The hardest role on this team to define might be that of Shelden Williams. Is he an insurance policy? Does he fill a Leon Powe role where his minutes depend on matchups?
Whatever it is, Shelden is keeping it simple... and looking at it like a fresh start.
“They want me to come in and play defense, rebound the basketball, be able to go out there and do the little things,’’ Williams said while preparing for tomorrow’s exhibition season opener against Houston in Hidalgo, Texas. “That’s what I’m trying to do. It’s kind of like being a freshman at Duke all over again. You already have a great group of guys, and with the tradition we have here . . . so I just have to come in here and find my niche, and go from there.
“This is a very veteran team. They have a lot of years on me, so I’m picking their brains and going from there.’’
It's going to be interesting to see how Shelden fits in with this club. Sheed and Big Baby are clearly ahead of him off the bench. But if Baby goes into any kind of slump or if matchups dictate the C's need to go bigger... then Shelden will get some time. Maybe coming in without the expectations of being a lottery pick will help him stay focused on the jobs he mentioned. Honestly, he can make a nice little career out of just playing D and rebounding... and that's all we need out of him here in Boston.
