Bradley Makes Shuhmann's "All-Star" Team

[Bahku]

Nice read on "intangibles" by John Shuhmann:



Presenting the impactful Jason Collins All-Star team:

In determining the value of NBA players, we most often cite their standard boxscore stats, starting with points, rebounds, assists, steals and blocks. These numbers obviously have value, but the most important numbers in basketball are the ones on the scoreboard. And a guy doesn't need to put up big stats to be a valuable player on his team.
In the 2002-03 season, Jason Collins averaged just 5.7 points and 4.7 rebounds per game. But he had the best per-possession plus-minus on a Finals team. When he was in the game, the Nets outscored their opponents by 7.6 points per 100 possessions.

Collins benefitted from playing most of his minutes with Jason Kidd, Kenyon Martin, Richard Jefferson and Kerry Kittles. But he helped those teammates do what they do by playing his role well. On one end of the floor, he was a great interior defender, a great help defender, and kept his man off the glass. On the other end, he ran the offense well, set solid screens, and knew his own limitations.

So while Collins' boxscore stats painted him as one of the worst starting players in the league, the Nets were better both offensively and defensively when he was on the floor.

Nine years later, Collins still has a role in this league, especially when his Atlanta Hawks are playing the Orlando Magic. But an elbow injury has limited him to just 23 games this season. So we'll have to keep him off our list of Jason Collins All-Stars, five guys who have made a difference on the scoreboard, even though their traditional boxscore stats have been underwhelming.

All stats come with the caveat that this has been a wacky season. And plus-minus is a number that's obviously dependent on what teammates you're sharing the floor with. But the following guys have distinguished themselves from the players around them:

Avery Bradley, G, Boston: 6.2 ppg, 1.8 rpg, 1.3 apg, plus-73, +5.9 NetRtg

Bradley's NetRtg doesn't jump out at you like those of the other guys on this list, but it's second-best on the Celtics (behind Kevin Garnett's +8.0). He's averaging 10.2 points in 21 games as a starter, but Bradley's offensive skills are still pretty limited and his biggest impact has been on defense.

The Celtics have allowed just 91.2 points per 100 possessions with Bradley on the floor and just 87.2 (in 241 minutes) when he's shared the floor with Garnett and Rajon Rondo.



The entire list and article are here.

[European NBA fan]

I love the team, that Schuhmann has collected:

Beno Udrih
Avery Bradley
Matt Bonner
Taj Gibson
Ekpe Udoh

Honorable Mentions: Tony Allen (who scores too much to make the team!), Omer Asik, Landry Fields, Kevin Seraphin and Anthony Tolliver.

Every one of them is the kind of player, that you love having on your team.

[jdz101]

I love the team, that Schuhmann has collected:

Beno Udrih
Avery Bradley
Matt Bonner
Taj Gibson
Ekpe Udoh

Honorable Mentions: Tony Allen (who scores too much to make the team!), Omer Asik, Landry Fields, Kevin Seraphin and Anthony Tolliver.

Every one of them is the kind of player, that you love having on your team.

I wouldn't want Landry fields personally. I find every time I watch him this year he makes boneheaded plays, takes poor shots, and turns the ball over...the other guys I like. You would only really have one of those types on your team though.

Just as an aside. I like Bradley as an overall player and complete player over the others aswell.

[Bahku]

I love the team, that Schuhmann has collected:

Beno Udrih
Avery Bradley
Matt Bonner
Taj Gibson
Ekpe Udoh

Honorable Mentions: Tony Allen (who scores too much to make the team!), Omer Asik, Landry Fields, Kevin Seraphin and Anthony Tolliver.

Every one of them is the kind of player, that you love having on your team.

I wouldn't want Landry fields personally. I find every time I watch him this year he makes boneheaded plays, takes poor shots, and turns the ball over...the other guys I like. You would only really have one of those types on your team though.

Just as an aside. I like Bradley as an overall player and complete player over the others aswell.

