The fact that the rookies are already contributing says a lot about Stevens

[Celtics4ever]

There are some who would say that all our guards are not "solid".  They all bring something to the table, but all have flaws, which flare from time to time.   One lacks size, one has brittle health, one can't shoot and one is a rookie.

The fact that the rookies are already contributing says a lot about Stevens

Injuries have forced his hand.  I think other than Rozier, your comment/thread title is hyperbole.   Rozier is the main one contributing.  The others are playing but not meaningful contribution and I am a huge CBS guy.

Hunter can't shoot and needs to be the 500 shots a day in the off season.  It is clear he is a volume score and not shooter in college from what we have seen.

Mickey, is not trusted by CBS.

[nickagneta]

I don't buy that because a player on a super bad team got minutes and developed that that means all rookies do that. There are just as many examples of rookies getting minutes and bad teams and not showing progress or playing well. Getting NBA rotation minutes as a rookie doesn't equate to development.

Actually an argument can be made that bringing on players slowly in a winning team better prepares them for future success and that any progress made by Rozier, Hunter or Mickey this year is due entirely to taking things slow and only being put into game situations where they can succeed and build long term confidence due to their successes while having them in a winning environment.

I think rookies should play when they are ready to play, when they have earned the right to play not because you are force feeding them minutes. Long term, I think this is best for them. We have to realize, we aren't trying to develop players that are high draft picks whose initial talent level almost guarantees some success at the pro level and then you hope to develop them into stars. We are developing players whose initial talent levels showed them to be major question marks whether they would make it in this league.

Best to take their development slowly. It's best not to ruin them mentally by trying to ask them to be more than they are. The only thing that force feeding them NBA minutes is guaranteed to do is show the fans exactly where they are in their development. The coaches and Celtic management already know where they are, especially in comparison to other players on the roster. The only people who don't know where these players are in their development are the fans who think they are smarter than the Celtics coaching staff.

[hwangjini_1]

I don't buy that because a player on a super bad team got minutes and developed that that means all rookies do that. There are just as many examples of rookies getting minutes and bad teams and not showing progress or playing well. Getting NBA rotation minutes as a rookie doesn't equate to development.

Actually an argument can be made that bringing on players slowly in a winning team better prepares them for future success and that any progress made by Rozier, Hunter or Mickey this year is due entirely to taking things slow and only being put into game situations where they can succeed and build long term confidence due to their successes while having them in a winning environment.

I think rookies should play when they are ready to play, when they have earned the right to play not because you are force feeding them minutes. Long term, I think this is best for them. We have to realize, we aren't trying to develop players that are high draft picks whose initial talent level almost guarantees some success at the pro level and then you hope to develop them into stars. We are developing players whose initial talent levels showed them to be major question marks whether they would make it in this league.

Best to take their development slowly. It's best not to ruin them mentally by trying to ask them to be more than they are. The only thing that force feeding them NBA minutes is guaranteed to do is show the fans exactly where they are in their development. The coaches and Celtic management already know where they are, especially in comparison to other players on the roster. The only people who don't know where these players are in their development are the fans who think they are smarter than the Celtics coaching staff.

WHOA!!!! are you saying we're not?? 

[nickagneta]

I don't buy that because a player on a super bad team got minutes and developed that that means all rookies do that. There are just as many examples of rookies getting minutes and bad teams and not showing progress or playing well. Getting NBA rotation minutes as a rookie doesn't equate to development.

Actually an argument can be made that bringing on players slowly in a winning team better prepares them for future success and that any progress made by Rozier, Hunter or Mickey this year is due entirely to taking things slow and only being put into game situations where they can succeed and build long term confidence due to their successes while having them in a winning environment.

I think rookies should play when they are ready to play, when they have earned the right to play not because you are force feeding them minutes. Long term, I think this is best for them. We have to realize, we aren't trying to develop players that are high draft picks whose initial talent level almost guarantees some success at the pro level and then you hope to develop them into stars. We are developing players whose initial talent levels showed them to be major question marks whether they would make it in this league.

Best to take their development slowly. It's best not to ruin them mentally by trying to ask them to be more than they are. The only thing that force feeding them NBA minutes is guaranteed to do is show the fans exactly where they are in their development. The coaches and Celtic management already know where they are, especially in comparison to other players on the roster. The only people who don't know where these players are in their development are the fans who think they are smarter than the Celtics coaching staff.

WHOA!!!! are you saying we're not?? 

Well, some of us are smarter than the Celtics coaching staff(just not about basketball stuff). 

We are, however, less informed about the things I was discussing.

[Celtics4ever]

Best to take their development slowly. It's best not to ruin them mentally by trying to ask them to be more than they are. The only thing that force feeding them NBA minutes is guaranteed to do is show the fans exactly where they are in their development. The coaches and Celtic management already know where they are, especially in comparison to other players on the roster. The only people who don't know where these players are in their development are the fans who think they are smarter than the Celtics coaching staff.

I agree with this, playing time should be earned by the player being ready.   One could make an argument that Rozier has rose to the occasion with his play in the minutes he has got this post season.   I think he has shown some merit and ability to help the team.

[Evantime34]

Rozier has looked very good. I'd like to see him attack the hoop more but he has been shooting well on offense. On defense, his on the ball defense is solid, but since he rebounds like a pf when he is in there he provides a lot of value in ending defensive possessions.

RJ isn't ready to be a consistent contributer but when he comes in the Hawks don't sag off of him. That means that the defense is more spread out for other players when he is in the game.

With how effective this team is going small, I think in the future they should put this team together with the intent of playing more small ball. Rozier is going to be a rotation player next year and they will need to find him  more time in small ball lineups to incorporate all the guards they have.

[CoachBo]

Not impressed by last year's draft class at all.

Rosier has had some adequate minutes. That's all. He hasn't demonstrated that he can crack this club's starting lineup. Hunter's defense is absolutely wretched and he's little more than a spot-up shooter.

And the Legend of Jordan Mickey is clearly in the minds of the fans who have adopted him, sans any credible evidence to do so. Stevens obviously doesn't trust him.

[kraidstar]

I don't buy that because a player on a super bad team got minutes and developed that that means all rookies do that. There are just as many examples of rookies getting minutes and bad teams and not showing progress or playing well. Getting NBA rotation minutes as a rookie doesn't equate to development.

Actually an argument can be made that bringing on players slowly in a winning team better prepares them for future success and that any progress made by Rozier, Hunter or Mickey this year is due entirely to taking things slow and only being put into game situations where they can succeed and build long term confidence due to their successes while having them in a winning environment.

I think rookies should play when they are ready to play, when they have earned the right to play not because you are force feeding them minutes. Long term, I think this is best for them. We have to realize, we aren't trying to develop players that are high draft picks whose initial talent level almost guarantees some success at the pro level and then you hope to develop them into stars. We are developing players whose initial talent levels showed them to be major question marks whether they would make it in this league.

Best to take their development slowly. It's best not to ruin them mentally by trying to ask them to be more than they are. The only thing that force feeding them NBA minutes is guaranteed to do is show the fans exactly where they are in their development. The coaches and Celtic management already know where they are, especially in comparison to other players on the roster. The only people who don't know where these players are in their development are the fans who think they are smarter than the Celtics coaching staff.

agree. ainge is also a baseball guy, and is big on the d-league. add to that stevens' emphasis on accountability, and you have a system where rookies will be developed cautiously.