Player profile: Brian Scalabrine
This is the 12th in a series of profiles for all 15 players on the current Celtics roster. We'll profile at least one player each day leading up to the season opener on Tuesday.
Brian Scalabrine
 Brian Scalabrine boxes out Lamar Odom in an attempt at a rebound. (Jim Davis/Globe Staff) |
Born: March 18, 1978
Height: 6 feet 9 inches. Weight: 235
College: USC
Years pro: 7
Acquired: Signed as free agent in 2005 (Drafted No. 35 overall by New Jersey in 2001)
2008/2009 salary: $3.2 million
Signed through: 2009-2010
Last year's numbers: 1.8 ppg, 0.8 apg, 1.6 rpg in 48 games
Strengths: Scalabrine is a pest on defense. A couple of years ago when the Celtics were cellar-dwellers, Doc Rivers put Scal on Kevin Garnett (there weren't many other options), and I recall he didn't do a bad job. He can also spread the floor and hit the outside shot (35 percent career three-point shooter). And he's a good teammate and a contributor in the community.
Weaknesses: It's no secret Scalabrine didn't contribute much on the court last season. He didn't see any playoff minutes (but he was active when Kendrick Perkins went down during the Finals, allowing me the chance to watch him at least warm up for a meaningful game in LA). The knock on Scal is that he doesn't do anything particularly well. He's a guy whose "intangibles" aren't going to show up on the stat sheet, but then when you actually go looking for them, really dig deep, they're still hard to find.
What to expect: The Celtics aren't likely to let Scalabrine go and eat $6 million over the next two seasons. And for now he's a player who goes hard in practice and gives the starters all they can handle between games. Is $6 million a lot to pay someone for that role? Absolutely. But with Darius Miles gone, don't expect Scal to go anywhere, unless the Celtics can package his salary in a trade. Next season is when that $3 million salary may come in handy, as the Celtics will have a lot of decisions to make concerning their roster.
Check back tomorrow for another player profile, and give us your expectations for Scalabrine in our comments section.
Comment
Permalink
Email
I expect him to keep the seat warm for Garnett for when he sits during timeouts
SCAL-A-BRIN-I...clap, clap, clap-clap-clap!
3 mil a year is nothing for a guy who always keeps himself ready. Did you see him ride that bike last season? And he's always the first off the bench...when a timeout is called.
I think Scalabrine is awesome and I'm a huge fan of the random Scal-a-brin-i chants during games. In my honest opinion, I think $3 per year is a bargain for a player of his caliber.
You need guys like Scal on the bench. He's a good locker room guy and helps to keep the main players ready. He doesn't whine about not playing. Next year he can get traded to free up cap space for the 2010 free agent class. Hopefully we can land a big time talent to keep the winning going!
CAN HE COOK???
I would like to see scals get 5 to 7 minutes a game. He is truly a consemate professional who gives his all to the the boston celtics and boston community. He needs to get some minutes with the starters
SCAL SHOULD NEVER GET ON YHE GAME FLOOR...PERIOD...HE'S GETTING HIS $$$$$#### SO HE'S HAPPY & SO WOULD I BE HAPPY TO GET THAT KIND OF NON-PLAY-MONEY...ALL MINUTES NEED TO GO TO THE GUYS WHO NEED IT TO BETTER THEMSELVES & THE TEAM...ARE WE TO BELIEVE SCAL IS BETTER THAN MILES...NO WAY DUDE...NO FARTEN-WAY...SO IF WE ARE ...NOT...GOING TO CALL A SPADE A SPADE AS TO ...WHY... SCAL IS ON THE ROSTER...LET'S NOT GET CARRIED AWAY WITH BULL-SPITTTT ABOUT HIS DUTY TO COMMUNITY SERVICE...PAAA-LEEEZZZZZ...
Scab-rine is a liability every time he gets on the court. Other teams must snicker and adjust their offense when he gets the buzz to step on the court.
Please please, eat the "small" $6M and let this token white guy find other work.
Scalabrine is the glue that keeps the celtics together. Take him out of the equation, kiss the Celts championship aspirations goodbye. I'd rather have Scals on my Knicks in 2010 than Lebron or Bosh any day.
SCALABRINI A STRONG RIGHT WING REPUBLICAN?
Do you think he has a problem with getting 3M for riding the bench, right wingers seem to have a problem with anyone getting a handout, what about you SCAL??
6'9" and he can't even grab a rebound with both hands. USELESS, eat his salary and play Walker or Giddens.
Well he's in the NBA and not the D league so that's saying something! Continue making a diffence as a role player and keep a large savings account for the future, you'll need it.
He's a minute stealer. Did you ever think that we'd probably have Dikembe if we didn't have this lug to lug around?
Scal goes so far as to talk about all these hidden intangibles himself, but like Gary Dzen says, it's hard to see them when he's on the court, especially when he runs to the corner at times that he should be going to the hoop for an accidental rebound.
And I still don't see the defense that some talk about. Doesn't a good team defense involve helping out every so often instead of often being helped out?
And a good guy on the bench? What do you think about the guy at work that gets paid a lot, kisses up to the boss whenever he has a chance, and coaches from the sidelines? If that's good for morale I guess I stand corrected. He's the one sore ospot on the team and I'm sure most players think it even if they won't say it.
Nothing he does justifies keeping younger guys with more upside on the bench, like Patrick O'Bryant. Whoops, on second thought, OBryant might then be the minute stealer. And Danny might like him around as he helps to cover up that mistake.
Scal- The Bush administration might have a spot for a guy like you. Maybe you can take Alberto Gonzo's place, justfiying torture and keeping the end of his bench warm.
SCAL ALL THE WAY: New Starting 5:
PG: Sam Cassell
SG: Bryan Doo
SF: Ed Lacarte
PF: SCAL
C: Scot Pollard
(Yes, I Know That Ed Lacarte and Bryan Doo are Coaches and that Scot Pollard isn't on the team anymore, i'm not retarded)
SCAL ALL THE WAY: New Starting 5:
PG: Sam Cassell
SG: Bryan Doo
SF: Ed Lacarte
PF: SCAL
C: Scot Pollard
(Yes, I Know That Ed Lacarte and Bryan Doo are Coaches and that Scot Pollard isn't on the team anymore, i'm not retarded)
This blogger might want to review your comment before posting it.
Celtics Twitter
Celtics audio and video
stay in touch
browse this blog
by categoryINside Boston.com