What is Jeff Green's ceiling?

[scurvmeister]

Green is not six years into the NBA. He is in his fifth year, and his first venture outside a system that failed totally to utilize his talents.

The comments above about focus make me laugh. No one on this blog has any idea about Green's focus, or apparently his career length.

We'll see what his ceiling is, but you can be fairly certain it's higher than as the fifth wheel in Oklahoma City.

wait, isn't this his FOURTH year? He was drafted in 07.

[winsomme]

Green is not six years into the NBA. He is in his fifth year, and his first venture outside a system that failed totally to utilize his talents.

The comments above about focus make me laugh. No one on this blog has any idea about Green's focus, or apparently his career length.

We'll see what his ceiling is, but you can be fairly certain it's higher than as the fifth wheel in Oklahoma City.

Tim Welch was talking about this on SC. He said the wrap on Green is that he is not focused as often as he needs to be. So, this particular comment is not laughable. People who study his game and interact with him believe this to be the case.

They certainly could be wrong, but the observation is not laughable.

Personally, Green seems to have a slow reaction time. It's inconsistent. Sometimes he explodes to the ball and sometimes he just seems a step slow in reacting to the ball. I honestly don't understand it.

maybe it's focus, maybe it's not. but he definitely is not aggressively affecting the game the way someone with his physical tools should be...

[More Banners]

I hate to say it, but does anyone think he compares to Worthy?

[indeedproceed]

Jeff Green's ceiling: Lower than Rondo with a jumpshot, higher than Glen Davis with a vertical.

Okay, now that I've said my cutsey phrase..

I see think Jeff Green's career path could in a lot of ways mirror Jason Richardson's...if Richardson were a 3/4 instead of a 2/3. I'm not sure that makes sense..but stay with me.

He's athletic, but not so freakishly athletic that he can rely on it to dominant. He could be a second option on a poor to mediocre team with a little more consistency and focus in his development. But, if he can find a niche he could be a viable rotation player by around say 27 on a legitimate contending squad. He'd need to learn the 3 though, and would only play in the 4 in strategic situations, as opposed to out of necessity like he did in OKC...and his shooting needs to improve to be a real 3.

[FatjohnReturns]

Jeff Greens ceiling is Reggie Lewis. The situations are comparable. Playing with Bird,Mchale,Parish elevated Lewis game.
Danny is hoping the same thing happens to Green playing with Garnett,Pierce and Allen.

[CoachBo]

Jeff Greens ceiling is Reggie Lewis. The situations are comparable. Playing with Bird,Mchale,Parish elevated Lewis game.
Danny is hoping the same thing happens to Green playing with Garnett,Pierce and Allen.

We'll see about ceiling. "Focus" is the refuge of people who don't understand what they're seeing, rather like those who think there's a mental reason why Rondo can't shoot. There isn't. He just hasn't developed the skill. I wonder if Mr. Welch was satsfied with Mr. Green's focus on the bizarre up and under against the Bucks. I rather doubt it.

Green was misused in Brooks' two-man system in OKC. Get back to me in about a year, and I'll be able to offer an intelligent opinion about his ceiling. Not before then.

[vinnie]

I hope is ceiling is a lot higher when it comes to rebounding. In 9 games with the Celts, he is averaging a little more than 2 rebounds per game in 22 plus minutes. And we thought Big Baby didn't rebound!

[ballin]

Anybody care to show me a player who made a leap between his fifth and sixth year?


Here's what I'll do. For every player that makes this leap that you mention, I'll mention several hundred players that didn't.


99% of the time players in their 5th year don't blow up into perennial all-stars like you people are suggesting.

*waits for the backtracking* "oh, I never said he'd be an ALL STAR" (p.s. saying he'd be a 2nd or 3rd option on a great team is saying the same thing. fact.)

[Megatron]

Anybody care to show me a player who made a leap between his fifth and sixth year?


Here's what I'll do. For every player that makes this leap that you mention, I'll mention several hundred players that didn't.


99% of the time players in their 5th year don't blow up into perennial all-stars like you people are suggesting.

*waits for the backtracking* "oh, I never said he'd be an ALL STAR" (p.s. saying he'd be a 2nd or 3rd option on a great team is saying the same thing. fact.)

We better hope Rondo can make that leap, because if he doesent he wont be anything more then what he is now, a top 10 point guard.

[gar]

If he differed to Durant no reason he won't take a back seat w/ the big three. The C's have big plans for him. So there will be some pressure on him; but the question is how much he will take the scoring load off the big three. He will be competing for minutes against BBD/Murphy at one end and Wafer/West at the other so is up to him.

[ManUp]

Anybody care to show me a player who made a leap between his fifth and sixth year?


Here's what I'll do. For every player that makes this leap that you mention, I'll mention several hundred players that didn't.

