What if Bradley doesnt pan out?

[pearljammer10]

Let me start by saying that I am a huge fan of what bradley has done and how he has grown, and i think he is a huge part of our future and our starting sg for at least the next few years...

With that being said, I feel like putting on the devil's advocate hat and seeing what people think... Bradley stepped it up big time as a starter towards the end of the year and played well as a role player before ray's injury. Once he moved in as a starter, all of celtics nation got giddy about bradley's play and saw him as a sort of savior...However, he had less than twenty games at the end of the starter where we saw him play outstanding. What happens if he only had a good string of games and comes back next season as the player we knew him as at the beginning of the season... Or even worse, what if he digresses from his double shoulder injury. What if bradley doesnt pan out as our starting SG...What's next?

[BballTim]

  I don't know that what he did was such a relevation, more a matter of him getting confidence and playing time. I don't watch a lot of college ball but his draft reports had him listed as one of the best if not the best jump shooters in the draft.

[lightspeed5]

he's an elite defender and he's only 21. think about that. he's about 10 years younger than d-wade and he posterized wade with a bummed shoulder. imagine this kid fully healthy with another training camp under his belt.

[RJ87]

I do wonder about this myself, which is why I'm hesistant to buy in 100% that he's our 2 guard of the future. What will he look like once teams start putting him into their gameplans? Can a 6'2" combo guard really be full time starter?

Its exciting and terrifying all at the same time. I don't know what to expect from Avery, but I can't wait to find out.

[KGs Knee]

I suppose I should ask, what is your definition of "not pan out"?

If you're implying he won't be an All-Star, sure, that's possible.  With a player as young as Bradley it's hard to tell what will become of their career.

Bradley has all the tools to be a quality starter in the league for a long time though.  Super athleticism, elite defense, hunger/drive, solid character, decent ball-handling ability and good mechanics on his jumpshot are the traits of a player who is going to last.

To be honest, I fail to see how a player with all of those traits and abilites wouldn't pan out, especially given how well he performed this year when given the chance to play significant minutes.  Maybe he won't be an All-Star, but he should have a lengthy career (sans injuries) as a solid starter.

[cman88]

I do wonder about this myself, which is why I'm hesistant to buy in 100% that he's our 2 guard of the future. What will he look like once teams start putting him into their gameplans? Can a 6'2" combo guard really be full time starter?

Its exciting and terrifying all at the same time. I don't know what to expect from Avery, but I can't wait to find out.

Both Monta ellis and jason terry are undersized and they've had pretty successful careers so far

[RJ87]

I do wonder about this myself, which is why I'm hesistant to buy in 100% that he's our 2 guard of the future. What will he look like once teams start putting him into their gameplans? Can a 6'2" combo guard really be full time starter?

Its exciting and terrifying all at the same time. I don't know what to expect from Avery, but I can't wait to find out.

Both Monta ellis and jason terry are undersized and they've had pretty successful careers so far

First, both of those guys are known for their offensive fire power. Second, of the two Jason has had the most success (when was the last time Monta sniffed the playoffs?) and Jason's success has come from him taking a 6th man role off of the bench.

[billysan]

I like the kid. I have to admit he was a pleasant surprise las year when Ray got hurt. If I were projecting his role/performance going forward I cant help but compare him to Tony Allen. Of course he is the smarter version of Tony Allen that plays lockdown defense and has a decent handle. His Jumper, if and when it shows up will make me even happier.

[BballTim]

  Avery played 15 games in March and averaged 15 a game. If he'd been healthy in the playoffs and given us 12 or so a game I'd argue that the Celts would have had the best starting guard combo in the playoffs.

[dark_lord]

i think bradley will be fine, as long as he stays at the 2.  if he has to run the point.....i dont think he will pan out.

[LarBrd33]

Let me start by saying that I am a huge fan of what bradley has done and how he has grown, and i think he is a huge part of our future and our starting sg for at least the next few years...

With that being said, I feel like putting on the devil's advocate hat and seeing what people think... Bradley stepped it up big time as a starter towards the end of the year and played well as a role player before ray's injury. Once he moved in as a starter, all of celtics nation got giddy about bradley's play and saw him as a sort of savior...However, he had less than twenty games at the end of the starter where we saw him play outstanding. What happens if he only had a good string of games and comes back next season as the player we knew him as at the beginning of the season... Or even worse, what if he digresses from his double shoulder injury. What if bradley doesnt pan out as our starting SG...What's next?

It's possible.  Really hope it doesn't happen, but it's possible.  Between shooting 34% last season and 36% in the playoffs (where he was injured), he put together a nice little stretch of games.  I watched the 28 point game against Atlanta with my jaw on the floor, "Wow... had no idea he could create his own shot"... but then again, I've had similar feelings about random Gerald Green games when he played here.  Gerald was 21 in his second season... I saw him drop 33 points then the next night drop 22 points... followed by 21 points his next game.  Future Stah!  Felt the same way about random Jiri Welch games... the kid (again in his 2nd season) dropped 20 points 5 different times for Boston.  Looked fantastic.  Shoot... I even temporarily believed (along with a lot of fans) that Vin Baker had straightened out his act.  I mean... the list is endless.  I could go on and on and on about players who showed flashes of brilliance.

