dont forget about avery bradley!

[Chris]

Bradley didn't earn a starting spot last year. He played well for 2 months once our starting SG got injured.

Especially with AB possibly taking a while to recover theres no reason to just give him his spot. He still needs to earn it.

  Bradley clearly won the starting sg spot last year. What would he have had to do to "earn" it?

  And are you also saying that Bass didn't earn a starting spot because he started when JO was injured?

He didnt win it, Ray got injured, and Bradley had a good stretch of games, but more importantly the team won games

its not like Ray Allen sucked , he got injured and got shafted (which is also why hes gone)

  He got into the starting lineup because of Ray's injury, but he held on to the spot because of his play.

I disagree somewhat..

he held the spot because they were winning games...now how much you want to put that on him being the main reason, thats up to you...

to me the team started playing better, Garnett was unreal, and Bass was inserted...Again wether you wanna credit Bradley with all this is all up to you the fan


He didnt hold the spot because of his play IMO, if the team was 6-8 before Ray returned, it would have been RAY's spot again but they didnt, they won games and Doc made the decision to start him and bench Ray which ultimately caused Ray to leave wether people deny it or not.

KG had been playing "unreal" for the entire second half of the season(post ASB).  Brandon Bass had been solid all year.  Nobody is crediting Bradley to their play because they did it themselves.

You know why they were winning games?  Bradley not only played better defense than Ray, but he also provided a more versatile offensive game(cutting, driving, shooting).  So when Doc has to choose between Bradley and Ray, he's gotta go with Avery.  So yes, winning helped Bradley get the spot, but his play was integral to our success.

Lastly, there are numerous reasons why Ray Allen left our team.  I'd argue that his issues with Rondo were a much bigger problem than losing his starting spot, but I don't think I want to get into an argument about Ray with you.

I dont have any problem with that

But they were not losing games because of Allen.

He lost his spot because others finally stepped it up

I really dont think they would be better if Bradley had started a full season.

But then again who knows hes just getting started

I just dont think hes that good as a starting shooting guard.

Whatever the causes were, this all seems really simple to me.

The KG/Bass/PP/Bradley/Rondo lineup was the best team in the league when starting together, and was posting defensive numbers that would have been top 10 all-time for a full season.

Why would you even consider messing with that? When Bradley is back, he starts.

And what if they are even more impressive with Lee starting, while Bradley is recovering?

Then things get interesting - but only then.

I'm just saying that in any other scenario, and regardless of all this other speculation about who is and isn't a better fit with Terry, or Rondo, or whether it was Bradley or KG responsible for the run last season, the starting job is Bradley's by default.

Well no, it is up for grabs.  But, Lee has to play better than Bradley to win it. 

But this may just be semantics.  I would say that Bradley is the incumbent, and therefore has the inside track.  But I absolutely think its an open competition. 

[MJohnnyboy]

"Actually Dallas wanted him back, and Terry was willing to re-sign with them before he chose the Celtics, problem was Dallas wasn't offering what the Celtics were."

Sounds like they really wanted him.

I think they lowballed him mainly because 5 million would have hurt their chances of getting CP3 and dwight Howard on max contracts next summer. Kind of sounds sensible to have a limit on how much you can offer a player when you have the chance to go for two superstars.

Don't you remember how the Dallas owner basically stated how much he was going to miss having the JET on the mavs? That sounds like a team that wanted him back but just couldn't have everything they wanted.

[CelticG1]

Bradley didn't earn a starting spot last year. He played well for 2 months once our starting SG got injured.

Especially with AB possibly taking a while to recover theres no reason to just give him his spot. He still needs to earn it.

  Bradley clearly won the starting sg spot last year. What would he have had to do to "earn" it?

  And are you also saying that Bass didn't earn a starting spot because he started when JO was injured?

He didnt win it, Ray got injured, and Bradley had a good stretch of games, but more importantly the team won games

its not like Ray Allen sucked , he got injured and got shafted (which is also why hes gone)

  He got into the starting lineup because of Ray's injury, but he held on to the spot because of his play.

I disagree somewhat..

he held the spot because they were winning games...now how much you want to put that on him being the main reason, thats up to you...

to me the team started playing better, Garnett was unreal, and Bass was inserted...Again wether you wanna credit Bradley with all this is all up to you the fan


He didnt hold the spot because of his play IMO, if the team was 6-8 before Ray returned, it would have been RAY's spot again but they didnt, they won games and Doc made the decision to start him and bench Ray which ultimately caused Ray to leave wether people deny it or not.

KG had been playing "unreal" for the entire second half of the season(post ASB).  Brandon Bass had been solid all year.  Nobody is crediting Bradley to their play because they did it themselves.

You know why they were winning games?  Bradley not only played better defense than Ray, but he also provided a more versatile offensive game(cutting, driving, shooting).  So when Doc has to choose between Bradley and Ray, he's gotta go with Avery.  So yes, winning helped Bradley get the spot, but his play was integral to our success.

Lastly, there are numerous reasons why Ray Allen left our team.  I'd argue that his issues with Rondo were a much bigger problem than losing his starting spot, but I don't think I want to get into an argument about Ray with you.

I dont have any problem with that

But they were not losing games because of Allen.

He lost his spot because others finally stepped it up

I really dont think they would be better if Bradley had started a full season.

But then again who knows hes just getting started

I just dont think hes that good as a starting shooting guard.

