Can avery come back 100% the same this season?

[lightspeed5]

The turn around from having both shoulders operated on for torn ligaments... can he come back and perform elite defense again this season? Any thoughts?

[celticmania]

i think he'll be ok

[xmuscularghandix]

I think he'll easily come back defensively because he doesn't rely on his arms to play defense, his biggest asset is his ability to move his feet to stay in front of his opponant. A guy like Rondo who relies more on getting steals would have more of a tough time on defense.

Where i think he'll struggle is offensively, it's gonna be tough for him to take that next step forward in year 3 when he's rehabbing to start the season.

Just think, this kid STILL hasn't had a full training camp. 

[j804]

I think he'll easily come back defensively because he doesn't rely on his arms to play defense, his biggest asset is his ability to move his feet to stay in front of his opponant. A guy like Rondo who relies more on getting steals would have more of a tough time on defense.

Where i think he'll struggle is offensively, it's gonna be tough for him to take that next step forward in year 3 when he's rehabbing to start the season.

Just think, this kid STILL hasn't had a full training camp. 

He still has to hold his ground and fight through moving bodies on defense best believe he's going to get screened the s*** out of too on both shoulders when he's draped all over a guy. 

I say give him all the time he needs even if he returns sometime midsesason we really need him for the playoffs and if there's set backs he could be in and out. It all depends how quick a healer he is.

[LarBrd33]

I think he'll be fine as far as his health goes... I'm just not totally convinced he's going to be as good as most people on this forum think.  He had a nice streak... started a couple handfuls of games and everyone lost their minds.  It was mini Linsanity.  Lockout shortened season... teams weren't gameplanning.  He was something of an unknown.  Aggressive defender, but he's vastly undersized for a starting shooting guard and the jury is out on if he's a consistent shooter or not.

We'll see what happens.  Worst case scenario he's a strong defensive roleplayer off the bench that we can throw in there to cause troubles for other undersized guards.  I could see him starting... or I could see him 3rd string SG behind Lee and Terry. 

[BASS_THUMPER]

 loose/torn ligaments in his shoulders
             
can he come back 1 hun %...?

we need him like he was
no less

hmmmmmm

[billysan]

He will very likely be ready to come back in training camp in his opinion. He will have to put in some major time with FT and jumpers to find his range though. That will probably take until Christmas. Question for me is, does Doc bring him back gradually with rotation minutes or does he get practice minutes and garbage time only?

IMO it will depend on what level of strength he has in those shoulders. He needs significant muscle rebuilt to protect them and that doesnt come overnite. He has his work cut out for him.

Either way, I will be glad to get him back. He has proven he will give us 110% and he knows our system. The veterans all seem to like hime so that should make transition just a matter of timing with Green, Jet and Lee on the court.

[SHAQATTACK]

He's young and determined.  I'm not looking for him to have his sharp shooter eye back till well after XMAS. Lots of practice & 1000's of shots in the gym.  Practice , Practice , Practice. 

But, there is NOTHING wrong with his legs , so he should be able to still play some nice defense and make his presence felt.

AB is a worker and smart man , he'll be busting his tail to return.

With all the excitement with this years new and healther squad , I suspect he going full force rebuilding his shoulders to make his way back into the rotation.

 

[Onslaught]

All we really need him for is the playoffs. So he's got time to get back to normal or even better then he was last year by then. I think we're deep enough to have a good regular season without him being near 100% for most of the regular season.

I have no doubt he'll be better then he was at the end of this season when his problems kept coming up during games.

[cman88]

larbird, do you have to throw in a shot at Bradley in every post? we already know how you feel about him...you really downplay his impact saying he had a "handfull of good games" kid started for half the season and averaged near double digit points for 2 months...

his april was spectacular but he still averaged 10ppg until his shoulders started acting up...

either way, Bradley HAS always had a nice shooting touch.... Him making shots should be no surprise. he was rated by scouts as having the most pure jumpshot in the draft..but lets forget about that

hes also got a great work ethic from all accounts, staying at the gym shooting tons of jumpers from all over the court...he'll be fine

[hwangjini_1]

I think he'll easily come back defensively because he doesn't rely on his arms to play defense, his biggest asset is his ability to move his feet to stay in front of his opponant. A guy like Rondo who relies more on getting steals would have more of a tough time on defense.

Where i think he'll struggle is offensively, it's gonna be tough for him to take that next step forward in year 3 when he's rehabbing to start the season.

Just think, this kid STILL hasn't had a full training camp. 

i agree. even playing injured last year bradley's defense was incredible. where he dropped off was his shooting. i noticed he suddenly could not make shots he had been making. i thought maybe he tired, but then i heard that he was injured.

the problem for his offense is that surgery really takes 1 year to recover fully. even though the area having surgery is "repaired" the body has undergone a lot of stress and trauma. a year after surgery is when you can safely say someone has probably "recovered."

so what does this mean for bradley?

one, still great defense next year. but he may tire or not be able to play 35 minutes a game as the same level. the last part is just a guess by me.

two, his offense will suffer, especially his long range shooting, as it did last year. but with lee and terry on the team the celtics may be able to still generate offense. again, guesses.

i expect bradley to play fewer minutes per game than last year. too bad for the kid. this is the third year for him and each year he has suffered through some sort of injury. i hope he gets and stays healthy.

[Roy H.]

A dislocated shoulder really isn't something to be worried about long term.  I've had the surgery done myself, and with physical therapy, he should be back to 100%.

I'm skeptical we'll see 100% of what we saw last season, though.  I think Bradley was riding a huge hot streak; I'd be surprised if he can replicate 50% FG% / 40% 3PT% again.

[Fafnir]

A dislocated shoulder really isn't something to be worried about long term.  I've had the surgery done myself, and with physical therapy, he should be back to 100%.

I'm skeptical we'll see 100% of what we saw last season, though.  I think Bradley was riding a huge hot streak; I'd be surprised if he can replicate 50% FG% / 40% 3PT% again.

The good news was that even with his shoulders bothering him hugely he was still playing impact basketball in the playoffs.

Bodes well for his contributions outside of his shooting.

[cman88]

A dislocated shoulder really isn't something to be worried about long term.  I've had the surgery done myself, and with physical therapy, he should be back to 100%.

I'm skeptical we'll see 100% of what we saw last season, though.  I think Bradley was riding a huge hot streak; I'd be surprised if he can replicate 50% FG% / 40% 3PT% again.

id expect something closer to 43% fg%, 33% 3pt%  next year...

the thing is though playing with Pierce/kg/Rondo alot of players tend to up their FG% because of all the attention those guys get and the way they move the ball players tend to find themselves wide open.

[dark_lord]

it shouldn't impact him defensively.  it could impact his offense initially, but long term, he will likely be good.