A response Sam Cassell being on the Hit List: The gang that can't shoot straight.

Seriously, Kevin Hench do your frigging job. Don't just look at Celtics box scores and comment.  Sam Cassell was not brought onto the Celtics to score or displace Rondo because he can't shoot. Scoring is not a problem for the Celtics, even if Rondo wasn't shooting well.  (Actually, Rondo is ranked 9th in the league in FG% and adjusted FG% among qualified point guards. ) The Celtics major problem was advancing the ball up the court and passing into the post when Rondo wasn't on the floor. Eddie House is a great shooter, but he is more of a small shooting guard than an actual point guard. He is a catch and shoot player. Eddie House is more effective coming of f screens. He is best utilized without the ball than with the ball. He is an average dribbler and passer at best. When playing the point, opponents would put the full court press preventing the Celtics from being able to establish their offense with time to get of####ood shot. House's inefficiencies were so much so that Doc tried Tony Allen, Gabe Pruitt (now in the D-League), and at times Ray Allen to run the point. The second unit was ineffective and at times a liability. The first unit can hang with anyone both offensively and defensively, but you can't play all 48 minutes. Sam Cassell was brought on to run the second unit. Proper point guard play is so integral to the NBA now. Look at the effect CP3 and Darrent Williams had on their teams. The purpose of the bench is to give rest to the first unit without losing the game. Sam Cassell allows the second unit to advance the ball and establish the half court offense before >10 seconds pass on the shot clock. Despite, Cassell's poor shooting performance, others have excelled, such as House. House has been able to shoot better over the last few weeks because he no longer has to worry about ball handling responsibility.

Over the past few games Doc has been trying to get the back court of Cassell and House to gel. Very few instances have Ray Allen and Cassell been on the court together. Ray Allen doesn't need Cassell to get more open shots. He gets plenty already.

Cassell is a positive impact as a leader for the second unit. The second unit is very talented. They have proven veterans, such as P.J. Brown, Posey and House, and young workhorses, such as Big Baby, Tony Allen, and Powe. Cassell allows the Celtics to have a bench which is less of a liability and provide needed rest for Rondo and the first team. Cassell also provides beneficial match ups against many of the point guards in the league. Finally, he gives the Celtics an option for when Rondo gets in foul trouble. Danny Ainge, whether lucky or good (the jury is still out with me), has intelligently put together a solid team from the floor to the last seat on the bench.

It was pretty apparent that the Celtics had ball handling problems without Rondo on the floor prior to the acquisition of Cassell. All you had to do was watch a game. It was a blaring weakness. I don't see how you could make a comment like that without having seen the Celtics play before and after Cassell. You are supposed to be a professional, that is just bad analysis. The box scores don't tell the whole story. The influence of a veteran point guard with 2 championships to a team where the 3 main players have never made it past their respective conference final will be positive. Winning breeds winning. It was Red's way with the Celtics of old.

To say that Cassell was brought on to the Celtics to be a scorer and open up shots for Ray Allen is ignorant. Garnett, Allen, and Pierce are ranked 4th, 5th, and 8th in points among active players, respectively. You think they need another guy who scores to open up shots for them? I think with those three on the floor less might be more.