Whatever the causes were, this all seems really simple to me.

The KG/Bass/PP/Bradley/Rondo lineup was the best team in the league when starting together, and was posting defensive numbers that would have been top 10 all-time for a full season.

Why would you even consider messing with that? When Bradley is back, he starts.

And what if they are even more impressive with Lee starting, while Bradley is recovering?

Then things get interesting - but only then.

I'm just saying that in any other scenario, and regardless of all this other speculation about who is and isn't a better fit with Terry, or Rondo, or whether it was Bradley or KG responsible for the run last season, the starting job is Bradley's by default.

Well no, it is up for grabs.  But, Lee has to play better than Bradley to win it. 

But this may just be semantics.  I would say that Bradley is the incumbent, and therefore has the inside track.  But I absolutely think its an open competition.

Yeah I agree, just at the very least Bradley is the one "starter" that has a realistic chance of losing or Lee winning it over him.

Rondo no, Pierce no, KG no, Bass no.

[Prof. Clutch]

Avery who? 

[arambone]

if rondo misses a stretch of games, dont be surprised if the celtics dont miss a beat, like last year when bradley got to play his best position.

Bradley is the best defensive pg in the league, and he is a better shooter than rondo. His driving ability has not yet been fully displayed and will improve as well.

Bradley next to lee or terry, with scorers at 3-5 as well, could be lethal in a different, but not necessarily inferior way than when  rondo is on the court.

Bradley could be a top 10 pg within the next year or two if he could play there full time.

A big part of his offensive game has yet to be showcased, even if he isnt a dynamic passer.

[GreenFaith1819]

I won't.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iBkUuD_yUAs&feature=related

And:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BrQxJr5u0D0

One day....as long as he continues to work hard.

[Edgar]

one block over Wade and youre the next bowen...............

I will wait

p.s. I am not sold on Lee yet btw

[BballTim]

if rondo misses a stretch of games, dont be surprised if the celtics dont miss a beat, like last year when bradley got to play his best position.

Bradley is the best defensive pg in the league, and he is a better shooter than rondo. His driving ability has not yet been fully displayed and will improve as well.

  I'd still say that Bradley was the second best defensive pg on his team, not the best in the league.

[MJohnnyboy]

one block over Wade and youre the next bowen...............

I will wait

p.s. I am not sold on Lee yet btw

Bowens actually not bad for expectations. Bowen had a nice career as the defensive stopper and 3 point specialist for the Spurs. Bradley's much quicker than Bowen was and Bradley's more fit for quick guards than wings.

As for Lee, I remember watching him blanket Ray when the Celtics played the Magic in 09. Check the stats, Ray had his second worst playoff series as a Celtic (other than the Cavs in 08), and it was mainly because Courtney Lee shut him down. Lee's not going to be a star, but he'll work well with Rondo getting him the ball.

[rayallen1934]

one block over Wade and youre the next bowen...............

I will wait

p.s. I am not sold on Lee yet btw

Bowens actually not bad for expectations. Bowen had a nice career as the defensive stopper and 3 point specialist for the Spurs. Bradley's much quicker than Bowen was and Bradley's more fit for quick guards than wings.

As for Lee, I remember watching him blanket Ray when the Celtics played the Magic in 09. Check the stats, Ray had his second worst playoff series as a Celtic (other than the Cavs in 08), and it was mainly because Courtney Lee shut him down. Lee's not going to be a star, but he'll work well with Rondo getting him the ball.

Give me a break.

People in here just get all there information wrong, maybe on purpose to destroy a former player.

Ray Allen had a couple bad games in that series, 2 really bad ones actually, but Rondo had a couple in there, and Pierce was also awful too.

But Ray Allen was not shut down by Courtney Lee, Lee Barely played on him in that series, maybe 10 minutes a game, maybe.

Sadly it was the white Reddick who played good defense on Ray, which still saddens me. But it was it is.

How about you check out this game in which a 37 year old Allen took Courtney Lee to the basket and also faked the hell out of him on a game winning shot

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IlOX1JvW41o

[CelticsFan9]

one block over Wade and youre the next bowen...............

I will wait

p.s. I am not sold on Lee yet btw

Bowens actually not bad for expectations. Bowen had a nice career as the defensive stopper and 3 point specialist for the Spurs. Bradley's much quicker than Bowen was and Bradley's more fit for quick guards than wings.

As for Lee, I remember watching him blanket Ray when the Celtics played the Magic in 09. Check the stats, Ray had his second worst playoff series as a Celtic (other than the Cavs in 08), and it was mainly because Courtney Lee shut him down. Lee's not going to be a star, but he'll work well with Rondo getting him the ball.

Give me a break.

People in here just get all there information wrong, maybe on purpose to destroy a former player.

Ray Allen had a couple bad games in that series, 2 really bad ones actually, but Rondo had a couple in there, and Pierce was also awful too.

But Ray Allen was not shut down by Courtney Lee, Lee Barely played on him in that series, maybe 10 minutes a game, maybe.

Sadly it was the white Reddick who played good defense on Ray, which still saddens me. But it was it is.

How about you check out this game in which a 37 year old Allen took Courtney Lee to the basket and also faked the hell out of him on a game winning shot

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IlOX1JvW41o

Great.  Use a one-game sample size to prove that Ray Allen owns Courtney Lee.  Nice.

How about you find me five more games where Ray does this to Lee?  Then I might reconsider.