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September 13, 2008
Considering Cassell
Recent quotes from Sam Cassell and Danny Ainge suggest that it is all but done that the well traveled, 38 year old point guard with an iconic smile will be with the Celtics for the final year of his playing career.
This is after a less than smooth transition his first time around. Personally, I'm happy for him to be back and to try it again.
I was more than happy that Sam decided to come to the Celtics for the first time last season. I'm a fan of his and have been since his New Jersey days. He is a winner. Many of the teams he went to got better with him there. For most of his career, he got the most out of his skills and those around him, as well. Yet, he was always moving on. Maybe he talks just a bit too much and wears out his welcome. I have no idea really.
Legendarily verbose, he will talk to teammate and opponent alike. But it's rarely, make that never, nasty. Sam's not a nasty guy. Competitive...yes. Remember that near takedown of Rondo with a strenuous foul in a game against the Clippers when Clipper buy out rumors were mentioned everywhere? The Celtics were the rumored destination. Rajon had decided to show Sam what he was up against if he did come to play for the Green Machine. If I remember right, he even ball hawked him and stole it.
We all remember that hard foul and Rondo doing a number on him in that game. Less remembered from that same game is that, it was Cassell that offered up a fight offensively when the Cs were clamping down hard on the 'unBranded' Clippers. He attacked and took some big shots and made a number of them.
Sam commands attention. He is a 'life of the party' type guy. Loud, opinionated and fun to be around. 'Gregarious' singly defines him. But he is sincere and generally straight forward. I don't even know why, but of all the NBA players I've watched and had a chance to meet last season, he was the one who most excited me. Why? I guess it is because he is larger than life. He is a true personality in a world of cynicism, big money, and guarded comments to the media.
What Happened?
So...when he became a Celtic I was ecstatic. 38 years is old, very old, for a normal point guard. Gary Payton had slowed down quite a bit by then. Granted Sam wasn't as explosive nor as prolific as in his prime, but Sam was still starter material for the Clippers. Sam still has it.
But he came to an unusual situation. Though together for less than a season, this Celtic team had forged a team style of offense and defense that was militarily reinforced by the Big Ticket, Doc, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen. The style was working like a well oiled machine and with
off-the-charts success.
I break down the breakdown this way....
Sam came in expecting to be a bench player for the first time in his career. He was fine with that. But he expected to be getting 20 minutes a game off the bench. Doc Rivers never agreed to that. Sam was disappointed. Respectfully, but firmly, Doc wasn't having it. You earn your minutes on this team.
From there things did not go in a straight line for any of the parties involved. Sam had to get up to speed quickly with the offensive sets. Doc says that, for point guards, he knows what you know, by what you call when you're out there. You won't run what you don't know (obviously). Finally Doc settled on letting Sam learn/run just 5 basic sets.
On top of that, Sam, or anyone off the bench, had to produce pretty much right away, when you got a chance. This team was on a mission. Sam was used to coming in and getting into the flow of the game. He was never in a position where he would be pulled after 5-8 minutes (for the game) if he wasn't clicking right away.
Here is where things get sticky in fans' minds.
It seems that Sam was also told to come in and be an aggressive shooter when he had an open shot. Think about it. If Sam's not hitting and consequently passing up shots, his value is limited on offense. One of Sam's values is to keep his defender on him and off of the three stars. Never known for his defense, we all know he will have to work very hard on defense, just to hold his own nowadays.
Now he had to do it in the first few minutes or never see daylight again. Or so it appeared in his mind. Why do I say that? Because Sam never played the game that way before. Sam is not afraid of a shot but, at times, you could tell he was forcing the issue far too often.
It was a tough problem for a career starter who willingly came to be a reserve behind Rajon Rondo, but thought he would get 20 minutes a game to contribute. When it wasn't working out that way, both Doc and Sam worked hard at adjusting just enough for each other to make it work for the team. Some days it worked well. Other days it didn't work as well.
But for those who are against this signing, there is no one out there with Sam's ability, experience, and locker room presence who Danny could sign for anywhere near what Sam will be signing for. I expect Sam's being here from the start will help everyone a great deal.
You can throw out last season's Celtic stats in regards to Sam. And people forget he did help win a few games along the way.
He can break down a defense with a pass, a 3 point shot, a mid range shot, a baseline shot, baseline post ups, and fadeaways. He will hit clutch shots. He will hit big foul shots.
This season he learns how to add what he does best, to the Celtic team approach. I'm sure Doc will make sure a few plays are added that untilize his strengths.
Yes, I remember Boobie Gibson running Sam ragged by running wide around the court off back door screens. Those moments will still be there, I'm sure. They will have to help cover Sam a bit more on defense. But they have the personnel to do that. They did it with Ray and Eddie, though, I'm guessing not as much.
Eddie House will have some legitimate consternation, I guess. The one thing Eddie wanted when he re-signed was more minutes. I'm not sure how this changes that...if at all.
Could be similar to how Doc used his 2 versatile power forwards in Davis and Powe. Certain teams and matchups will mean certain players play but....if you are playing well, you will get more minutes period.
We will just have to see how this all works out. I was late on picking up the decline in Jason Kidd. It could be that Sam's game has declined more than I think, as well.
But if that is true. Doc will obviously let him know, and Sam will have to accept it. But I hope that Sam is a valuable contributor to the Celtics run for a repeat and banner # 18. I say that's better than 50/50 that he will be. Either way, he is like an extra coach on the bench and more than willing to share that knowledge.
Sam I Am is a ham. Let's just hope the Green eggs are few. Either way, I'll be rooting for him.
Posted by Tom on September 13, 2008 6:44 PM
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Comments
This response is from musty Celtic Joe:
I agree with all you wrote, here. The role you mentioned throughout, reminds me about Sam taking a learning-leap into a coaching position later (with the Cs or with somewhere else-hopefully with Cs). You can't teach hitting big shots; you might teach 'taking pressure off "the big three" with how you play, with your shot-taking and handling. And after all, Sam is only going to have limited minutes-like in '07-'08 , because Rondo, with his talent needs 36 minutes rather than not, among other things because of Rondo's defense.
And then there is House, who we will enjoy his mixing it up in there, hitting some big shots.
In my thought it would be pretty easy to NOT see a decline in Kidd-when one thinks about it, because of the greatness naturally coming with Kidd, in "how he 'sees' the court" always. As in Jason evermore just 'sees' the game, (consider the 2008 Olympics' USA team) than most others, in more slow motion . I'll give you, Sam maybe doesn't equal this factor in Kidd.
But what Sam Cassell gives you, is the intangibles plus the big shot(s). For the money (vets minimum) , and Sam's willingness to be complicit in games, with what Doc says to do--I'll be glad to know Cassell is on the roster. Good post, Tom,
musty Celtic joe
Posted by: Tom Halzack at September 14, 2008 10:13 AM
Thanks Joe.
I can't believe that a whole preseason and year together won't smooth out the problems that developed last season. Sam's a free spirit and independent, but he's a professional as well.
Posted by: Tom Halzack at September 14, 2008 6:22 PM
