Avery Bradley-o-Meter

[guava_wrench]

I consider myself an avid Celtics watcher but to date, I have never seen Avery Bradley make a basket.  When shall the day come?

You must have blinked.

He is 1-9.

He did score 20 once last year though according to boxscores.

[Celts Fan 92]

So now we're comparing Bradely to Bruce Bowen? stop it he's a good defender but not close to the level of Bowen plus Bruce had the corner 3 down pat Bradely still doesnt kno wat he wants to do on offense i get mad uncomfortable seeinghim enter the game

[snively]

It would be nice to see Bradley with Rondo for a few minutes.  That Dooling/Bradley backcourt is just bad news.

[BballTim]

So now we're comparing Bradely to Bruce Bowen? stop it he's a good defender but not close to the level of Bowen plus Bruce had the corner 3 down pat Bradely still doesnt kno wat he wants to do on offense i get mad uncomfortable seeinghim enter the game

  Not that I'm a Bradley fan, but he's 21-22. Bowen was 25-26 when he signed with the Celts and was almost 30 before he ever showed up on an all-defense team.

[jsingh1699]

a big problem he faces is that when he checks into a game, he knows he has 5 min (maybe 10 min max) to do what he can. i think the nerves get the best of him.

i know thats not a reason to defend him, but look at it this way. last year against the knicks at the end of the season, he started the game and played the majority of the game. he did very well and showed flashes of what he can do.

the only way i see him flourishing is getting 15-20 min a game and just getting more comfortable out there.

that wont happen this year.

[Celts Fan 92]

So now we're comparing Bradely to Bruce Bowen? stop it he's a good defender but not close to the level of Bowen plus Bruce had the corner 3 down pat Bradely still doesnt kno wat he wants to do on offense i get mad uncomfortable seeinghim enter the game

  Not that I'm a Bradley fan, but he's 21-22. Bowen was 25-26 when he signed with the Celts and was almost 30 before he ever showed up on an all-defense team.

I hope he does work out while he played good D on Crawford it should be taken into consideration tht Jordan Crawford aint a point guard he's an undersized 2 who chucks i think a better comparison would be Eric Snow

[dtrader]

A year ago people were wondering why he wasn't on the court.

Now, people wonder why he's on it.

Why I should I believe it will be any different with Moore and JJJ? Now I don't tell anyone what to say, but don't be mad if I don't reply to "cause I said so", cause that's what I assume I'll get, and I assume that's why people feel Bradley shouldn't play now.

Apart from that, I'm amazed that a player who can actually stop the opposing team's offense at times apparently has no place on a defensive-minded team like the Celtics, of all teams. It's one thing to say you don't trust Doc, but if your eyes don't tell you that Wall couldn't get Bradley off of him at times when he was in, you either probably don't trust them or you simply didn't see the game.

I've said it before already, but if Bradley finds his shot, he helps this team NOW. Not "hopefully later" like Moore or JJJ.

It looks like JJJ will take some time, but there's no reason to say Moore can't help now.  The time he had in the preseason showed a player with solid defense, and a variety of offensive weapons.  People focus on Bradleys defense because it is his only saving grace right now, but Moore is no slouch there either.

[LooseCannon]

I will give him time but not how long it took Bowen. We need more immediate returns than waiting 3 full seasons. If he is on the Bowen path, he will be on his 3rd team in his 4th season.

Bowen went undrafted. Bradley is a first rounder making first round $$.

I think the better comparison is DeShawn Stevenson who was drafted 23rd straight out of high school.  Of course, Stevenson has never really been particularly good....

[Snakehead]

A year ago people were wondering why he wasn't on the court.

Now, people wonder why he's on it.

Why I should I believe it will be any different with Moore and JJJ? Now I don't tell anyone what to say, but don't be mad if I don't reply to "cause I said so", cause that's what I assume I'll get, and I assume that's why people feel Bradley shouldn't play now.

Apart from that, I'm amazed that a player who can actually stop the opposing team's offense at times apparently has no place on a defensive-minded team like the Celtics, of all teams. It's one thing to say you don't trust Doc, but if your eyes don't tell you that Wall couldn't get Bradley off of him at times when he was in, you either probably don't trust them or you simply didn't see the game.

I've said it before already, but if Bradley finds his shot, he helps this team NOW. Not "hopefully later" like Moore or JJJ.

It looks like JJJ will take some time, but there's no reason to say Moore can't help now.  The time he had in the preseason showed a player with solid defense, and a variety of offensive weapons.  People focus on Bradleys defense because it is his only saving grace right now, but Moore is no slouch there either.

I couldn't disagree more.  I like Moore, but all he has shown is a surprising level of comfort in our offense and solid jump shooting abiliy.  Defensively he seems at best average and how he moves with that weak look about his gait he doesn't have the quickness to be a good defender.

Avery is already a good defender and his lateral quickness is unreal.  Seriously, Avery detractors, if you want to criticize please target offense.  If you're saying his defense isn't good or Moore is just as good you are reaching HARD.

I will give him time but not how long it took Bowen. We need more immediate returns than waiting 3 full seasons. If he is on the Bowen path, he will be on his 3rd team in his 4th season.

Bowen went undrafted. Bradley is a first rounder making first round $$.

I think the better comparison is DeShawn Stevenson who was drafted 23rd straight out of high school.  Of course, Stevenson has never really been particularly good....

