James Young NOT Making The Most Of His New Minutes

Excerpted from another thread, original link http://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/2015/03/03/warriors-impressed-new-look-celtics/JmQAKddOQ6h5x7PT6jXG7L/story.html

Credit to redsarmy.com and celticsblog.com for providing stats and videos:


Growing pains

The Celtics moved Marcus Thornton not only to get Thomas from Phoenix, but to give rookie James Young increased playing time. But Young is shooting just 29.5 percent from the field (13 of 44) since Feb. 1 and is 5 for 28 (17.9 percent) from the 3-point line in that stretch.

Young averaged 9.6 minutes per game before the All-Star break but is averaging 14.5 over the last six games.

Young worked on his defense during his time in the NBADL, but he makes rookie mistakes, such as Sunday when he ran to cover Shaun Livingston under the basket, leaving Curry open in front of the Celtics bench for a 3-pointer. Predictably, Curry drained the shot.


And then there's this:





Get the picture?  No?  Well then, here's some pictures...













bob



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I'm on record as feeling that, for James' own good, he needs to be in an environment where he can experience some success.  That environment isn't on a team that's been in a state of flux all season long and still is in a state of flux.  There's no reason to break the guy's will just because some fans want him to keep getting minutes with the Celts.

Let him keep learning up north; let him work all summer; let him play in the summer league; and let him get a fresh start in 2015-16, hopefully with the benefit of an entire preseason.

As I've said elsewhere, I believe the hard-working rotation guys deserved a shot at pulling out the Warriors' game more than Young deserved a few ineffective minutes that very possibly contributed greatly to the loss.

If he is destined to remain in Boston, I hope Brad will be more selective in assigning James minutes when there's less on the line.  Not just because I want wins, but because I believe this team can really make some noise and deserves the satisfaction of doing so.

I don't know anything about Gigi except that Ainge scouted him.  But why not give him a shot to see if they might possibly catch lightning in a bottle again this season.  I don't hold the fact that his name sounds better suited to a hair salon.

Sam

I voted "Give Gigi Datome a chance to compete for a roster spot next year by playing him now".

I read that he has been voted the MVP of every league that he has played in. I don't think that trend will continue, but I would like to see what he has. I would like to see him play for the rest of the season to see if he can adjust to the speed of the NBA.

gyso

I yield to Brad's and Danny's judgment on this matter. Only the staff is privy to the behind the scene information so necessary for making valid decisions.

swish

If the argument to giving less minutes to James Young is that he isn't ready for those minutes and the team would be better served putting more effective players in who might help the Celtics win close games....fine, I might buy that.

But how then, can you possibly jump to giving those minutes to Gigi, an even less proven player?

If you are  playing out the rest of the season to win and potentially make the playoffs, and you think a way to accomplish that is to take minutes away from James Young - you have to give those minutes to proven players, not some guy with zero NBA experience.

If on the other hand, you feel this season is more about testing out the roster and finding out who fits where, then there is absolutely no justification for taking those minutes away from James Young - someone who is 19 and has miles more upside than Datome.

I dont have a problem giving Datome some minutes here and there to see what happens - but to suggest we need to go away from an unproven player (Young) because we need to put our best foot forward towards winning games - and in the same breath suggest we play an unproven player (Datome) in his place, makes no sense to me.

mrkleen09 wrote:If the argument to giving less minutes to James Young is that he isn't ready for those minutes and the team would be better served putting more effective players in who might help the Celtics win close games....fine, I might buy that.

But how then, can you possibly jump to giving those minutes to Gigi, an even less proven player?

If you are  playing out the rest of the season to win and potentially make the playoffs, and you think a way to accomplish that is to take minutes away from James Young - you have to give those minutes to proven players, not some guy with zero NBA experience.

If on the other hand, you feel this season is more about testing out the roster and finding out who fits where, then there is absolutely no justification for taking those minutes away from James Young - someone who is 19 and has miles more upside than Datome.

I dont have a problem giving Datome some minutes here and there to see what happens - but to suggest we need to go away from an unproven player (Young) because we need to put our best foot forward towards winning games - and in the same breath suggest we play an unproven player (Datome) in his place, makes no sense to me.

mrkleen,

Datome is a 12-year Euro pro, and he excelled. That's why he was offered an NBA contract. That's proof against better competition than James Young has seen in D-League.


bob


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Bob - James Young was a blue chip, McDonalds All American from the best college program in the country. And he is 19. He has much more upside than Datome.

mrkleen09 wrote:Bob - James Young was a blue chip, McDonalds All American from the best college program in the country.  And he is 19.  He has much more upside than Datome.

mrkleen,

Yep, James Young does look better on paper.

So did Thomas Robinson, a #1 pick blue chip out of Kansas and consensus All-American First Team the year he was drafted.
So did Evan Turner, a #2 pick out of Ohio State and consensus All-American First Team the year he was drafted AND AP Player of the Year.

Considering the impressive bonafides of those two, and not being a big fan of the draft, I should probably see it a positive that James never rose above All-SEC Second Team despite having the visibility and success that came with playing for Kentucky.

Datome might not have the upside of Young, but I want to make the playoffs THIS year, not 2-3 years from now.

Anyway, that's my take on Young, Datome and the draft.


bob



.

Hi,
Unfortunately I'm not sold on Young. In the last few games, where he had extended PT (way above his usual 2-3 min) he looked kind of lost. I can't say that he doesn't try - he does, he tries hard. But on both ends of the floor he doesn't look very effective.

I'm not sure what Datome, who is more of a SF, has to do with Young?

AK

Bob

If you want to make the playoffs this year, the correct answer in my eyes is to play "neither" Datome or Young extended minutes - and instead give those minutes to the players in the current rotation who are better than both of them at the current time.

However in the long run, James Young will be part of the Celtics future - Gigi will not (in my estimation)