just how far away Melo is from playing for this team, never mind starting.

I'd lean more towards this.

Fab has 2 huge things working against him:
-Doc doesn't like to play rookies.
-Fab has been playing the game basketball for about 3 years.

For a Doc Rivers coached team, that resume has NBDL or DNP-CD written all over it.

[action781]

It's not out of realm of possibility Doc starts Fab Melo alongside Garnett. I'm counting on the fact Garnett the miracle worker. He made Ryan Hollins look decent which was a miracle. Doc will give Melo a small role with couple of tasks: Defend, Offensive rebound, and Take Charges. I think Fab Melo can be a difference maker on defense. An intimidator who blocks a lot of shots, and alters a lot more shots inside. And when he isn't blocking shots, he takes charges. Those small intangibles can be the difference in winning and losing.

PF: Garnett/Bass
-C: Melo/Sullinger

It is. Fabulously, and completely out of realm of possibility. Even Jason Collins is likely to see more playing time than Fab Melo this season.

I agree.  As a matter of fact, I'd actually like to see Collins start at C against the Lakers.  I think Collins/KG would matchup better than KG/Bass against Dwight and Pau.  With Bass still playing 20-30 min off the bench and getting a more favorable matchup for him against Jamison, etc.

[LooseCannon]

I can't imagine Melo playing this year, much less starting.  Same for next year unless he makes enough progress to be the 3rd string center instead of Collins.

Jason Collins is no stranger to being at least a part-time starter while averaging less than 15mpg.  It is very possible that he could be used in that sort of role in Boston.  While unlikely, I don't think it is completely out of the realm of possibility that Melo can step into a similar role, where he is the nominal starter but doesn't sniff the floor in the fourth quarter except in blowouts and injuries/foul trouble to other bigs.

[footey]

Here's my prediction: Melo will play more minutes in the NBDL this year than he does minutes in his first two NBA seasons combined.

I think THAT is a realistic prediction and shows you just how far away Melo is from playing for this team, never mind starting.

Totally disagree. Melo has more upside than Stiemer or Hollands, and look at the minutes they got last season.  Doc likes to go big when the match up is right.

[bucknersrevenge]

Here's my prediction: Melo will play more minutes in the NBDL this year than he does minutes in his first two NBA seasons combined.

I think THAT is a realistic prediction and shows you just how far away Melo is from playing for this team, never mind starting.

I'd agree with this sentiment as well. And I wouldn't at all be opposed to Melo spending the whole season up in Maine to just learn the game. Melo is an example of what the D-League is best used for.

[Geo123]

It's not out of realm of possibility Doc starts Fab Melo alongside Garnett. I'm counting on the fact Garnett the miracle worker. He made Ryan Hollins look decent which was a miracle. Doc will give Melo a small role with couple of tasks: Defend, Offensive rebound, and Take Charges. I think Fab Melo can be a difference maker on defense. An intimidator who blocks a lot of shots, and alters a lot more shots inside. And when he isn't blocking shots, he takes charges. Those small intangibles can be the difference in winning and losing.

PF: Garnett/Bass
-C: Melo/Sullinger

Yes, yes it is...

[ManUp]

I just hope he can be decent enough not to get shipped to Maine. If he starts at any point this year that means a lot of bad things have happened.

[KGs Knee]

I know I won't be the least bit shocked if Melo starts.


For the Maine Red Claws.

[nickagneta]

Here's my prediction: Melo will play more minutes in the NBDL this year than he does minutes in his first two NBA seasons combined.

I think THAT is a realistic prediction and shows you just how far away Melo is from playing for this team, never mind starting.

I'd lean more towards this.

Fab has 2 huge things working against him:
-Doc doesn't like to play rookies.
-Fab has been playing the game basketball for about 3 years.

For a Doc Rivers coached team, that resume has NBDL or DNP-CD written all over it.

All that did factor into my decision. I don't think Doc is opposed to playing pro-level ready young talent. Bradley, Davis, Powe, Jefferson, Rondo etc. were rooks or second year guys that got lots of run. But I saw Melo in college a few times. He's a major project and not close to pro-level ready. So, yeah, Doc will avoid using him.

Sullinger I think is pro-level ready and I expect a lot of PT for him this year, which, of course, will go against what a lot of people think about Doc and young players but which I think is pretty consistent for Doc. If you are young and ready, you will play.

[Celtics18]

Here's my super bold prediction:

Fab Melo will get more minutes as a Boston Celtic this season than Jared Sullinger.

[Neurotic Guy]

Talk about setting things up for a major disappointment when there really doens't need to be any disappointment.  With the hope that he'll start, or even have rotation minutes, we set him up to be a bust if he looks like an out of place rookie.  Realistically, he'll spend most of the year looking like an out of place rookie. 

[SHAQATTACK]

I understand the OP's under lying feeling.   Now that Howard is a Laker , Fab is one of few potiental 7 footers that could give him trouble ..somewhere down the road.  As much as I wish he could become a force this year , I sort of doubt it. I was one who keep saying draft him everyday on these threads and was beat up everyday over it...   LoL....so I 'm still holding out hope,  but unless devine intervention takes place , it maybe couple years before he can make the impact we Fab fans are looking for.

I guess what I'm hoping is that DA KEEPS him like AB and sees his development though.

 ...just Maybe Fab can give Bynum and Howard a hard time in say two years under KG .  WIth Kobe getting really old by then , might be interesting sure enough...!! Pau will also be aged.

IF ...Bynums Knees and Howard back hold up that long enough for Fab to mature fully...  

[pearljammer10]

There is no possibility of this happening. Doc
Doesn't play rookies. Wilcox would get his minutes. I really hope
Fab sees the floor but why would we start an inexperienced unpolished rookie when we have so much veteran depth?