Shelvin Mack Is A Strong Candidate to Sign With C’s, Delonte West Ruled Out

Posted by Brian Robb on Feb 12, 2013 3499734 commentshttp%3A%2F%2Fcelticshub.com%2F2013%2F02%2F12%2Fshelvin-mack-is-a-strong-candidate-to-sign-with-cs-delonte-west-ruled-out%2FShelvin+Mack+Is+A+Strong+Candidate+to+Sign+With+C%27s%2C+Delonte+West+Ruled+Out2013-02-12+21%3A00%3A08Brian+Robbhttp%3A%2F%2Fcelticshub.com%2F%3Fp%3D34997

Plenty of buzz out there from national writers as well as Celtics beat guys about the team’s possibility moving forward without Leandro Barbosa in the backcourt. As I wrote about this morning, it appears Boston will be looking for a stopgap guard for the next few games, before finding a long-term fix once the trade deadline passes. Here’s the latest from a number of reporters today on possible moves:

Celtics weighing options after Barbosa injury, likely to go with 10-day and revisit after break. D-League’s Shelvin Mack a strong candidate.

— Ken Berger (@KBergCBS) February 12, 2013

 

The #celtics have NOT approached Delonte West about returning to team, NBA source says

— gary washburn (@GwashNBAGlobe) February 12, 2013

 

In Boston’s search for stopgap at point guard, Shelvin Mack’s a possibility, among others, sources say. Delonte West isn’t a consideration.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) February 12, 2013

 

Here’s a bit more on what the C’s could expect from a Mack, a guy who has spent time in the NBA with the Washington Wizards and Philadelphia 76ers this season

Here’s John Hollinger’s take on Mack’s play from last season via ESPN.com

Scouting report
+ Smart, solidly built pick-and-roll point guard. Good handle but lacks athleticism.
+ Disappointment as a shooter. Solid rebounder. Struggles to create offense.

Analysis
The book on Mack was the he could shoot but might struggle with the other stuff. In his first season, he struggled with the other stuff as expected … and couldn’t shoot, either. Mack shot only 40 percent from the field and was a crushing disappointment as a floor-spacer, hitting only 12 3-pointers the entire season. The fact he made only 29.3 percent of his 2s beyond 10 feet offers little encouragement on this front, nor does his 71.2 percent mark from the line.

Mack also struggled to create offense, as he lacks great burst and athleticism. His saving grace was that he was fairly efficient when he wasn’t shooting jumpers; he was above the league average for point guards in pure point rating and drew fouls at a high rate. Mack also surprised by rebounding very well for his position, ranking in the top quarter of point guards.

Defensively, his limitations were clear against speedsters, but he by and large did a solid job. The Wizards sometimes asked Mack to play off the ball in small-ball lineups and he struggled to defend 2s, but he proved adequate against most 1s.

Look for a move to made, potentially as soon as tomorrow before the C’s game against the Bulls at the TD Garden.