Can Pressey be a starter in the NBA?

[krumeto]

If he plays like he did tonight, absolutely.

However, that's just not sustainable.  I think his upside is a career rotation player, which wouldn't be bad at all.

being undrafted and producing like he did - I see some JJ Barea in him. If he can be more consistent, I see him as a great backup to Rondo.

He will be out of the league the second when the Celtics decide they want to actually compete for something. The nifty passes are nifty, but on the balance, he hasn't looked like an NBA player to me.

and when is that going to be? next year? or the year after? Even if we do not keep him, the way he is playing and if he keep improving, I don't see how he will not end up in other teams. Look at Stiemsma, nobody knew him before we got him fromt he D-League, then he hopped to the Wolves then the Pelicans. We'll see how well he plays for the rest of the season, and as most people already said, he's cheap.

The league has very little use for small guards who have neither great speed/quickness nor great shooting ability. That has nothing to do with who knew him and who didn't, it has everything to do with what he gives a team on the court. Sorry, but that's just the way it is.

It is indeed a hard life for small guards in the league but some survived. JJ Barea comes as an example - 36% FG, 29% 3P%, under 1 APG, 2,4 PPG on under 6 min in his rookie year on a very strong Dallas team. Not looking very good.

Dallas left him on the roster and the guy went on to become a capable back-up on a championship team. Looking at his rookie year numbers he was neither a great shooter nor he was or is faster than Pressey.

JJ was sent to the D-League for a while, but that's the "beauty" of this Celtics team. We basically have a D-year.

As you've indicated, Barea barely got any playing time in his rookie year. Pressey has, and I just don't see it in what he's shown. He has all the signs of waiver wire fodder.

He has shown very good court vision, while limiting TOs (ASS/TO ratio is above 3), pretty decent man-to-man D, 0,9 steals, shooting no-worse than JJ Barea, at the cost of 500K/year. If he keeps up all of the above and gets his 3p% to ca. 35%, we have a decent back-up at for peanuts.

[kozlodoev]

He has shown very good court vision, while limiting TOs (ASS/TO ratio is above 3), pretty decent man-to-man D, 0,9 steals, shooting no-worse than JJ Barea, at the cost of 500K/year. If he keeps up all of the above and gets his 3p% to ca. 35%, we have a decent back-up at for peanuts.

He's shooting considerably worse than Barea ever did. As a matter of fact, I can't recall ever seeing a player who shot 28% on 100 or more shots. And from what I've seen so far, he can't finish at all, and doesn't want the jump shot.

And as I mentioned already, the nifty passes are nice, but that alone doesn't make an NBA player. Just ask Orien Greene.

[Tr1boy]

He has shown very good court vision, while limiting TOs (ASS/TO ratio is above 3), pretty decent man-to-man D, 0,9 steals, shooting no-worse than JJ Barea, at the cost of 500K/year. If he keeps up all of the above and gets his 3p% to ca. 35%, we have a decent back-up at for peanuts.

He's shooting considerably worse than Barea ever did. As a matter of fact, I can't recall ever seeing a player who shot 28% on 100 or more shots. And from what I've seen so far, he can't finish at all, and doesn't want the jump shot.

And as I mentioned already, the nifty passes are nice, but that alone doesn't make an NBA player. Just ask Orien Greene.

I mentioned in the 1st post IF he stays consistent with his shot.

There is no need to compare or analyze stats

[krumeto]

He has shown very good court vision, while limiting TOs (ASS/TO ratio is above 3), pretty decent man-to-man D, 0,9 steals, shooting no-worse than JJ Barea, at the cost of 500K/year. If he keeps up all of the above and gets his 3p% to ca. 35%, we have a decent back-up at for peanuts.

He's shooting considerably worse than Barea ever did. As a matter of fact, I can't recall ever seeing a player who shot 28% on 100 or more shots. And from what I've seen so far, he can't finish at all, and doesn't want the jump shot.

