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May 19, 2008
Sam Cassell: Coming to a Crossroads of Life
You will pick him out anywhere.
He has distinct yellow brown skin, a completely bald head before bald was stylish. It looks just a tad too big for his aging 6' 3" body. His verbalocity is reknown. Sam often operates at an enthusiastically high decibel level - on the court and off. Sam exudes enthusiasm. Brian Tracy and Tony Robbins, move over. Sam's seminars occur wherever you encounter him.
He will never be mistaken for Denzell Washington, yet he has something Denzell only dreams he could have. A charisma....confidence if you will, that few people have. Sam has positivity. You can't give that people. You can only take it away. In his career it has often been contagious. He himself declares, "I'm a winner, baby, I'm a winner." Ahh, yes. Humble is for other types.
Sam lets you know how he feels. But make no mistake, there is a dignity and a straightforwardness about Sam. How much is the person and how much is the persona, I can't really say. I can only tell you he had me hooked a long time ago. I started to like and follow his career during his brief stay in New Jersey. I've only gotten to talk to him recently. It is one of the highlights of this year covering the Celtics for me. His personality is every bit as large in real life as it appears to be on the court.
He is approaching a crossroads of life. Sam's positivity is being tested at the moment. But it is just for a moment. I wouldn't want to be Doc Rivers telling Sam he can't play as much as he would like to. It is like telling your younger brother, he can't come play in the pick-up games at the playground. He is not good enough anymore. He won't believe you. And you might take away some of that positivity.
Sam is well aware he is but a year or less from hanging up the shoes forever and perhaps turning to coaching. Doc Rivers has intimated that he may even get a chance with him in Boston. Who really knows what a year will bring?
He says his sitting out the last two games is...
preparing me for my next career.
Is the slump related to his back problems?
No, he (Doc) just went another way the last two games.He told me that. So there's no hard feelings.
But is the back affecting your shooting?
Naw. I missed ...13 shots (over three games) It just happens. I'm not the focal point of the offense. I've been a starter for 13 years in this league. The ball went through my hands and I decided who I wanted to give the ball to. So there's where you come to where, you're not the vocal guy. You're not the go-to guy, (or) the guy who you distribute the ball who you want to.
I'm not a spot shooter. I get mine off the dribble. So that was difficult. Coming in, playing a reserve role. Everything's just brand new. See, I'm trying to figure it out. (But) I'll play next series.
Some people think Cleveland is a tougher match up for the Celtics.
This was a tough series. These guys here. Wow. These guys...this is a physical ball club. Yeah, they do one thing real, real great. They get offensive rebounds, pound the boards. They will pound the boards. You know Z and Anderson and Ben and Joe Smith, they did a helluva a job. They're no slouch.
Which team will present tougher match ups for the Celtics?'
Every series presents different challenges. We'll be fine. Cleveland's done. Detroit is who we're looking at now. No looking back. (I believe) I'll be playing more.
Sam is a Celtic player for now. And he wants to get back out 'on the playground' and play. If the play-offs generally and the last series particularly is any indication, another shooter hitting shots is something the Celtics could use.
Many say Sam hasn't fit in as well as hoped. Doc, Sam and the Cs should find the best way to get Sam, an off the dribble shooter, going. The problem has been that the offense is run in a different style. Pick and roll. Pick and pop. Come off screens. double screens. Catch and shoot. Off the ball weak side cuts.
Sam has a variety of face up mid range jumpers, some three ball, and the fade away, back down post up move. They are pretty much all off the dribble.
On the Celtics, any dribbling is mostly done by Rajon Rondo and Paul Pierce and that is supposed to be limited as well. Can Doc, Sam and the team make it work better? Doc has his work cut out for him to find a happy medium, but it can be done. Sam's guile will be worthwhile. The other end of the court is where they have to find a defensive scheme that works. Chauncy Billups is a more methodical post up kind of guard. But Sam will have his work cut out for himself against Billups
Sam has embraced life in a special way. His personality is effervescent. He is often seen beaming like a kid on Christmas morning. Smiling Sam.
Sam's an aging basketball player playing a younger man's position in a younger man's game. They say you can get a few extra years out of an NBA veteran big man, but not so with what is known as 'the smalls' - small forwards, shooting guards and especially Sam's position, point guard. Smalls just don't play very well past 35 or 36. The position requires too much speed and energy. Even guile becomes negated once you cross the mid thirties threshold for most players. Sam is not 'most players.'
Artis Gilmore, Robert Parish, Kevin Willis, and most recently Dikembe Mutombo are all NBA players who played into their 40s. There are few guards that have played at as high level at Sam's age as Sam has.
It is a position for quickness, speed and guile. At age 38, Sam does his best to make up for his loss in speed and quickness with an extra helping of guile - make that a plateful. Sam says his back is fine and he is ready to go.
Rondo's been great but inconsistent. Having Sam ready to go with Eddie House gives Doc two options off the bench. Sam will be ready to go. But as Sam has said, "Everything is brand new."
I don't know that you can teach an old dog new tricks. So you help him do the tricks he can.
Just as PJ Brown has brought veteran leadership and calm play under pressure, I believe and I hope Sam can bring that dimension as well before the play off season is over. He has been a favorite player to watch over the years. Just a few more games of Cassell magic would be nice.
Just cultivating positivity. I've just been around Sam Cassell.
Posted by Tom on May 19, 2008 7:36 PM
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Comments
What a fantastic article - belongs on the front page of any newspaper that claims to follow the Celtics!
Posted by: ManchvegasBob at May 20, 2008 10:32 AM
Thanks Bob. Those are very kind words.
This was my most heartfelt piece I've written all year. Sam is a special player as I see him.
Reporters are supposed to be aloof from their own personal passions and preference - at least outwardly. I'm not ashamed to say I'm a Sam Cassell fan.
T
Posted by: Tom Halzack at May 20, 2008 11:02 AM