The thing that seems different with Bradley is that he was highly thought of coming out of high school (as was Gerald Green, tho) so everyone is leaning on that fact a bit.  If Bradley was just some random 2nd rounder who never had the promise of potential superstardom, I don't think people would be so quick to call him "the next Russell Westbrook".  Then of course there is his phenomenal defense.  Well... that's what everyone has been calling it.  Is it phenomenal defense or just aggressive defense?  When Marcus Banks first entered the league, we all raved about his amazing full-court pressure defense.  I'd say that was "aggressive" defense... not "phenomenal" defense.   Whereas, Tony Allen I think qualified as an actual "phenomenal" defender.  Speaking of Tony Allen... he's another player who teased us all with his ridiculously brilliant offensive play early on.  Check out the bottom of this game log for instance:  http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/a/allento01/gamelog/2007/ ... OOoof... RIDICULOUS stats.  Totally admit I got caught up in it... Thought the kid was a future stah!... *sigh*

So then... is Bradley a future stah or just another in a long list of decent players?  What's his ceiling?  I definitely wouldn't say Russell Westbrook.  He's super undersized for a shooting guard (6'2 180... same size as Jason Terry.  Size definitely held back Terry)...  not sure how that is going to effect us long-term if he's playing next to Rondo (saw Bradley matched up with Joe Johnson in a game... Johnson abused him with his size (6'7 240)... that could conceivably be a problem).  My current guesstimation on Bradley's ceiling is that he'll end up being a smaller version of Tony Allen, but without the frequent mental lapses.  I've yet to see anyone explain to me why I should think otherwise.

[bfrombleacher]

Let me start by saying that I am a huge fan of what bradley has done and how he has grown, and i think he is a huge part of our future and our starting sg for at least the next few years...

With that being said, I feel like putting on the devil's advocate hat and seeing what people think... Bradley stepped it up big time as a starter towards the end of the year and played well as a role player before ray's injury. Once he moved in as a starter, all of celtics nation got giddy about bradley's play and saw him as a sort of savior...However, he had less than twenty games at the end of the starter where we saw him play outstanding. What happens if he only had a good string of games and comes back next season as the player we knew him as at the beginning of the season... Or even worse, what if he digresses from his double shoulder injury. What if bradley doesnt pan out as our starting SG...What's next?

It's possible.  Really hope it doesn't happen, but it's possible.  Between shooting 34% last season and 36% in the playoffs (where he was injured), he put together a nice little stretch of games.  I watched the 28 point game against Atlanta with my jaw on the floor, "Wow... had no idea he could create his own shot"... but then again, I've had similar feelings about random Gerald Green games when he played here.  Gerald was 21 in his second season... I saw him drop 33 points then the next night drop 22 points... followed by 21 points his next game.  Future Stah!  Felt the same way about random Jiri Welch games... the kid (again in his 2nd season) dropped 20 points 5 different times for Boston.  Looked fantastic.  Shoot... I even temporarily believed (along with a lot of fans) that Vin Baker had straightened out his act.  I mean... the list is endless.  I could go on and on and on about players who showed flashes of brilliance.

The thing that seems different with Bradley is that he was highly thought of coming out of high school (as was Gerald Green, tho) so everyone is leaning on that fact a bit.  If Bradley was just some random 2nd rounder who never had the promise of potential superstardom, I don't think people would be so quick to call him "the next Russell Westbrook".  Then of course there is his phenomenal defense.  Well... that's what everyone has been calling it.  Is it phenomenal defense or just aggressive defense?  When Marcus Banks first entered the league, we all raved about his amazing full-court pressure defense.  I'd say that was "aggressive" defense... not "phenomenal" defense.   Whereas, Tony Allen I think qualified as an actual "phenomenal" defender.  Speaking of Tony Allen... he's another player who teased us all with his ridiculously brilliant offensive play early on.  Check out the bottom of this game log for instance:  http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/a/allento01/gamelog/2007/ ... OOoof... RIDICULOUS stats.  Totally admit I got caught up in it... Thought the kid was a future stah!... *sigh*

So then... is Bradley a future stah or just another in a long list of decent players?  What's his ceiling?  I definitely wouldn't say Russell Westbrook.  He's super undersized for a shooting guard (6'2 180... same size as Jason Terry.  Size definitely held back Terry)...  not sure how that is going to effect us long-term if he's playing next to Rondo (saw Bradley matched up with Joe Johnson in a game... Johnson abused him with his size (6'7 240)... that could conceivably be a problem).  My current guesstimation on Bradley's ceiling is that he'll end up being a smaller version of Tony Allen, but without the frequent mental lapses.  I've yet to see anyone explain to me why I should think otherwise.

