Is Jeff Green a better PF than Brandon Bass?

[Vermont Green]

It seems that everyone (me included) has kind of assumed the Bass will be PF #1 and that Green will come off the bench, primarily at SF but secondarily at PF.

Green is actually taller and more athletic than Bass (who is undersized for a starting NBA PF) although Bass may be stronger.

So then I got to thinking (always dangerous), neither is really the prototypical PF but who is actually the better PF?  If KG plays primarily at C, PF may be our softest position no matter if it is Green or Bass.

[Prof. Clutch]

A better power forward, I don't think so.  A better overall player, probably.  I think Bass is more suited to play the PF position, he seems more comfortable than Green mixing it up down low.  Green should really stick to an outside-inside slashing game I think.

[indeedproceed]

Jeff Green is not a good power forward, because he can't defend the position.

http://www.82games.com/0910/09OKC12.HTM#bypos

[CelticG1]

Jeff Green is not a good power forward, because he can't defend the position.

http://www.82games.com/0910/09OKC12.HTM#bypos

How many of those games was he with this team?

It makes a difference playing with Rondo, KG, Bradley etc.

How did Bass's numbers look before joining the celts?

We wont really know until they are on an even playing field.

[BostonNative]

A better power forward, I don't think so.  A better overall player, probably.  I think Bass is more suited to play the PF position, he seems more comfortable than Green mixing it up down low.  Green should really stick to an outside-inside slashing game I think.

Mixing it up or getting Mixed up? Bass is so overrated right now I just don't get it. He don't have any low post moves, at times he looked nervous when he got the ball down low. I just don't get it.

[indeedproceed]

Jeff Green is not a good power forward, because he can't defend the position.

http://www.82games.com/0910/09OKC12.HTM#bypos

How many of those games was he with this team?

It makes a difference playing with Rondo, KG, Bradley etc.

How did Bass's numbers look before joining the celts?

We wont really know until they are on an even playing field.

None of those games where when he was with Boston, that's where he was exclusively playing power forward with the Thunder.

These are the games with the Celtics:

http://www.82games.com/1011/10BOS12.HTM#bypos

Even with the better defense, when asked to play powerforward, he's getting outplayed by his opponent. And this isn't starters minutes anymore, these are bench minutes.

Meanwhile, here is Brandon Bass when he was with Orlando:

http://www.82games.com/1011/10ORL14.HTM#bypos

He's outperforming opposing PF's, and as a starter.

[hpantazo]

It depends on the matchups. For example, against the Heat during the playoffs last season, Bass was too slow to keep up with Lebron when the Heat put LBJ at PF. Of course, no one can really stop Lebron, but Green would have been a much better matchup.

Against the sixers this year, if they play Bynum at center and Hawes at PF, Bass would be the better matchup.

Still, I believe you should always play your best 5 guys, and Green is definitely the better player.

[CelticHooligan3]

A better power forward, I don't think so.  A better overall player, probably.  I think Bass is more suited to play the PF position, he seems more comfortable than Green mixing it up down low.  Green should really stick to an outside-inside slashing game I think.

Mixing it up or getting Mixed up? Bass is so overrated right now I just don't get it. He don't have any low post moves, at times he looked nervous when he got the ball down low. I just don't get it.

Huh?
If anything i thought he lived up to his, "no pass Bass" moniker. And i agree with the good professor that he needs to focus on that outside-inside game, mixed with quick cuts to the basket. TP. Rondo should have a field day with the kid i hope.

[indeedproceed]

It depends on the matchups. For example, against the Heat during the playoffs last season, Bass was too slow to keep up with Lebron when the Heat put LBJ at PF. Of course, no one can really stop Lebron, but Green would have been a much better matchup.

Against the sixers this year, if they play Bynum at center and Hawes at PF, Bass would be the better matchup.

Still, I believe you should always play your best 5 guys, and Green is definitely the better player.

I think you were right at the top and wrong at the bottom. Green would've been a way better matchup against LeBron, and with Green matchups matter.

And if Green is matching up against a traditional post player, he's in a losing situation.

[saltlover]

I think Green is a different power forward than Brandon Bass.  I think it depends on lineup, both ours and the opposing team's, as to who is better.

[Prof. Clutch]

A better power forward, I don't think so.  A better overall player, probably.  I think Bass is more suited to play the PF position, he seems more comfortable than Green mixing it up down low.  Green should really stick to an outside-inside slashing game I think.

Mixing it up or getting Mixed up? Bass is so overrated right now I just don't get it. He don't have any low post moves, at times he looked nervous when he got the ball down low. I just don't get it.

This has nothing to do with overrating Bass, I even said that I thought Jeff Green was the better overall player between the two of them in my previous post.  Bass is simply more suited to play the traditional PF position than Jeff Green.  With KG a being a "stretch" center Bass inevitably spends a good deal of time in the paint. And although Bass does frequently take the 15-17 footer, Green is more comfortable away from the basket playing the shooter/slasher role as evidenced by his 846 career 3 point field gaol attempts compared to Bass' career total of 13.  Plus Bass outweighs him by 15 pounds and in their last respective seasons played Bass had a higher offensive, defensive and overall rebounding rate than Green (suggesting that Bass is more suited to play in the interior.)

Brandon Bass (2011-2012)
ORR: 6.7
DRR: 16.3
RR: 11.5

Jeff Green (2010-2011)
ORR: 3.7
DRR: 13.5
RR: 8.8

That's all I was saying.

[Prof. Clutch]

Huh?
If anything i thought he lived up to his, "no pass Bass" moniker. And i agree with the good professor that he needs to focus on that outside-inside game, mixed with quick cuts to the basket. TP. Rondo should have a field day with the kid i hope.

TP.  I'm giddy at the idea of watching them run the fast break together.  Our entire team is much better equipped to get out and run this year, something that plays to Rondo's strengths and we've never been able to truly take advantage of before.

[Celtics4ever]

Neither is ideal.   One has the skillset of a three and the other is a short, stretch four I am going with Wilcox.

[AshyLarry]

If they were the same player, mixed. BAM - all star. But Bassnectar is thick, can rebound, box out, defend, you know, big man things (with that sweet shot, perfect for the C's system). Green is just a SF, tall and quick enough to get by as a 4 for some minutes a game on a winning team.

[CelticG1]

Jeff Green is not a good power forward, because he can't defend the position.

http://www.82games.com/0910/09OKC12.HTM#bypos

How many of those games was he with this team?

It makes a difference playing with Rondo, KG, Bradley etc.

How did Bass's numbers look before joining the celts?

We wont really know until they are on an even playing field.

None of those games where when he was with Boston, that's where he was exclusively playing power forward with the Thunder.

These are the games with the Celtics:

http://www.82games.com/1011/10BOS12.HTM#bypos

Even with the better defense, when asked to play powerforward, he's getting outplayed by his opponent. And this isn't starters minutes anymore, these are bench minutes.

Meanwhile, here is Brandon Bass when he was with Orlando:

http://www.82games.com/1011/10ORL14.HTM#bypos

He's outperforming opposing PF's, and as a starter.

Yeah i just don't think that ends the argument and settles everything.

I think we will get a much better idea if they are both playing similar minutes at PF this year.

Otherwise the Green sample is tiny and doesn't factor in things like how he joined a brand new team with a new system, minutes, players, coaches, city etc.

I don't know who is better at PF. I think Bass should start  because I like Green backing up Pierce but I think I don't think it's crazy to think that Green could possibly end up being more effective than Bass at the PF spot this year. Of course everyone is down on green at the moment and high on bass.