Can we admit that Avery Bradley is a legit NBA player now?

[Interceptor]

Yes he has excellent recovery speed, but we're talking about Jameer Nelson here.  When it comes to picking pockets, he's one of the best, but lets not act like he's a true stopper on penetration.  He looks like an ace when playing against 2nd string combo guards with average ball-handling skills, but he hasn't done anything meaningful against strong drivers so far.  Wall destroyed him, and although he didn't allow Nash to get a ton of points, he let him get absolutely wherever he wanted on the court.

This is an impossible defensive standard to meet.

[Fafnir]

Yes he has excellent recovery speed, but we're talking about Jameer Nelson here.  When it comes to picking pockets, he's one of the best, but lets not act like he's a true stopper on penetration.  He looks like an ace when playing against 2nd string combo guards with average ball-handling skills, but he hasn't done anything meaningful against strong drivers so far.  Wall destroyed him, and although he didn't allow Nash to get a ton of points, he let him get absolutely wherever he wanted on the court.

This is an impossible defensive standard to meet.

+1000

mgent, I suppose holding Phoenix to a whooping 90 ORtg is unacceptable? He bottled up Nash and kept him from getting open looks to shoot much or dominating the game with his passing.

What lost us that Suns game was:

1. Offensive boards we gave up to give the Suns second chances
2. Our own miserable offense

[Kuberski33]

Thank you. As one of the older guys here, the Chaney comparisons have been driving me crazy.

He's a totally different player than Chaney.  Best ex-Celtic I can compare him to - as someone else mentioned - is Marcus Banks.  Marcus Banks with a better attitude. Banks may actually be a better shooter (based on what we've seen to date) but Bradley seems to be a bulldog with his approach.  Banks was Danny's first draft pick with the C's....guess we know one kind of player he has a thing for.....

[Celts Fan 92]

Um no, because he's not yet.  He needs a lot more good games in order to cancel out all the bad.  Who was the last legitimate player that you can recall who averaged 3 points on 36% shooting, 10% from 3, and 58% from the line?

We always knew he could play this type of defense, ever since his first game.  Nothing new.  We also know he's among the bottom 5 worst offensive players when he's on the court.  Now there's no reason we can't have hope, because we know he's good in practice, but until he replicates that during real games he's not a legitimate player.  

I mean people complained to end about an injured Tony, and Bradley brings all the same over-thinking, turnovers, and lack of confidence without any of the streaky and explosive high-percentage scoring.  Not to mention less versatile defense and he's worse at keeping his man in front of him.

Now is it possible that we're just pulling less of our hair out because Pierce has played PG the past two games instead of AB?

This rite here while he played great pressure D last night he has a tendency to get blown by because he plays so close to his man nd his inept offense has already been discussed as of right now he's lookin like a Eric Snow 2.0 but we'll see wat happens

Completely disagree about him getting blown by on defense. He has remarkable recovery speed.

Last night, I dont think Nelson got any penetration in the middle of the court. It was amazing. He had to pick up his dribble at the 3 point line and he was exhausted.

You are right about him offensively though.

He did great on Nelson I'm talkin bout when he goes up against speedy guys like John Wall or Jeff Teague

[Celtics4ever]

I've been a vocal critic of his but even I will admit that he does a great job at keeping the offensive player between his knees and he can D up.  He does a real good job at that and D in general.  This kid is a ball hawk.

Offensively, he is offensive.  He is a poor shooter.   While I like how he attacks the rim he doesn't know how to attack the rim against a shot blocker and shows poor judgement at time.   I think he will improve in this area.  He seems to be a confidence guy to me in that once he makes a shot he gets more confident and hits some more.  When he is on, he is on.   When he is not it weighs heavy on him.