Steve Nash! now I want my list of a hundred or so players! 

But really I agree with the assessment that for the most part Green is what he is at this point. When your in your 5th or 6th season and you haven't really found an area where you excel chances are your aren't going to. I think Green's ceiling is an above average starter. He does a lot of things well, but he doesn't really excel at any one area.

[FatjohnReturns]

Jeff Greens ceiling is Reggie Lewis. The situations are comparable. Playing with Bird,Mchale,Parish elevated Lewis game.
Danny is hoping the same thing happens to Green playing with Garnett,Pierce and Allen.

We'll see about ceiling. "Focus" is the refuge of people who don't understand what they're seeing, rather like those who think there's a mental reason why Rondo can't shoot. There isn't. He just hasn't developed the skill. I wonder if Mr. Welch was satsfied with Mr. Green's focus on the bizarre up and under against the Bucks. I rather doubt it.

Green was misused in Brooks' two-man system in OKC. Get back to me in about a year, and I'll be able to offer an intelligent opinion about his ceiling. Not before then.

Yea  I agree time will tell. I do believe he has the physical abilities to grow into a similar player as Reggie. Reggie played five full years in Boston. In 92/93 his last year he averaged 20.8 ppg 4.3 trb 3.7 ast 1.5 stl and 1.0 blk. Reggie was also a clutch scorer and a better than average defender.  

I think everyone including Ainge would be pleased if Green could produce like Reggie. To Jeffs credit his defensive energy has been better lately. The more we get to see him it also obvious he is a gifted scorer with the basketball.

[jr_3421]

I see Jeff Green as a glue guy if he is part of Ainge's plan for the future going forward. I think we have gotten spoiled with the idea of 4 all stars and forget that our 3rd option does not have to be as talented as Ray Allen or KG. I think with an elite SG, Green would excel with Rondo at the point.

[KungPoweChicken]

I don't think he has all-star talent. Luol Deng has never made an all-star game before. Green isn't better, nor will he be better than Deng. I do think Green can be better than he is now. I've been satisfied with Green's defense thus far. I think he's making a solid effort. But I haven't been impressed with his rebounding. For a guy with his size and length, he needs to be more aggressive on the boards. He has a nice enough stroke, but he is not a three point shooter. I'd like to see him down in the post a lot more than he goes down there.

I think Jeff Green, when he realizes his potential, can be a little be of a cross between a poor man's Deng and Odom, which I don't think is really a bad thing. I like the kid on this team. I'm a fan. But he's also a hard player to utilize. I have faith it will all come together though.

A poor-mans deng? Dengs career averages 15/6
Jeff Green is at 15/5

If anything they are closing to being even, if you consider Green is a SF playing at the PF spot being overmatched every single game, we cant judge how he would be his entire career if he was used properly.

Green is more athletic then Deng, but can also play 2 positions, Deng can only play the 3.

He can definately be better then Deng in my opinion. They have the same career stats which is telling.

Well, not quite. Deng has averaged more than 2 points for his career and a full rebound more. I'm not sure where you got your career numbers from, but they are slightly off. Moreover, Deng is considered an elite defender and mid-range jump shooter. Both players have also been predominately the third options for their careers. But Deng has been more productive and has also found his niche by being a knock down shooter and elite defender. And saying Green could be more valuable because he can play the four position doesn't make a whole lot of sense. Deng "could" play the four too, and has, but that doesn't mean it's a good idea.


Also, since 06-07 Deng has averaged less than 17 points per game only once, when he was hurt almost all year. Keep in mind Deng puts up these numbers being the third option. Jeff Green has never scored 17 point per game in a season.

[chambers]

I don't think he has all-star talent. Luol Deng has never made an all-star game before. Green isn't better, nor will he be better than Deng. I do think Green can be better than he is now. I've been satisfied with Green's defense thus far. I think he's making a solid effort. But I haven't been impressed with his rebounding. For a guy with his size and length, he needs to be more aggressive on the boards. He has a nice enough stroke, but he is not a three point shooter. I'd like to see him down in the post a lot more than he goes down there.

I think Jeff Green, when he realizes his potential, can be a little be of a cross between a poor man's Deng and Odom, which I don't think is really a bad thing. I like the kid on this team. I'm a fan. But he's also a hard player to utilize. I have faith it will all come together though.

A poor-mans deng? Dengs career averages 15/6
Jeff Green is at 15/5

If anything they are closing to being even, if you consider Green is a SF playing at the PF spot being overmatched every single game, we cant judge how he would be his entire career if he was used properly.

Green is more athletic then Deng, but can also play 2 positions, Deng can only play the 3.

He can definately be better then Deng in my opinion. They have the same career stats which is telling.

I was going to quote the exact same stats.
Deng is more consistent (especially this year) but green has the potential to become a top five 3 spot in the NBA in my opinion.