Did you watch the Finals and Playoffs last year?  Stevenson was quite good.  His stats weren't great for the Mavs that year but he stepped up when needed and hit big shots and played as good of D as you can hope to on LeBron individually. And I don't think Deshawn is that good of a defender.  Avery is already showing more and will improve on that front.  If he can develop a 3 I'd be very happy, that alone would be enough to warrant him being out there on the floor.

But yeah, depends on your definiton of particularly good... I don't think Deshawn has shown enough consistently to be labled that.

[Cdash]

Bradley doesn't have size to defend wing players properly, so it doesn't make sense to compare him to guys like Bowen. Bowen was a great defender of 1s, 2s, 3s and some 4s. Bradley is limited to 1s and some 2s.

I am very impressed by Bradley's defense though. He gets in the ball-handlers grill as few other players in the league right now, if any. His on-the-ball defense is impressive, he has active hands, he slides well through screens, doesn't slack on his stance off-the-ball... sometimes he overcommits a bit, but I think with some experience he can be the best

He's a nightmare matchup for those weak ball-handling guards some teams trout in their second unit.

Offensively, I think he'll be good enough of a jump-shooter.

Bradley reminds me of a Brian Shaw. He'd be a great fit next to a Magic Johnson, a Larry Bird, a LeBron James, a Kobe Bryant.

[ballin]

I'm 100% admitting that Bradley has good defense. Not only that, I think he can guard 2-guards a lot better than a lot of people on here think (his short size hurts on 3-point closeouts though).

That said, I really, really don't think people are grasping how fully terrible his offense is. As a Celtics fan, I'm all about defense. But when your offense is just SO bad that the other team is essentially playing 5v4, you're not helping the team.

Bradley has a -4 PER. Negative 4!!!!!!! Or, if you prefer win shares, he is averaging -.184 per 48 minutes! That's INSANE.

His defense can't make up for that kind of offense.

[ScoobyDoo]

Major TP to "Chambers". In fact, two Tommy points for you.

And I also agree with Nickagenta in that I understand this kid might not be what we'd like just yet, but such utter disdain for him I don't understand.

Avery Bradley, nearly caused two shot clock violations with his on the ball defense last night.

* Right now, I'd bet money that nearly all opposing teams' second string point guards will have difficulties bringing the ball up court against Bradley. That is very valuable, it's completely disruptive and can be game changing against the second team of the opponent.

* As his defense matures he will start being able to hassle guards like Wall a bit more as well.

Offensively I'm not that worried about right now  - we have plenty of guys who can score. And to be honest, I think he's going to be just fine offensively once he figures it out.

I expect him to have a little break out game offensively where he drops 10-15 points one night. After that, with a little confidence on the offensive side of the ball, I think he'll start slowly producing.

I'd try to use his athleticism to get him going on offense.
* Isolate him on the wing and let him try to blow past his man.
* Post him, see if he can elevate over his man and drop a short wing or baseline shot. H has major hops, he should be able to get that done.

* It would also be nice if he could get a couple easy opps on the break to loosen him up.

I wouldn't give up on him yet - I like what he's doing defensively right now.     

[LooseCannon]

Bradley doesn't have size to defend wing players properly, so it doesn't make sense to compare him to guys like Bowen. Bowen was a great defender of 1s, 2s, 3s and some 4s. Bradley is limited to 1s and some 2s.

When you say some 2s, are you talking 25% of NBA shooting guards or more like 75% (or more) of NBA shooting guards (or somewhere in between)?

[LooseCannon]

I will give him time but not how long it took Bowen. We need more immediate returns than waiting 3 full seasons. If he is on the Bowen path, he will be on his 3rd team in his 4th season.

Bowen went undrafted. Bradley is a first rounder making first round $$.

I think the better comparison is DeShawn Stevenson who was drafted 23rd straight out of high school.  Of course, Stevenson has never really been particularly good....

Did you watch the Finals and Playoffs last year?  Stevenson was quite good.  His stats weren't great for the Mavs that year but he stepped up when needed and hit big shots and played as good of D as you can hope to on LeBron individually. And I don't think Deshawn is that good of a defender.  Avery is already showing more and will improve on that front.  If he can develop a 3 I'd be very happy, that alone would be enough to warrant him being out there on the floor.

But yeah, depends on your definiton of particularly good... I don't think Deshawn has shown enough consistently to be labled that.

Useful role player at times, but not someone who should be starting, not someone who should be in any team's long-term plans, and not someone you should hesitate to throw in on a trade.  He's the sort of player who could probably be replaced by several D-Leaguers without missing much.  I'd take Stevenson over Bradley for just this season, but I'd probably gamble on Bradley beyond that.

[nickagneta]

For those saying he can't guard 2 guards remember this, he might only be 6'2" but he has a nearly 6'8" wingspan(I think its 6'7.5"). As a comparison, Wesley Matthews, a pretty decent sized, 2 guard with pretty good defensive capabilities is almost 6'6" but only has a 6'8" wingspan. Tony Allen is 6'4" and has a 6'9" wingspan.

If Bradley can put some muscle on, and I think he will, get up to about 200 lbs, and keep his athleticism, I think he could easily guard 1's, 2's and some 3's. heck, the Celtics have been effective putting Rondo on LeBron at times.