I think IT's value is slowly getting to where it really belongs: he was great to have for two and a half seasons, and helped the C's become again a solid playoff team, but he is not a Celtics great.
IMO ten years from now, the legacy of Bradley will be greater: he played seven seasons for us and he was the link between the Big Three and the Stevens eras.
In 10 years people will remember AB as much as they do Eric Williams or Ron Mercer.
That is not true Roy.
Why do you think so?
I think IT's value is slowly getting to where it really belongs: he was great to have for two and a half seasons, and helped the C's become again a solid playoff team, but he is not a Celtics great.
IMO ten years from now, the legacy of Bradley will be greater: he played seven seasons for us and he was the link between the Big Three and the Stevens eras.
In 10 years people will remember AB as much as they do Eric Williams or Ron Mercer.
That is not true Roy.
Why do you think so?
I am a bit surprised you really think this needs explanation. As a starting point, is it even worth pointing out why Ron Mercer is not in the same league of being a Celtics? He played in 120 career games with 0 post season games. He is best known by Celtics fans as being a disappointing consolation prize for not getting Duncan and the Pitino era.
Erik Williams is a little closer because he was at least was on the team a long time and appeared on two teams that made it a few rounds in the playoffs (26 games, 18 starts) though he never even averaged double figures.
Williams appeared in 462 games, but only averaged double figures for 2.25 seasons. He was also highly inefficient with back to back seasons of shooting 36% and 37% (would have been benched for that in today's NBA)
Williams never received any awards in the NBA
Bradley was on a team that made several deep playoff runs (39 career playoff games)
Bradley played 413 regular season games with the Celtics
Bradley had 4 seasons average double figures and essentially 3 averaging more than 3 games
Bradley was recognized on all defensive first team once and all defensive second team once
Bradley was the bridge between the big 3 era and Stevens ball
So in summary Bradley was a better offensive player, a better defensive player, made more starts for the Celtics and played in more playoff games for better teams while being recognized as one of the best in the league at defense. Do you really think they are similar at all? Most people would want to forget all the teams Williams played on for his second stint in Boston as they were a low point for the franchise. Though Bradley didn't win a chip, the 2012 team will be remembered for a very long time for their gutsy efforts and near finals appearance.
So?
Role players who don’t win titles aren’t going to be widely remembered or appreciated. Especially those who are traded away.
Most Celtics fans today have no idea who Bailey Howell is. How many guys can talk with specificity about Paul Silas, or moreso, Don Chaney? Do you think the majority can tell the difference between Sam Jones and K.C. Jones?
And yet, you think zero-time All-Star, zero-time champion Avery Bradley is going to be remembered by a large percentage of fans?
People will remember Avery Bradley at least as much as they remember a little 5'7" guy who spent 3 seasons in Boston, never got the Celtics to the finals, and then spent 3-6 months badmouthing the organisation.
I will never forget Avery Bradley. After Pierce, Ray, KG and Rondo, Avery Bradley is the next most memorable Celtic to me over the past 10 years. In fact AB might even be more memorable to me then either Rondo or Ray, simply because of his loyalty and the way he played - the fact that he left it all out there on the floor every night.
Isaiah will be overshadowed by Kyrie, who is a better player in almost every possible way right now then Isaiah was in his 3 seasons as a Celtic.
Maybe YOU might forget him, but I will not.
And you're wrong about role players being forgotten. People still talk about guys like Robert Horry, Derek Fisher, Steve Kerr, Bruce Bowen, Charles Oakley - guys who were instrumental to helping huge stars earn their rings. They might not get the same recognition as the big stars that they shared the court with, but they aren't forgotten.
What do Horry, Fisher, Kerr, Bowen, etc., have to do with “role players with no titles”.
Avery Bradley will have no Celtics legacy, because he never won anything and he was never a great player.
When I was younger, Patrick Ewing, Karl Malone and Penny Hardaway were my favourite players. Those three guys never won any titles, but I've still never forgotten the impact that guys like Charles Oakley, John Starks, Marcus Camby, Anthony Mason, Jeff Hornacek, Bryon Russel, Nick Anderson and Dennis Scott has on those teams.
It's impossible for me to remember those big named players without also remembering those big key support guys who played around them at the time.
Do I fondly remember the Greg Ostertag's, Hubert Davis' and Bryan Shaw's? Not so much - I can barely remember a single play from any one of those guys. But the key contributers who were around those teams for the long haul, I remember very clearly.
For close to well over half a decade Avery Bradley was the the Celtics what guys like Starks, Scott and Hornacek were for those teams. Guys who aren't all-out stars, but who were major contributors to incredibly competitive teams.
But how many die hard Knicks fans will remember Stephon Marbury? A legit superstar who came to New York, played 4 or 5 seasons there, and then vanished. Who do you think will stick in Knick fan's mind 10 years from now - key role players like Oakley/Mason/Starks, or a short term star like Marbury?
Avery Bradley was drafted to Boston as a rookie who had was incredibly raw. He build up an incredibly strong career as a Celtic though incredibly hard work,improving his game significantly just about every year he spent in green. He brought 100% every night, and made game winning plays on both ends of the floor. He spent a few years playing support to the infamous (and legendary) big three, then during Boston's rebuild he rose as the teams best player and veteran leader over a good couple of years. The once most star power came to town again, he continued to be a major game changer on both ends of the court until the day he was shipped out of town.
I'll never forget his contributions to this team, or the professional way he went about everything he did. Maybe you will - but I won't.
Topic: Pierce: “I’m not sure I want to see ITs video on my night” (Read 12369 times)