Totally agree about Bradley, (TP - I like Fields, though, despite the fact he makes some immature mistakes, as you said).

It's awesome to see him come into his own much the way Rondo did, first with the tentative play, then shaking that off with growing confidence and slowly shedding the doubters.

I think we've just scratched the surface of what Avery can become, (if he remains healthy), and he's in the perfect situation to grow as a player and a young man of character and self-discipline.

So many parallels to Rondo's early career, and I hope he stays in green in the long-term.

We could be witnessing the birth of an incredible tandem for the future Celtics, as the chemisrty between the two is already developing in front of us.

Very cool to watch.

[mctyson]

I love the team, that Schuhmann has collected:

Beno Udrih
Avery Bradley
Matt Bonner
Taj Gibson
Ekpe Udoh

Honorable Mentions: Tony Allen (who scores too much to make the team!), Omer Asik, Landry Fields, Kevin Seraphin and Anthony Tolliver.

Every one of them is the kind of player, that you love having on your team.

I'd take Iman Shumpert over Fields, any day.

[jdz101]

I love the team, that Schuhmann has collected:

Beno Udrih
Avery Bradley
Matt Bonner
Taj Gibson
Ekpe Udoh

Honorable Mentions: Tony Allen (who scores too much to make the team!), Omer Asik, Landry Fields, Kevin Seraphin and Anthony Tolliver.

Every one of them is the kind of player, that you love having on your team.

I wouldn't want Landry fields personally. I find every time I watch him this year he makes boneheaded plays, takes poor shots, and turns the ball over...the other guys I like. You would only really have one of those types on your team though.

Just as an aside. I like Bradley as an overall player and complete player over the others aswell.

Totally agree about Bradley, (TP - I like Fields, though, despite the fact he makes some immature mistakes, as you said).

It's awesome to see him come into his own much the way Rondo did, first with the tentative play, then shaking that off with growing confidence and slowly shedding the doubters.

I think we've just scratched the surface of what Avery can become, (if he remains healthy), and he's in the perfect situation to grow as a player and a young man of character and self-discipline.

So many parallels to Rondo's early career, and I hope he stays in green in the long-term.

We could be witnessing the birth of an incredible tandem for the future Celtics, as the chemisrty between the two is already developing in front of us.

Very cool to watch.

Exactly (TP). The fact that bradley is so young and has not had a proper pre-season yet, is scary to be honest. People that predict his ceiling now could be doing him an injustice.

From this year we have seen Avery:

1. Is extremely fast & athletic

2. Can finish around the rim

3. Can shoot jumpshots from mid range and from the 3 point line

4. Can be a seriously good defender at both guard spots

[Celtics4ever]

He doesn't have PG instincts but he makes for a fine SG.

[bdm860]

I wouldn't want Landry fields personally. I find every time I watch him this year he makes boneheaded plays, takes poor shots, and turns the ball over...

Edit out the name, and this sounds like something I would hear about a former Celtic who is on the honorable mention list...

[dtrader]

I love the team, that Schuhmann has collected:

Beno Udrih
Avery Bradley
Matt Bonner
Taj Gibson
Ekpe Udoh

Honorable Mentions: Tony Allen (who scores too much to make the team!), Omer Asik, Landry Fields, Kevin Seraphin and Anthony Tolliver.

Every one of them is the kind of player, that you love having on your team.

I wouldn't want Landry fields personally. I find every time I watch him this year he makes boneheaded plays, takes poor shots, and turns the ball over...the other guys I like. You would only really have one of those types on your team though.

Just as an aside. I like Bradley as an overall player and complete player over the others aswell.

Totally agree about Bradley, (TP - I like Fields, though, despite the fact he makes some immature mistakes, as you said).

It's awesome to see him come into his own much the way Rondo did, first with the tentative play, then shaking that off with growing confidence and slowly shedding the doubters.

