Will Phil Pressey make an impact?

[PhoSita]

He'll make in impact out of need. The Celts have made backup pgs and centers look good, because we haven't had any decent backups recently. Guys like Carlos Arroyo, Marbury, Wilcox, Kristic, Greg Steimsma and even Semih Erden look good. Not one of those guys did anything substantial after they left.

Marginal role players had a much easier time looking like decent NBA players when they had the Big 3 as teammates.  That may not be so much the case anymore now that Pierce and Garnett are gone.

[Galeto]

I personally liked the way he played defense this summer.

The issue to me is that Stevens apparently places a high premium on offensive efficiency.

I'm not sure Pressey's history of sometimes inefficient and turnover-prone play fits that mold.

Lee might be a safer bet to get the bulk of PG minutes. Lee is also a better pairing size-wise if Bradley is getting substantial minutes at SG.

No team can get away with starting Lee, Bradley and Green on the perimeter due to the severe lack of playmaking and ballhandling.  I have zero hours for Pressley but I'd rather go with him or Crawford over Lee.

I see your points about Lee, but Pressey is an unproven rookie with turnover issues, and Crawford has his own flaws. And at least with Lee starting we will have one above-average three point shooter on the floor.

I don't think there's a good option, honestly. Every pairing has some major drawbacks.

Perhaps Stevens can coax a little more out of Green in terms of playmaking - he was used more as an offensive facilitator at G-town.

I'm all for watching Lee, Avery and Green try to run a team.  It'll be hilarious in its own way for a NBA team  to have a starting lineup in which the best ballhandler and passer grade out as Cs (I'd say Green in both instances).  In a year with little expectations, let the entertainment come in odd ways but I can't see a coach going on that direction.  Stevens is a wildcard though so maybe it's possible.

If Sullinger isn't ready to start the year and Olynk also comes off the bench, a lineup of Lee, Avery, Green, Bass and Humphries would be without a doubt the worst passing and ball handling starting lineup of all-time. This would be interesting.

[More Banners]

Celticsblog offseason:  When undrafted rookies just might be impact players.

It would be nice to have a real backup PG for the first time since...oh never mind.

[slamtheking]

If Sullinger isn't ready to start the year and Olynk also comes off the bench, a lineup of Lee, Avery, Green, Bass and Humphries would be without a doubt the worst passing and ball handling starting lineup of all-time. This would be interesting.

That is a terrifying thought.  If you think people were complaining about lack of ball movement last year, I can only imagine how bad it will be this year until Rondo gets back.

[More Banners]

If Sullinger isn't ready to start the year and Olynk also comes off the bench, a lineup of Lee, Avery, Green, Bass and Humphries would be without a doubt the worst passing and ball handling starting lineup of all-time. This would be interesting.

That is a terrifying thought.  If you think people were complaining about lack of ball movement last year, I can only imagine how bad it will be this year until Rondo gets back.

Some of us have complained about lack of ball movement WITH Rondo, e.g. the one-pass, one-shot offense.

[LooseCannon]

Celticsblog offseason:  When undrafted rookies just might be impact players.

There are always undrafted rookies out there who can step in and be a solid rotation player, even on a playoff team.  They just don't always catch on with a team in the NBA and when they do they don't always get a chance to play.

[Chris]

My initial thought is JR Bremer.  He is a guy with a couple NBA skills, that can get him on the floor on a lottery team.  But, unless he makes dramatic improvements in his understanding of the game, and shows better instincts, he is just going to be another pg without any superior skills to set him apart from all of the other guys fighting for spots at the end of rosters.  There is some talent there, but he needs a lot of work to be anything close to an impact player, or even a rotation player on a team not gunning for the lottery.

[Tr1boy]

 Pressey's #1 detriment was how his fg per went from 43% to 37% and also an increase to his TO numbers from sophmore to junior year. #2 is his size. But if size alone was the main factor, a guy like Shane Larking couldn't be drafted in the first round.

So to explain the #1 problem, Pressey does have a way out imo. During sophmore year he had quite a good supporting cast to work with. He didn't have to be jacking up shots all over the place, especially late in the game. During his junior year, he was the main guy. And while doing his job making everyone else better, the team had nobody to close the door and he stepped in to try to do the job. Basically he did a job he is not suited to do.

What i saw in the SL games, especially the last three was a first round pick who was not even drafted. Immensly skilled at dribbling, passing, orchastrating the offense, and playing relentless defense. Someone who is bright and coachable. His fg percentage in the last three games were near 50 per, and turnover only about 2. His impact especially when he was just on the court was big.

I'm not saying that he won't go back to his bad habits here and there. But a guy with his talent level not being drafted and desperate to prolong his nba career, is prob on a do or die mode right about now.  I'm excited to see what he can do with nba talent around him

 

[Boris Badenov]

Pressey's #1 detriment was how his fg per went from 43% to 37% and also an increase to his TO numbers from sophmore to junior year. #2 is his size. But if size alone was the main factor, a guy like Shane Larking couldn't be drafted in the first round.

So to explain the #1 problem, Pressey does have a way out imo. During sophmore year he had quite a good supporting cast to work with. He didn't have to be jacking up shots all over the place, especially late in the game. During his junior year, he was the main guy. And while doing his job making everyone else better, the team had nobody to close the door and he stepped in to try to do the job. Basically he did a job he is not suited to do.

What i saw in the SL games, especially the last three was a first round pick who was not even drafted. Immensly skilled at dribbling, passing, orchastrating the offense, and playing relentless defense. Someone who is bright and coachable. His fg percentage in the last three games were near 50 per, and turnover only about 2. His impact especially when he was just on the court was big.

You're right about his FG%, but in his last 3 summer league games he had 2, 4 and 5 turnovers averaging 23mpg. He had 13 assists against 11 turnovers in those games, which is terrible for a point guard.

Overall he averaged 4.0 turnovers per game in 23mpg. That is a very high rate.

I really like his defensive pressure, but like I said above, given that Stevens seems to be a "value the ball" type of coach, I don't see Pressey as a good fit in terms of playing substantial minutes.