Is Jeff Green a better PF than Brandon Bass?

[BASS_THUMPER]

poem by Bass~

no one is better than the other
rondo is not better than paul
kevin is not better bass

one team one dream..

grab anutha ring!!!!

*sippin*

[crimson_stallion]

Actually, the Green who averaged 10/3 was exactly the same player who averaged 16/6.

His per-minute averages on the Celtics were right at his career averages, he just played 24 mpg instead of 37.

You can see it in the per-36 section here:

http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/g/greenje02.html

This is correct - statistically Jeff Green actually didn't play that badly during his time in Boston, especially considering the circumstances.  People only look at the raw numbers (9.8 points and 3.3 rebounds) as a judge of what he produced, but fail to grasp the fact that he played < 24 MPG that season.

On top of all that:

1. He came to Boston mid season and was forced to learn a new system, as well as blend in with a team of guys whom were still bitter that Perk was gone - team morale was clearly on the low as it was, and it wouldn't have been an easy scenario for Green to enter in

2. He had to adjust to playing < 24MPG as a second option off the bench, when his entire career he'd played 30 MPG + as a starter.  That's a tough adjustment to make interms of pace, becuase you need to find ways to stay in the game mentally so you are ready to come in cold and make an immediate impact.

This season he knows all the guys on the roster, he knows the system, he knows Doc and he should be much more comfortable and confident, while also having a better idea of what the team needs from him.

I think he may possibly start the season off a little slow, but by mid season I think he is going to his his stride and become a huge impact for this team.  If he plays starter-like minutes (say 28-30 MPG) I see him putting up his old 16 PPG and 6 RPG by the time all is said and done at the end of this season, but just generally looking a lot more comfortable doing it.

[Galeto]

It kind of blows that neither of the two guys who together may end up playing most of the PF minutes are really all that good but will take up nearly 15 million in cap space.  I mean, the argument of who is better is a bit depressing.  Me, I would rather have Camby and Pietrus for next season than Green and Bass. 

[coco]

Firs off - JGreen is not a four, he is a three forced to play a four do to circumstances out of his control(i.e. KDurant, PPierce)

Now; can JGreen be productive at the four? Yes.  That alone should tell you how talented he is and how flexible - in terms of mismatches - the Cs are by just bringing him back.

Green is not a better four than Bass, if you are refering as to "who is the better big" - but for short stints, he can get the job done......and if Miami dares to play LeBron at the four against the Cs, now we have the upperhand;  why? because that means that either Green or PP will end up with Battier.  I think either can take Battier. 

[crimson_stallion]

Why though?

Other then the whole theoretical idea of "he's not strong enough" what other evidence is there to show that that Bass is a better PF then Green?

Bass shot 230 out of his 632 field goal attempts (36%) inside the paint, and he shot a combined 46% from the field on those attempts.

Green took 416 out of his 817 field goal attempts (51%) inside the paint, and he shot a combined 55% from the field on those attempts.

Not only does Jeff Green take more shots (and a higher percentage of his shots) inside the paint, but he also scores at a much higher percentage from there. This suggests that he is clearly a far more capable scorer in the paint than Bass is. 

Green also has a higher Ast% (7.5% vs 5%) and AstRatio (9.5 vs 6.7) then Bass does. So not only is he a better scorer in the paint, but he's also a better passer (and a more willing passer) then Bass.  This means that he's less of a liability if he gets outmatched by his defender in the post because he's more likely to find a teammate rather than force up a bad shot.

Green attempts (3.3 vs 2.8 ) and makes (2.6 vs 2.3) more free throws than Bass which means he puts more pressure on the opposing teams interior defense and is more likely to get opposing players into foul trouble.

Bass does have a better rebounding rate (11.6% vs 8.9%) than Green.

You can argue defense, but Green has never had an elite defensive center like Dwight Howard or Kevin Garnett behind him to make up for his defensive mistakes - there's no telling how good he could be defensively in this Boston system.

On top of all this Green's combination of speed + size along with his legit three point range makes him a potential matchup nightmare on any given night.

I don't know what you guys use to determine how good a PF an NBA player is, but aside from rebounding Jeff Green looks like a superior PF than Bass in almost every way. 

To rub more salt in the wound not only is Green better at all of those things, but he's also got more potential. 

Bass is limited by skill level, but his game is very polished - i.e. he has few talents, but what he's good at he does very well.  Because he's already so good at what he does, he doesn't really have much room to improve unless he adds a whole other dimension to his game.

Jeff's game is still pretty green (no pun intended) - there is nothing on a basketball court that he can't do, all he needs to do is polish his game.  If he improves his shot selection, decision making and defensive IQ he has  all the tools and talent to be a future all-star.

I'm telling you guys now, Jeff Green is a more capable PF then you think...especially in todays league where true post up big men are a rarity.

[crimson_stallion]

It kind of blows that neither of the two guys who together may end up playing most of the PF minutes are really all that good but will take up nearly 15 million in cap space.  I mean, the argument of who is better is a bit depressing.  Me, I would rather have Camby and Pietrus for next season than Green and Bass.

I wouldn't go that far!

Green is much better then Pietrus, though I probably would trade Bass for Camby given the chance. 

Giving up a one-dimensional role player for one of the best defensive and rebounding big men of the last decade is something I'd be willing to explore.

I'm actually not to concerned about Green's contact because I see him as a player with a lot of upside, however $7M or so per year for Bass is a lot of money IMO for a the kind of player he is.  I think he's a MLE guy and more then that is pushing it a bit...but he's consistent, he's a big body, he knows our system and as long as he keeps hitting those jumpers he'll earn his pay.

[arambone]

we're one injury away from treasuring bass, even though i like sully, green, and wilcox more.

Wilcox and sully are injuries waiting to happen unfortunately, and pierce and kg are vulnerable as well.

Bass is an awesome insurance policy at worst, and a decent starter at best. He could certainly improve over last year. He didnt always have a deadly jumper.

[crimson_stallion]

we're one injury away from treasuring bass, even though i like sully, green, and wilcox more.

Bass is an awesome insurance policy at worst, and a decent starter at best.

This is true - plus he's a brilliant locker room guy, a good sportsman and a hard worker. He should make a great role model for the younger guys coming in, and it's not often you say that about a guy who's only 26 years old!

Bass will always be a good trade asset I think because he has a reasonable contact, he's easy to coach, he's got a history of good health and you always know what you're going to get from him. 

The same can be said for Courtney Lee as well - young, consistently solid, good attitude, historically healthy.

Both of those guys are a VERY low risk aquisition for another team, and if we ever did make a run at Josh Smith you can bet their names would be in the discussion.

Danny really did do a nice job these last two offseasons given what he had available 

[mctyson]

We need JG at the 3.  Pierce needs him there too.  He is a poor defender at the 4 but a good defender at the 3. 

[bfrombleacher]

we're one injury away from treasuring bass, even though i like sully, green, and wilcox more.

Bass is an awesome insurance policy at worst, and a decent starter at best.

This is true - plus he's a brilliant locker room guy, a good sportsman and a hard worker. He should make a great role model for the younger guys coming in, and it's not often you say that about a guy who's only 26 years old!

27*