I think we've just scratched the surface of what Avery can become, (if he remains healthy), and he's in the perfect situation to grow as a player and a young man of character and self-discipline.

So many parallels to Rondo's early career, and I hope he stays in green in the long-term.

We could be witnessing the birth of an incredible tandem for the future Celtics, as the chemisrty between the two is already developing in front of us.

Very cool to watch.

Exactly (TP). The fact that bradley is so young and has not had a proper pre-season yet, is scary to be honest. People that predict his ceiling now could be doing him an injustice.

From this year we have seen Avery:

1. Is extremely fast & athletic

2. Can finish around the rim

3. Can shoot jumpshots from mid range and from the 3 point line

4. Can be a seriously good defender at both guard spots

I would counter this, by saying...

1...Bradley has hit 3 pointers well in his last 2 or 3 games. Prior to that ( all of this year and last), he was absolutely horrible from distance. Saying he's a capable shooter after having a few good games is a reach.

2....He can finish at the rim when he's open, but he hasn't been able to finish well with contact, and he gets blocked  A TON. In my opinion, great finishers don't get blocked often...because that's not finishing.

3....He is a great on thr ball defender against smaller players, but he has not shown the ability to be an elite defender against bigger SGs. Gordon Hayward, Gerald Henderson, and others have shown his size to be a disadvantage.

Bradley's been playing great recently, and may become a better player than I think he's capable of being, but he could also be the same scrub everyone said he was at the start of the year, who has had a couple good months. Realistically, I think he's an average player that's in a great situation.

[Fafnir]

I would counter this, by saying...

1...Bradley has hit 3 pointers well in his last 2 or 3 games. Prior to that ( all of this year and last), he was absolutely horrible from distance. Saying he's a capable shooter after having a few good games is a reach.

2....He can finish at the rim when he's open, but he hasn't been able to finish well with contact, and he gets blocked  A TON. In my opinion, great finishers don't get blocked often...because that's not finishing.

3....He is a great on thr ball defender against smaller players, but he has not shown the ability to be an elite defender against bigger SGs. Gordon Hayward, Gerald Henderson, and others have shown his size to be a disadvantage.

Bradley's been playing great recently, and may become a better player than I think he's capable of being, but he could also be the same scrub everyone said he was at the start of the year, who has had a couple good months. Realistically, I think he's an average player that's in a great situation.

1. He's hitting his 3 point shots the last 14 gamesnot 2 or 3, and he really wasn't taking many threes before then. In particular he has a nice hot spot in the right short corner.

Before that he wasn't taking that shot (other than a 6 game stretch early). So while I think we can worry about him doing it in the playoffs when the moments bigger we have a decent sample size saying he's okay at 3s (from that one spot at least)

2. He's finished at the rim at 65%, which is very good for a smaller guard. That's similar to Dwayne Wade, his shot is blocked a lot more than Wade but despite those blocks he's still finishing at the same rate as Wade.

3. Agreed against big SGs his defense isn't as good because the bigger guards can shoot over his attempts to contest.

[guava_wrench]

2....He can finish at the rim when he's open, but he hasn't been able to finish well with contact, and he gets blocked  A TON. In my opinion, great finishers don't get blocked often...because that's not finishing.

3....He is a great on thr ball defender against smaller players, but he has not shown the ability to be an elite defender against bigger SGs. Gordon Hayward, Gerald Henderson, and others have shown his size to be a disadvantage.

Henderson did seem to work him but Bradley also managed to handle Wade in our home matchup. No matter how good a defender is, there will be games when they get abused, so I am reluctant to be very worried about this without an analysis that includes all games against larger opponents, not just the games were they were successful.

I don't see the blocks as significant. What is important is that he is being aggressive at a young age. His savvy will increase with time. If his percentage is high, how it misses is not particularly significant to me. Better to have someone who tries to finish inside.

