Could Avery Bradley develop into a Russell Westbrook type player?

[Tr1boy]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TzoaLKzd5eA

Never seen AB do 95 percent of the plays above.

[vinnie]

No, never, no. I love these threads.

[guava_wrench]

Does anyone believe Avery bradley has the potential to be the next Russell Westbrook? Sometimes I see Avery throw down (check youtube for the dunk of the Grizz) and I feel as if he could be just like Russell. I understand Russell is more athletic but what if AB worked on his vertical? I feel if he had the aggressiveness and the emotion that Russell has he could be great. I just wish Avery played with more emotion. What do you guys think?

I think you shouldn't try to judge players based on dunks. Dunks are far from the best part of Westbrook's game.

[Smitty77]

Does anyone believe Avery bradley has the potential to be the next Russell Westbrook? Sometimes I see Avery throw down (check youtube for the dunk of the Grizz) and I feel as if he could be just like Russell. I understand Russell is more athletic but what if AB worked on his vertical? I feel if he had the aggressiveness and the emotion that Russell has he could be great. I just wish Avery played with more emotion. What do you guys think?

Here is a link to the dunk: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L9HuRWgaIwk

LETS GO CELTICS

First of all, welcome to CB MikeJelly!!  Sorry for all the crap you seem to be getting.  Let me say that AB is already a superior defender to RW and RW will NEVER touch Avery defensively.  NEVER!!  Therefore, everyone making fun of this comparison might be a little off.  NO ONE knows how Westbrook will come back from his surgery.  Certainly, Russell is a far superior offensive player and passer.  AB will never average as many assists, but he could be a more efficient scorer.  AB was only 3.6% behind Westbrook's FG % and only .6% behind from long range.  AB was behind at the FT line by 4.5%.  All of those figures were from last year, a year that Avery got to play with the #1 assist man in the NBA for a few games.  AB's career FG% is 43.8%, exactly the same that Westbrook shot last year.  Year before last, Avery shot 49.8% from two and 40.7% from three.  Russell's BEST year was 45.&5 and 33%.  Therefore, this is NOT such a ridiculous question as many have made it.  I go much more by player efficiency than by flash.  Avery will never be a great passer, just as Russell will never be a lock down defender!!  MikeJelly, you have started a nice discussion.  Well done!!

Welcome,

Smitty77

[Smitty77]

No way. Bradley imo is exceeding himself in the nba by pure hard work on defense. His offense is limited to spot up shooting and cuts to the net. I have seen a few nice end to end , nice layups but its usually when his man is looking away for a sec.

Westbrooks can have three guys waiting for him and he can still score. Westbrook is 2 inches taller, longer reach, wingspan, quicker and can jump higher than ab.

Ab for me has potential to be like tony allen but a better shooting, sg version. Not a bad thing

On ESPN, Westbrook is listed as being 1" taller.

Smitty77

[Smitty77]

The guy I'd recommend he look to for influence is Kevin Johnson from the 90's. He had almost the exact same build and athleticism as Avery, and a similar looking jumper, and he was a spectacular offense player.

As a mentor, sure, KJ was a very smart and talented player , but as a comparison to Bradley, not even close. KJ was a brlliant ball handler and fascilitator , with great instincts, Bradley is the opposite. Isn't KJ a mayor somewhere now anyway ?

He's the mayor of Sacramento, and was a significant part of why the Kings stayed.

He is also one of the MOST UNETHICAL politicians in the country, and that is saying something!!!  (Kevin Johnson I mean!!!)

http://rokdrop.com/2009/11/23/michelle-rhee-linked-to-kevin-johnson-sex-scandal-cover-up/

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/12/04/kevin-johnson-ethics-fine_n_2237592.html

http://www.americanthinker.com/2012/02/being_kevin_johnson.html

Had Kevin NOT been best buddy's with President Obama and a DEMOCRAT, he would probably be in jail where he probably deserves to be.  I value being informed and hope that everyone on this board does the same.

Smitty77

[Smitty77]

No way dude. You don't develop athleticism like that. It's a genetic lottery thing. We might as well hope he develops to 6'6, too.

But I'm absolutely on board with the idea that Bradley should be more aggressive on the offensive end, especially if he's going to be our starting point while Rondo is out. That might have diminishing returns on his defense, though.

Bradley is a fantastic athlete.  Probably on par with Westbrook.  The problem is his skills.  He simply doesn't have the ballhandling or the instincts that Westbrook has, and his footwork (on offense...on defense, his footwork is spectacular) is pretty terrible.  Basically, it just seems like Bradley is behind on offensive fundamentals.  He got by on athleticism in highschool, and has been playing catchup ever since.  And, it would be nearly impossible to catch up with someone like Westbrook, who is going to continue to get better himself.

With that said, I do think Bradley has potential to improve significantly on offense.  I think he could be more like a poor man's Monta Ellis on offense...but with spectacular defense.

I don't see much of the good Monta in his game--that's the off-ball slasher/drive and dish guy who was an excellent finisher around the rim and had a ridiculous first step.

The guy you see now has slowed down a bit and started settling for contested jumpers--I think the moped accident really did a lot of damage to his development--but there was as time when Ellis was playing "the right way" and really helping his teams out.

On offense, that is.

Monta shot over 60 percent at the rim last season, as did Westbrook.  Bradley shot 49 percent which is abysmal.  Even a slowed-down Monta, which I don't necessarily agree with as he's still a great athlete, is a better offensive player than Bradley can ever dream to be.  Their skill level and scoring instincts are very far apart.  The only difference scoring-wise between Monta and Westbrook are their free throw rates.  If Monta got to the line at the same rate as Westbrook, their scoring per 36 and efficiency would be very similar.  Monta's issues aren't with talent or athleticism, they're decision making and physicality around the rim. 

