Melo Recalled from Maine

A couple of courier pigeons, that's what they are...


[size=7]BOSTON — The Boston Celtics continue to shuttle two of
their rookies back and forth between the NBA and the D-League affiliate
Maine Red Claws.

The latest rook on the move is Fab Melo who has been recalled by the C's from the Red Claws on Monday.

Melo,
drafted by the Celtics in the first round of last June's NBA draft, has
appeared in five games for the Red Claws and has averaged 6.8 points,
5.8 rebounds and 2.2 blocked shots in 23.4 minutes per game.

The 7-foot rookie from Syracuse University has yet to appear in an NBA game for the Celtics.[/size]




bob



[size=7].
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Lets throw him out there see what he can do? all he has to do is defend and board, if hes near Steamer he could help us.

I agree with Cow, give him some minutes.

Looking at their long-term development, it's probably good to shuttle Melo and Joseph back and forth between the D-league and Boston so that they get periodic exposure to NBA-level play but get the abundant game time they need in Maine. Even if they don't get playing time in Boston, they benefit from practicing and just being with an NBA team.

I know that Melo missed the last D-League game.
Could the reason that he was recalled be to work with the Celtics training staff?

Melo has an injured quad which caused him to miss the last Red Claws game. He must be ready to return if we brought him in. Melo has contributed a few blocks and pulled down some boards but it's going to be a long learning curve. I don't know if he'll see any floor time, but I'm sure the C's are interested in measuring his progress on a regular basis. I guess he splits time with Chris Ayer for The Claws which gives them some good size in their center rotation.

So far this year Shelvin Mack has been a consistent and valuable performer for Maine. Kris Joseph has been able to put some good numbers up and Micah Downs has been hot of late too.

The Celts need another quality "Big." Let's develop Melo on the fly with the team not in "D" League competition. Jason Collins has no upside. He's a tad better than Mikki Moore who's the Scarecrow from Wizard (not Washington) of Oz. Melo has a bigger upside. While he'll make some mistakes, the effort and length will be a marked plus over what Collins gives us which is change in a penny sale of bubble gum.

MD!

MD

Your being too kind when you say "some mistakes". He needs minutes and he won't get enough here to turn a minute hand on a clock past the 2. Let him play a lot in the D league, bring him up for a sip of big time here and there and perhaps in a couple years we have something.

beat

Beat:

I hope it's not a sip of Big Time Lemonade. I'd rather see him get a shot of Jack Daniels or Jim Beam while he was here. THAT would stimulate him! Just as long as KG is the designated driver, or maybe Rajon would drive better! As far as getting minutes, let Melo split minutes with Wilcox.

MD!

MD

Splitting those few minutes would be what 7 minutes or so. Wilcox is doing quite well and I'd hate to him loose any minutes.

So even if Melo could go out there 5-7 mpg he would be playing perhaps 3 to 4 times more than that in the D league. He needs time on the floor to get better, not time on the bench. D league players are pretty good so it's not like college when the SU team played a lot of sub par teams prior to big east play. He's still facing decent competition there.

beat

Hi,
I suspect it's for showing him off for a possible trade.

AK

Sinus:

As far as a trade, How about Bass, Lee & Collins to Utah for Big Al Jefferson!

MD!

MD,
I wouldn't mind it. Unfortunately Jazz will

AK

It was just announced that Melo was going back to the D-League.

Melo, we hardly knew ye.

tjmakz wrote:It was just announced that Melo was going back to the D-League.

They must've watched him practice again.

He's going to have to be able to stay on the floor longer in the NBADL before he plays in the NBA.

Melo needs lots of conditioning and time to learn. I would agree with beat; maybe in a year or two he could be ready.

I think beat saw him play more than I did, but from what I saw he's a real long-shot gamble and it's going to take time.