And as I mentioned already, the nifty passes are nice, but that alone doesn't make an NBA player. Just ask Orien Greene.

Would you like to keep him for the next 3 years of his 500 K a year contract if he shoots say 41% from the field and 33% from deep while keeping his assist numbers?

Barea improved his 3point shooting by 10% during his second year. Pressey's mechanics are good enough to expect improvement.

By waiving him now or in the future we get what exactly? Roster spot? 500 K?

[kozlodoev]

He has shown very good court vision, while limiting TOs (ASS/TO ratio is above 3), pretty decent man-to-man D, 0,9 steals, shooting no-worse than JJ Barea, at the cost of 500K/year. If he keeps up all of the above and gets his 3p% to ca. 35%, we have a decent back-up at for peanuts.

He's shooting considerably worse than Barea ever did. As a matter of fact, I can't recall ever seeing a player who shot 28% on 100 or more shots. And from what I've seen so far, he can't finish at all, and doesn't want the jump shot.

And as I mentioned already, the nifty passes are nice, but that alone doesn't make an NBA player. Just ask Orien Greene.

Would you like to keep him for the next 3 years of his 500 K a year contract if he shoots say 41% from the field and 33% from deep while keeping his assist numbers?

Barea improved his 3point shooting by 10% during his second year. Pressey's mechanics are good enough to expect improvement.

By waiving him now or in the future we get what exactly? Roster spot? 500 K?

Didn't realize I have to state the obvious, but the reason any competitive team would cut Pressey is to carry 15 players that are better than him.

[SHAQATTACK]

Pressey and C Johnson are perfect for a tanking club......young , cheap, playing with " I want to make it" energy ,  enthusiasm , which which kills TWO birds with one rock ....for DA

Provides fans with a nice game , honest effort and excitement .....and secondly

Without a true elite star player who can take over the last quarter and bring home the win "iso Ime" ,   these players are going to seldom win ......stars make the consistent clutch shots which we have none.....so their heroic efforts end in losses to set the team up for a lotto pick


Great formula ......until elite talent Can be gathered up.

[krumeto]

He has shown very good court vision, while limiting TOs (ASS/TO ratio is above 3), pretty decent man-to-man D, 0,9 steals, shooting no-worse than JJ Barea, at the cost of 500K/year. If he keeps up all of the above and gets his 3p% to ca. 35%, we have a decent back-up at for peanuts.

He's shooting considerably worse than Barea ever did. As a matter of fact, I can't recall ever seeing a player who shot 28% on 100 or more shots. And from what I've seen so far, he can't finish at all, and doesn't want the jump shot.

And as I mentioned already, the nifty passes are nice, but that alone doesn't make an NBA player. Just ask Orien Greene.

Would you like to keep him for the next 3 years of his 500 K a year contract if he shoots say 41% from the field and 33% from deep while keeping his assist numbers?

Barea improved his 3point shooting by 10% during his second year. Pressey's mechanics are good enough to expect improvement.

By waiving him now or in the future we get what exactly? Roster spot? 500 K?

Didn't realize I have to state the obvious, but the reason any competitive team would cut Pressey is to carry 15 players that are better than him.

Just better is not good enough, his contract is too good.

I'd gladly waive him - this time next year if his shooting stays the same and I have an obviously better alternative. Better as in better combination of production, potential and cap hit.

[kozlodoev]

Just better is not good enough, his contract is too good.

I'd gladly waive him - this time next year if his shooting stays the same and I have an obviously better alternative. Better as in better combination of production, potential and cap hit.

No, his contract is not "too good". You can easily find serviceable, experienced guards at the veteran minimum, and we've done it before.

Gabe Pruitt, the last similar player we had on a "too good" contract lasted 2 seasons with the Celtics.

[Tr1boy]

Just better is not good enough, his contract is too good.

I'd gladly waive him - this time next year if his shooting stays the same and I have an obviously better alternative. Better as in better combination of production, potential and cap hit.