Bradley's tough to compare because the signature shot of defense first perimeter players are usually not pull up jumpers.

I am sorry, but to use last year's numbers for Avery with him coming back very late from injury and I believe only playing with Rondo for seven games is simply ridiculous!!  How about looking at Avery's numbers the year before where he shot 49.8% and 40.7% from long range???

Smitty77

[Smitty77]

In Brad Steven's Offense Avery will have the Green Light to be more Aggressive. THat was not the case for him with Doc or his teammates. He will not be the secon coming of Russell Westbrook but he will be the Real Avery Bradley on Offense this year. He wil have the green light to shoot and he will………………

And its a shame that he is such a terrible shooter.

Really??  He shot 49.8% and 40.7% in 2011-2012!!!

Smitty77

[LarBrd33]

In Brad Steven's Offense Avery will have the Green Light to be more Aggressive. THat was not the case for him with Doc or his teammates. He will not be the secon coming of Russell Westbrook but he will be the Real Avery Bradley on Offense this year. He wil have the green light to shoot and he will………………

And its a shame that he is such a terrible shooter.

Really??  He shot 49.8% and 40.7% in 2011-2012!!!

Smitty77

He had a hot month. 

[fantankerous]

In Brad Steven's Offense Avery will have the Green Light to be more Aggressive. THat was not the case for him with Doc or his teammates. He will not be the secon coming of Russell Westbrook but he will be the Real Avery Bradley on Offense this year. He wil have the green light to shoot and he will………………

And its a shame that he is such a terrible shooter.

Really??  He shot 49.8% and 40.7% in 2011-2012!!!

Smitty77

He had a hot month.

Exactly.  He shot 40.7% on a whopping 54 attempts.  Maybe if they try really hard these delusional fans can live in April 2012 forever.

[pearljammer10]

In Brad Steven's Offense Avery will have the Green Light to be more Aggressive. THat was not the case for him with Doc or his teammates. He will not be the secon coming of Russell Westbrook but he will be the Real Avery Bradley on Offense this year. He wil have the green light to shoot and he will………………

And its a shame that he is such a terrible shooter.

Really??  He shot 49.8% and 40.7% in 2011-2012!!!

Smitty77

He had a hot month.

Exactly.  He shot 40.7% on a whopping 54 attempts.  Maybe if they try really hard these delusional fans can live in April 2012 forever.

Double exactly... Plus, you forgot to mention that last season he shot 40%.

[Smitty77]

In Brad Steven's Offense Avery will have the Green Light to be more Aggressive. THat was not the case for him with Doc or his teammates. He will not be the secon coming of Russell Westbrook but he will be the Real Avery Bradley on Offense this year. He wil have the green light to shoot and he will………………

And its a shame that he is such a terrible shooter.

Really??  He shot 49.8% and 40.7% in 2011-2012!!!

Smitty77

He had a hot month.

\

It is NOT like Russell is an above average 3-point shooter!!

Smitty77

[Smitty77]

In Brad Steven's Offense Avery will have the Green Light to be more Aggressive. THat was not the case for him with Doc or his teammates. He will not be the secon coming of Russell Westbrook but he will be the Real Avery Bradley on Offense this year. He wil have the green light to shoot and he will………………

And its a shame that he is such a terrible shooter.

Really??  He shot 49.8% and 40.7% in 2011-2012!!!

Smitty77

He had a hot month.

Exactly.  He shot 40.7% on a whopping 54 attempts.  Maybe if they try really hard these delusional fans can live in April 2012 forever.

Double exactly... Plus, you forgot to mention that last season he shot 40%.

Just like you forgot to mention that Avery, I believe, started a whopping 7 games with Rondo.  Let's have an entire almost full year with a healthy Rondo before we pass judgment.

Smitty77

[D.o.s.]

In Brad Steven's Offense Avery will have the Green Light to be more Aggressive. THat was not the case for him with Doc or his teammates. He will not be the secon coming of Russell Westbrook but he will be the Real Avery Bradley on Offense this year. He wil have the green light to shoot and he will………………

And its a shame that he is such a terrible shooter.

Really??  He shot 49.8% and 40.7% in 2011-2012!!!

Smitty77

He had a hot month.

Exactly.  He shot 40.7% on a whopping 54 attempts.  Maybe if they try really hard these delusional fans can live in April 2012 forever.

Double exactly... Plus, you forgot to mention that last season he shot 40%.

Just like you forgot to mention that Avery, I believe, started a whopping 7 games with Rondo.  Let's have an entire almost full year with a healthy Rondo before we pass judgment.

Smitty77

So we're not passing judgement until the 14-15 season? 

[Smitty77]

In Brad Steven's Offense Avery will have the Green Light to be more Aggressive. THat was not the case for him with Doc or his teammates. He will not be the secon coming of Russell Westbrook but he will be the Real Avery Bradley on Offense this year. He wil have the green light to shoot and he will………………

And its a shame that he is such a terrible shooter.

Really??  He shot 49.8% and 40.7% in 2011-2012!!!

Smitty77

He had a hot month.

Exactly.  He shot 40.7% on a whopping 54 attempts.  Maybe if they try really hard these delusional fans can live in April 2012 forever.

Double exactly... Plus, you forgot to mention that last season he shot 40%.

Just like you forgot to mention that Avery, I believe, started a whopping 7 games with Rondo.  Let's have an entire almost full year with a healthy Rondo before we pass judgment.

Smitty77

So we're not passing judgement until the 14-15 season? 

Now that is a good one DOS:-)))  I will be fine with a 50 games sampling of RR and AB together:-))

Smitty77