better to blend rookies in than garbage time

[rollie mass]

rather than two many with no vets to cover up their rookie miscues ala 76's-it just becomes jack one up or do something that gets me noticed

[KeepRondo]

Problem is they end up costing us games. The only Rookie who has been able to hold his own is RJ and he hasn't exactly done a great job.

I will say that if the team doesn't take off soon that I would like to see the Rookies. Just not sure it's time to scrap the season yet.

[Al91]

Problem is they end up costing us games. The only Rookie who has been able to hold his own is RJ and he hasn't exactly done a great job.

I will say that if the team doesn't take off soon that I would like to see the Rookies. Just not sure it's time to scrap the season yet.

We could potentially be four games above .500 tonight if all goes well. I think we're also only a couple weeks away from a trade that should diminish a bit of our log jam. I say that to say: I think we're far from losing hope on the season yet to play more of just the rooks.

I've only been disappointed to see Mickey get hardly any time at all, and I hope Rozier gets a little bit of time with Bradley out tonight.  Bradley's absence can easily be covered by Smart's return, but I'd still like to see Rozier a little.

[bdm860]

This is actually something I've always wondered myself.

Personally, I don't think most players gain much, if anything, from garbage time.  It's not close to real NBA level basketball, the offensive sets are basically running at half speed with a packed in defense also running at half speed.  It's basically the last pickup game of the day at your open gym after all the good players have already decided to call it a day.  And unless this is your first time playing, you're kind of embarrassed you didn't get picked to play in any of the good games with the good players, and you're stuck playing with somebody's little brother who just entered junior high and the foreign guy who just discovered basketball last week.  Sure maybe a decent player or two is playing, but they're exhausted from playing in the real games and start taking circus shots (not that this has ever happened to me  ).

While I understand not being able to throw guys in for long minutes for fear of losing the game, and also you don't want to mess with the rhythm of the guys who actually get minutes, there's plenty of times I'm watching games and I think, man this seems like a perfect time to give one inexperienced guy some burn.  It's a 4-5+ possession game at the end of the half or 4Q (or any time in between even).  What happens if you throw one of Mickey or Rozier or Young in for 2 minutes (just one of them, not all of them).  Let one of the young guys get a couple high level NBA possessions in instead of several D-league quality possessions in at the end of a blowout, while also possibly letting them feel like they've contributed to a win by playing meaningful (but brief) minutes.

So yes, I wonder why it seems like more young guys aren't blended in during meaningful minutes, even if just for short stretches.

[KeepRondo]

Problem is they end up costing us games. The only Rookie who has been able to hold his own is RJ and he hasn't exactly done a great job.

I will say that if the team doesn't take off soon that I would like to see the Rookies. Just not sure it's time to scrap the season yet.

We could potentially be four games above .500 tonight if all goes well. I think we're also only a couple weeks away from a trade that should diminish a bit of our log jam. I say that to say: I think we're far from losing hope on the season yet to play more of just the rooks.

I've only been disappointed to see Mickey get hardly any time at all, and I hope Rozier gets a little bit of time with Bradley out tonight.  Bradley's absence can easily be covered by Smart's return, but I'd still like to see Rozier a little.

Yep. Was thinking the same that Rozier should get a chance with AB out. Would like to see him settle down out there if he gets the minutes and not be in rush mode.

[Rosco917]

Barring a big trade, and because of the shire number of rookies and draft choices we have, I'm not sure we have the luxury of time to not know what our current group of rookies can do.

It would be short sighted to come to the end of this season and not really know where Rozier, Mickey, and RJ stand in their development, and more importantly who we actually see as a piece to the puzzle.
 
Because, we have another group of 3 or 4 first round picks coming this summer.

[PhoSita]

Problem is they end up costing us games. The only Rookie who has been able to hold his own is RJ and he hasn't exactly done a great job.

I will say that if the team doesn't take off soon that I would like to see the Rookies. Just not sure it's time to scrap the season yet.

Personally, I don't give two hoots about making the playoffs just to fall in 5 or 6 games (if not fewer) to one of the clearly superior teams in the East with more playoff experience.

Given that, I really don't see a downside to cutting minutes from guys like Amir, Lee, Turner, and Jerebko, and giving as many minutes as feasible to Hunter, Young, Rozier, and Mickey. 

The Celts spent draft picks on these guys, they have guaranteed roster spots, and whether the Celts want to use them in a trade or make use of them long term, they need the opportunity to play at the NBA level.


One of the reasons I think it's especially important to develop and assess these guys this season is that the Celts may very well add another 2-3 rookies next summer.  They simply cannot head into next season with 5-8 guys on the roster without any meaningful NBA experience.

[Celtics18]

Problem is they end up costing us games. The only Rookie who has been able to hold his own is RJ and he hasn't exactly done a great job.

I will say that if the team doesn't take off soon that I would like to see the Rookies. Just not sure it's time to scrap the season yet.

Personally, I don't give two hoots about making the playoffs just to fall in 5 or 6 games (if not fewer) to one of the clearly superior teams in the East with more playoff experience.

Given that, I really don't see a downside to cutting minutes from guys like Amir, Lee, Turner, and Jerebko, and giving as many minutes as feasible to Hunter, Young, Rozier, and Mickey. 

The Celts spent draft picks on these guys, they have guaranteed roster spots, and whether the Celts want to use them in a trade or make use of them long term, they need the opportunity to play at the NBA level.


One of the reasons I think it's especially important to develop and assess these guys this season is that the Celts may very well add another 2-3 rookies next summer.  They simply cannot head into next season with 5-8 guys on the roster without any meaningful NBA experience.

I'm sure Stevens and the players don't see making the playoffs "just to fall in five or six games" as the end goal for the 2016 campaign.

I do envision everyone on the roster getting some opportunity to play at some point this season.  I don't see any reason to rush the process, though, certainly not to sacrifice the main goal of this season, winning games.

[2short]

I agree but the rookies have to deserve that time.  Only youngster who currently deserves it is Rj. 

[jambr380]

RJ has looked pretty good in limited time and it's possible that Mickey and Rozier can play, but the season is still early and the Red Claws system is an extension of the C's; they are just bringing them around slowly.

Young is finally getting a chance, and even though his offense has been non-existent, he has done some good things on defense. He was part of the unit that led the [almost] comeback against the Nets the other night and had a +6 in eight minutes played.