No, his contract is not "too good". You can easily find serviceable, experienced guards at the veteran minimum, and we've done it before.

Gabe Pruitt, the last similar player we had on a "too good" contract lasted 2 seasons with the Celtics.

Disagree. Pressey needed patience and time to play. And he has gotten a chance to start and we r 2-0. And he was significan in both games and u want to cut him?

Do you miss jcraw? Tell, who u rather have be a backup pg for 500k

[kozlodoev]

Just better is not good enough, his contract is too good.

I'd gladly waive him - this time next year if his shooting stays the same and I have an obviously better alternative. Better as in better combination of production, potential and cap hit.

No, his contract is not "too good". You can easily find serviceable, experienced guards at the veteran minimum, and we've done it before.

Gabe Pruitt, the last similar player we had on a "too good" contract lasted 2 seasons with the Celtics.

Disagree. Pressey needed patience and time to play. And he has gotten a chance to start and we r 2-0. And he was significan in both games and u want to cut him?

Do you miss jcraw? Tell, who u rather have be a backup pg for 500k

We've said this pretty much about every scrub we drafted late or signed undrafted. I don't know why fans still believe that every warm body will miraculously turn into a legitimate NBA player if given enough time, when experience shows exactly the opposite.

Also, I don't want to cut him. Actually reading my posts, as well as using some common sense are strongly advised.

And I'd swap Pressey for Crawford tomorrow if I could. But I can't.

[Tr1boy]

Just better is not good enough, his contract is too good.

I'd gladly waive him - this time next year if his shooting stays the same and I have an obviously better alternative. Better as in better combination of production, potential and cap hit.

No, his contract is not "too good". You can easily find serviceable, experienced guards at the veteran minimum, and we've done it before.

Gabe Pruitt, the last similar player we had on a "too good" contract lasted 2 seasons with the Celtics.

Disagree. Pressey needed patience and time to play. And he has gotten a chance to start and we r 2-0. And he was significan in both games and u want to cut him?

Do you miss jcraw? Tell, who u rather have be a backup pg for 500k

We've said this pretty much about every scrub we drafted late or signed undrafted. I don't know why fans still believe that every warm body will miraculously turn into a legitimate NBA player if given enough time, when experience shows exactly the opposite.

Also, I don't want to cut him. Actually reading my posts, as well as using some common sense are strongly advised.

And I'd swap Pressey for Crawford tomorrow if I could. But I can't.

jcraw is a bs pg or wannabe pg. He would also be dominated if he played SG.  So why do you exactly like him?

Can you not see Pressey instead pushing the pace, and making quick decisions. He rarely pounds the ball.  When you pound the ball like Jcraw did, everyone is just standing around and staring. Plus the worse thing happened to us and that is everyone looked for their own shot (prob bc they think they will never see a pass for the rest of the game)

I get your point about these 2nd round picks/undrafted players coming in and out like revolving doors.  They have more minuses then pluses. Pressey on the other hand fell through the cracks. If you do a checkmark about his pluses and minus, his pluses outweight the minuses.  He has ELITE quickness, plays strong defense, high iq and passing skills vs small size, lack of offensive output (due to size), can't make open jump shot

But from watching last nights game, it looks like he has turned the corner on being incapable to shoot. Even if he struggles the next game, you know sooner or later he will have a nice shooting game. etc. Once his jump shot needs to be respected i bet we will see him drive in to the basket more and show us some nice teardrop shots etc.

I think the one big underrated quality out of everything is his ability to meet and thrive in pressure situations. This is something many backup pg's cannot do. This is something in general something Jcraw failed to do. 

[RRNoLookPass]

The league has very little use for small guards who have neither great speed/quickness nor great shooting ability. That has nothing to do with who knew him and who didn't, it has everything to do with what he gives a team on the court. Sorry, but that's just the way it is.