[thestackshow]

About his finishing, hes 6'2, hes also 21 which means he has time to learn how to seek contact for the foul when he penetrates, like Monta Ellis and other undersized guards that seek contact and get to the line. He needs to realize that at his size, its easier to get fouled then it is to try and finish at the rim over multiple defenders, once he gets that down along with improved ball handling, the guy is going to be Monta Ellis 2.0

[Celtics18]

I love the team, that Schuhmann has collected:

Beno Udrih
Avery Bradley
Matt Bonner
Taj Gibson
Ekpe Udoh

Honorable Mentions: Tony Allen (who scores too much to make the team!), Omer Asik, Landry Fields, Kevin Seraphin and Anthony Tolliver.

Every one of them is the kind of player, that you love having on your team.

I wouldn't want Landry fields personally. I find every time I watch him this year he makes boneheaded plays, takes poor shots, and turns the ball over...the other guys I like. You would only really have one of those types on your team though.

Just as an aside. I like Bradley as an overall player and complete player over the others aswell.

Totally agree about Bradley, (TP - I like Fields, though, despite the fact he makes some immature mistakes, as you said).

It's awesome to see him come into his own much the way Rondo did, first with the tentative play, then shaking that off with growing confidence and slowly shedding the doubters.

I think we've just scratched the surface of what Avery can become, (if he remains healthy), and he's in the perfect situation to grow as a player and a young man of character and self-discipline.

So many parallels to Rondo's early career, and I hope he stays in green in the long-term.

We could be witnessing the birth of an incredible tandem for the future Celtics, as the chemisrty between the two is already developing in front of us.

Very cool to watch.

Exactly (TP). The fact that bradley is so young and has not had a proper pre-season yet, is scary to be honest. People that predict his ceiling now could be doing him an injustice.

From this year we have seen Avery:

1. Is extremely fast & athletic

2. Can finish around the rim

3. Can shoot jumpshots from mid range and from the 3 point line

4. Can be a seriously good defender at both guard spots

I would counter this, by saying...

1...Bradley has hit 3 pointers well in his last 2 or 3 games. Prior to that ( all of this year and last), he was absolutely horrible from distance. Saying he's a capable shooter after having a few good games is a reach.

2....He can finish at the rim when he's open, but he hasn't been able to finish well with contact, and he gets blocked  A TON. In my opinion, great finishers don't get blocked often...because that's not finishing.

3....He is a great on thr ball defender against smaller players, but he has not shown the ability to be an elite defender against bigger SGs. Gordon Hayward, Gerald Henderson, and others have shown his size to be a disadvantage.

Bradley's been playing great recently, and may become a better player than I think he's capable of being, but he could also be the same scrub everyone said he was at the start of the year, who has had a couple good months. Realistically, I think he's an average player that's in a great situation.

He can guard bigger twos just fine.  He's done a nice job on Wade, and he completely controlled Paul George.  Henderson and Hayward may have put up some decent numbers, but they by no means scored easily against Avery. 

[Fafnir]

He can guard bigger twos just fine.  He's done a nice job on Wade, and he completely controlled Paul George.  Henderson and Hayward may have put up some decent numbers, but they by no means scored easily against Avery.  

Wade is a small SG himself, people keep citing Wade as someone who shows that Bradley can defend big SGs for some reason.

I think its very much an open question whether Bradley can handle big SGs. So far when playing against big SGs there have been more nights where they've shot well than not. Whether or not that's just normal variations or an issue remains to be seen in my view.

[Kane3387]

Bradley can guard the SG position fine. He is 6'2" which is one inch smaller then Joe Dumars. Dumars was a great player and Bradley has a ways to go to get to that level but the similarities are there. At 21 Bradley is not done growing and maturing. He will get stronger and his defense will get better. His technique and IQ will improve.

Michael Jordan has been on record as saying Joe Dumars was the best defender he ever played against. Seeing as how Bradley is around the same size and the fact there aren't that many talented SGs in the the NBA anyway I think Bradley will be just fine.