Bass makes interesting comments about dealing with lack of playing

[sed522002]

Stevens said he has tried to be "proactive" in conversations with players whose minutes have been cut. But Bass suggested otherwise.

“We haven’t talked about it," he said. "We don’t necessarily have to talk about it. Things are what they are. I just have to control what I can control.”

"No anticipating nothing like this man," he said. "You anticipate constantly growing every day and everybody seeing the growth. You know what I’m saying? You feel me?"

He added: "I think it’s just my job to control what I can control. And what I can control is how hard I work and how much I improve every day. I would just say about the whole situation, perception is something else, man.”

What did Bass mean by that last comment?

“You know what perception is, right?" he said. "So the perception of things. You see one thing but it’s not really that. That’s all.”

Fine. But to what perception was Bass referring?

“If I wanted to tell you that," he said, "that’s what I would have said instead of perception.”

http://www.masslive.com/celtics/index.ssf/2014/12/brandon_bass_boston_celtics_pl.html

[Tr1boy]

Stevens said he has tried to be "proactive" in conversations with players whose minutes have been cut. But Bass suggested otherwise.

“We haven’t talked about it," he said. "We don’t necessarily have to talk about it. Things are what they are. I just have to control what I can control.”

"No anticipating nothing like this man," he said. "You anticipate constantly growing every day and everybody seeing the growth. You know what I’m saying? You feel me?"

He added: "I think it’s just my job to control what I can control. And what I can control is how hard I work and how much I improve every day. I would just say about the whole situation, perception is something else, man.”

What did Bass mean by that last comment?

“You know what perception is, right?" he said. "So the perception of things. You see one thing but it’s not really that. That’s all.”

Fine. But to what perception was Bass referring?

“If I wanted to tell you that," he said, "that’s what I would have said instead of perception.”

http://www.masslive.com/celtics/index.ssf/2014/12/brandon_bass_boston_celtics_pl.html

[Jiri Welsch]

Stevens has lost one of the most level-headed and consistent veterans on the roster.

That's a good coach right there!!! We need to trade some people ASAP.

Though in all fairness, I attribute most of the Celtics problems to how Ainge has constructed the roster. You can't just accumulate a hodgepodge of players and expect it to somehow work out.

[MBunge]

I would imagine that Stevens has talked to players in general but I doubt he talks to Bass or any player every single time he drastically cuts his minutes.  Which is sort of the problem with this rotation nonsense.

Mike

[MBunge]

Stevens has lost one of the most level-headed and consistent veterans on the roster.

That's a good coach right there!!! We need to trade some people ASAP.

Though in all fairness, I attribute most of the Celtics problems to how Ainge has constructed the roster. You can't just accumulate a hodgepodge of players and expect it to somehow work out.

This year's roster isn't that bad.

PG - Rondo-then-Nelson, Pressey, Smart.
SG - Bradley, Smart, Thornton, Young and now Crowder
SF - Green, Wallace
PF - Sully, KO, Bass and now Wright
C - Zeller

Aside from having to spend 20 something minutes with a PF at Center, this roster is relatively well-balanced and has guys playing in their natural positions.  It's just not that talented.

Mike

[puskas54_10]

I don't understand how Bass can't get any real playing time. He can shoot, he can bulldoze himself to the rim and dunk it. (Sullinger should take notice) And can defend. He was a starter on the last respectable celtics team.

[Who]

Bass has said something like this before, hasn't he?

That Stevens made one claim to the media and then Bass contradicts him and said Stevens didn't do that. This isn't the first time. I remember something like this last season as well.

[Tr1boy]

I don't understand how Bass can't get any real playing time. He can shoot, he can bulldoze himself to the rim and dunk it. (Sullinger should take notice) And can defend. He was a starter on the last respectable celtics team.

showcase Wright. Nelson is being showcased also

Bass has played well (prob his best season without the big three) and is reliable. I think he has earned a 2 year extension unless someone is willing to overpay for him. Don't think Danny is going to give up bass only for a 2nd round pick and let him walk instead.

[gift]

Is it obvious to everyone else what he means by "perception"? Because it is not obvious to me, especially with only the context of those quotes.

Does he mean the perception that they are trying to win games?

[Fafnir]

He's just upset that he's getting so few minutes this year which is his free agent year. Oh well.

[gift]

Bass has said something like this before, hasn't he?

That Stevens made one claim to the media and then Bass contradicts him and said Stevens didn't do that. This isn't the first time. I remember something like this last season as well.

I'm pretty sure Courtney Lee said almost this exact thing. I don't remember Bass saying it before. He could have.

[sofutomygaha]

Those are some impressively level-headed answers, from an unfailingly level-headed dude, given in response to questions from reporters who are trying to poke the nest.

Good for him. Tough times right now for Bass, but they're going to get better- and probably sooner for him than they will for the guys who are getting his minutes.

[mgent]

Eh, non news. 

I personally don't see any definite contradiction.

Brad very well could have been proactive with Bass, seeking him out and asking if he wanted to talk about it.  Then Bass might have replied the same thing he said here, "there's nothing to talk about."

And regardless, when we're looking for contradiction in quotes that include pronouns such as "talked about 'it,' " I'd generally like to see some context such as how both questions were asked and how exactly they were phrased.

The better question probably would have been if he has talked to Ainge about it (AKA asked for a trade).  If he has, he probably wouldn't tell us because he doesn't live under a rock, but still reporters ask that type of stuff all the time looking for a good sound bite.

[Evantime34]

He is trying to avoid saying anything but he clearly isn't happy about his decrease in playing time.

Bass realizes this is a temporary problem, and doesn't want to burn any bridges. Either we trade Bass or we trade Wright and then Bass is playing his normal minutes as the 4th big.

[tazzmaniac]

Forsberg has an ESPN article on the Bass interview with different quotes.  Bass talks about the East being weak and that the Celtics are strong enough to be able to compete every night even without Rondo.  So maybe the perception Bass was referring to was the perception that the Celtics are tanking now.