Small guards certainly have to work very hard to stay in the league. But...Pressey has neither great speed/quickness nor great shooting ability? Are you watching the games in slow-mo? Anyone will agree that he lacks great shooting ability, as his percentages are horrible, albeit in limited mpg. But Pressey has excellent speed/quickness. It's his great lateral foot speed, and speed/quickness in general that allows him to zip up in down the court in transition, play aggressive defense, and do a very solid job of staying in front of his man on D.

[kozlodoev]

The league has very little use for small guards who have neither great speed/quickness nor great shooting ability. That has nothing to do with who knew him and who didn't, it has everything to do with what he gives a team on the court. Sorry, but that's just the way it is.

Small guards certainly have to work very hard to stay in the league. But...Pressey has neither great speed/quickness nor great shooting ability? Are you watching the games in slow-mo? Anyone will agree that he lacks great shooting ability, as his percentages are horrible, albeit in limited mpg. But Pressey has excellent speed/quickness. It's his great lateral foot speed, and speed/quickness in general that allows him to zip up in down the court in transition, play aggressive defense, and do a very solid job of staying in front of his man on D.

Perhaps I am not looking as close as some others, but I'm only seeing an average ability to stay in front of his man. In terms of quickness, I've seen zero ability to get separation from defenders in order to finish under the basket.

Let's put it this way -- I don't see him as more gifted in those areas than many average-sized PGs. But maybe I'm just not paying attention.

[RRNoLookPass]

The league has very little use for small guards who have neither great speed/quickness nor great shooting ability. That has nothing to do with who knew him and who didn't, it has everything to do with what he gives a team on the court. Sorry, but that's just the way it is.

Small guards certainly have to work very hard to stay in the league. But...Pressey has neither great speed/quickness nor great shooting ability? Are you watching the games in slow-mo? Anyone will agree that he lacks great shooting ability, as his percentages are horrible, albeit in limited mpg. But Pressey has excellent speed/quickness. It's his great lateral foot speed, and speed/quickness in general that allows him to zip up in down the court in transition, play aggressive defense, and do a very solid job of staying in front of his man on D.

Perhaps I am not looking as close as some others, but I'm only seeing an average ability to stay in front of his man. In terms of quickness, I've seen zero ability to get separation from defenders in order to finish under the basket.
Let's put it this way -- I don't see him as more gifted in those areas than many average-sized PGs. But maybe I'm just not paying attention.

I hear ya on that one. He's been a horrible finisher...I feel no need to elaborate much on that part of your statement. Pressey's FG percentages & shot do All the talking right there.
I really do hope he becomes a more efficient shooter, and a better finisher.

But regarding the other part of the comment I bolded-- I don't think Pressey's inability to gain separation from defenders has been a result of subpar speed/quickness. I just think he needs to work on step-back jumpers, body control, head fakes/pump fakes, ability to draw contract, and things like that.

Look at Pierce--he is not nearly as quick as he used to be, but he uses superb body control to create space to nail step-back jumpers in defenders' faces. Pierce also uses his amazing head-fake skills to gain separation needed for jumpshots, finishi ngat the rim, and getting to the line.

Now back to Pressey...He is already a gifted ball-handler. It would be tough for him to gain the separation & space needed to connect on many of the tough passes he makes if he wasn't a good ball-handler. It would also be tough for a poor ball-handler to have such a solid assist/turnover ratio. But typically when Pressey drives, it is simply to suck in the defense, and then kick the ball out to an open teammate for an assist...Which is nice, but I wish he would use dribble drives more often to take shots at the rim.

If Pressey can also start using his dribbling/handling skills to work on gaining separation for step-back jumpers, that would be a nice start. He certainly already has speed and quickness.

[vinnie]

Don't think so, but given how hard he works, who knows. The fact that he was shooting 23 percent from the field for the season prior to the Wizards' game is a bit concerning. He does see the court as well as anyone on the team but Rondo, and is an excellent passer.