AB was a great scorer in high school/college if that counts for anything.

[Sketch5]

At first i was worried about size. Wade if he became a smart player would post him up.

Buuuuut he's not, so in a couple years hes going to be toast, if not by next season with those knees.

SG's are getting smaller, 6'6" isn't the norm, 6'4" is getting pretty average.

If he can get Rondos/Perice/KG's mentality on offence with the same confidence, he'll be fine. I just hope the injury thing is a fluke and not some thing that will be on going.

[LarBrd33]

Let me start by saying that I am a huge fan of what bradley has done and how he has grown, and i think he is a huge part of our future and our starting sg for at least the next few years...

With that being said, I feel like putting on the devil's advocate hat and seeing what people think... Bradley stepped it up big time as a starter towards the end of the year and played well as a role player before ray's injury. Once he moved in as a starter, all of celtics nation got giddy about bradley's play and saw him as a sort of savior...However, he had less than twenty games at the end of the starter where we saw him play outstanding. What happens if he only had a good string of games and comes back next season as the player we knew him as at the beginning of the season... Or even worse, what if he digresses from his double shoulder injury. What if bradley doesnt pan out as our starting SG...What's next?

It's possible.  Really hope it doesn't happen, but it's possible.  Between shooting 34% last season and 36% in the playoffs (where he was injured), he put together a nice little stretch of games.  I watched the 28 point game against Atlanta with my jaw on the floor, "Wow... had no idea he could create his own shot"... but then again, I've had similar feelings about random Gerald Green games when he played here.  Gerald was 21 in his second season... I saw him drop 33 points then the next night drop 22 points... followed by 21 points his next game.  Future Stah!  Felt the same way about random Jiri Welch games... the kid (again in his 2nd season) dropped 20 points 5 different times for Boston.  Looked fantastic.  Shoot... I even temporarily believed (along with a lot of fans) that Vin Baker had straightened out his act.  I mean... the list is endless.  I could go on and on and on about players who showed flashes of brilliance.

The thing that seems different with Bradley is that he was highly thought of coming out of high school (as was Gerald Green, tho) so everyone is leaning on that fact a bit.  If Bradley was just some random 2nd rounder who never had the promise of potential superstardom, I don't think people would be so quick to call him "the next Russell Westbrook".  Then of course there is his phenomenal defense.  Well... that's what everyone has been calling it.  Is it phenomenal defense or just aggressive defense?  When Marcus Banks first entered the league, we all raved about his amazing full-court pressure defense.  I'd say that was "aggressive" defense... not "phenomenal" defense.   Whereas, Tony Allen I think qualified as an actual "phenomenal" defender.  Speaking of Tony Allen... he's another player who teased us all with his ridiculously brilliant offensive play early on.  Check out the bottom of this game log for instance:  http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/a/allento01/gamelog/2007/ ... OOoof... RIDICULOUS stats.  Totally admit I got caught up in it... Thought the kid was a future stah!... *sigh*

So then... is Bradley a future stah or just another in a long list of decent players?  What's his ceiling?  I definitely wouldn't say Russell Westbrook.  He's super undersized for a shooting guard (6'2 180... same size as Jason Terry.  Size definitely held back Terry)...  not sure how that is going to effect us long-term if he's playing next to Rondo (saw Bradley matched up with Joe Johnson in a game... Johnson abused him with his size (6'7 240)... that could conceivably be a problem).  My current guesstimation on Bradley's ceiling is that he'll end up being a smaller version of Tony Allen, but without the frequent mental lapses.  I've yet to see anyone explain to me why I should think otherwise.

AB was a great scorer in high school/college if that counts for anything.

Calling a "great" college scorer is a bit of a stretch.

12 points, 2 assists and 1.3 steals in 37.5 minutes.  43% shooting.  54% from the line.   ...

Not terrible for a Freshman, though.  As always, I think guys like that slip in the draft for a reason.  Maybe he blossoms.  Maybe not.  I seriously hope he does... but I'm definitely not counting on it. 

I wouldn't lose sleep if we traded him during the draft... but I find it highly unlikely that any team values Bradley the same way Boston does.  Not even sure if we could get a mid 1st rounder for him straight up at this point.  Too early to judge.  Not a big enough body of work to be totally relevant yet. 

[lightspeed5]

^are you kidding me? he was voted 9th (of all guards) in the all-nba defensive team voting, with 1 1st team vote. and this was mostly from sample of games of him coming off the bench, and playing with a bummed shoulder that needed surgery. and it was his SECOND year. if healthy, averys on the all nba defensive team next year. You realize that right? and you think a team wouldnt give up a mid 1st rounder for that? haha