Boston Celtics Semih Erden Is A True Warrior: Solid Minutes Despite Shoulder Injury
[picappgallerysingle id="9630807"]This season the Boston Celtics thus far have shown the rest NBA that they are very deep team. The team sits at a 12-4 record despite having key players like Shaq, Jermaine O’Neal, Kendrick Perkins, Delonte West, and Rajon Rondo miss time. However, you might notice that the center position has been hit the hardest. Thankfully for Boston, they have had one Semih Erden around.
Erden is playing through a very painful shoulder injury. This is the same injury that required surgery for Kendrick Perkins. It requires surgery for Erden as well. However, with Perkins still out and JO out for another couple weeks, Erden is putting off the surgery. He is banging around with the NBA’s best for 8 to 16 minutes a game. These minutes do not seem huge, but Shaq needs rest and Glen Davis does need to spell Kevin Garnett as well. He is extending his arms to shoot, block, or pass despite the pain in his shoulder. Erden is also still pounding his man in the paint defensively. The bottom line is the injury that should have him changing the way he plays is not affecting him at all. The result is 16 solid minutes.
Semih is getting better the more he plays. His decisions are quicker on both ends of the floor. He seems to make three or four solid plays a night. It could be a solid pass, a move to score, a key rebound, or a solid block, but the bottom line is he is making plays. The man that plays nothing like a rookie with his tremendous poise is starting to get notice form even officials. No longer does he get three to four cheap fouls due to his rookie status. He now maybe gets one or two fouls that are cheap. No doubt his gritty story is helping him in the ref department.
The bottom line is thank god for the warrior that is Semih. Without him, the Celtics would have only Shaq as a true to center that can man the middle (sorry Glen Davis is too small depending on the matchup). His play should earn him a roster spot next season that gives him some minutes. Remember Go Green Or Go Home!!!!!!!!!!
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