Avery Bradley, Defensive Monster?

[Bahku]

Just gotta say how much I love watching this kid play defense ... today's horrendous offensive showing by the C's was thankfully offset a bit by how well they played defense, (though you've still got to get the ball in the basket to win games).

But Avery in particular and the fits he caused Westbrook was just a joy to watch, and it seems to get better game-after-game. I honestly haven't had so much fun watching a young Celtic player in a long time, and he takes such pride in knowing that he's acquiring this defensive reputation across the league.

Even better than what he's doing individually, though, is the effect he's having on the rest of the team ... it's clear that they all want to emulate his energy and work on the defensive end, and since he's been back the defensive skills of many others on the team have improved.

At the very least this team will continue to improve defensively, and that should increase our fast-break opportunities and offensive pressure, (although there's always going to be bad shooting days like today). This kid is just plain awesome and exciting to watch, and if we hang onto him long-term, I see a lot of good things for the future.

No young player on this team defines more what Celtic Pride is all about, and it's exciting to think that he's only going to get better. Yes, this guy is becoming a defensive monster, and I feel very secure saying that. Sweet stuff, Avery ... keep it up!

[The Rondo Show]

Love the way he plays. He's finally starting to get national recognition as a great defender


Hook em!!!!!

[CelticConcourse]

Yea! If you were watching the game, they said the Thunder play FT games at practice.

I'm sure we do the same with defense.

[Lightskinsmurf]

Defensive monster, game changer, elite. A deep playoff run wouldn't be possible without his defensive presence.

[nickagneta]

TP Bahku. Couldn't agree more. Bradley will be 1st team All-Defense and will finish in top 5 for Defensive Player of the Year and he only played half a year and is only 22 years old.

Love the fact we could be watching this type of defense from the Bradley and maybe, due to the infectious way he spreads his defense, the Celtics as well,  for a decade.

[MVPPierceNoJoke]

Great Post, his defense is so contagious to the whole team. And his offense is improving at a high rate as well.

[Big Rondo]

Between Bradley, Rondo, Lee, Crawford and Green our backcourt is set for years to come. 100% of the help Danny needs to  look to acquire needs to come up front.

[Who]

It is incredible. It is amazing how much better Avery's defense that the other top defensive PGs in the league. Not just this year but over the last several years. Since they changed the hand-checking laws back in 2004 or 2005.

Bradley's defense is remarkable.

[PhoSita]

Thanks to Bradley, the formula for a rebuild could really be as "simple" as the following:

a) get Rondo to reinvest himself in playing defense (even if it takes away from his production on the other end a bit)

b) find a replacement defensive anchor once KG retires (obviously the hardest part) --> even an Omer Asik type would do

c) continue to surround rondo / bradley / [defensive anchor] with complementary scorers who can fit well into a team defensive scheme (e.g. Green, Lee, Sullinger, etc)

Do that and the Celtics will be at least as competitive as the Pacers in short order.  Get lucky and find a way to acquire a high level wing or post scorer, and suddenly you have a contender.

[clover]

Just gotta say how much I love watching this kid play defense ... today's horrendous offensive showing by the C's was thankfully offset a bit by how well they played defense, (though you've still got to get the ball in the basket to win games).

But Avery in particular and the fits he caused Westbrook was just a joy to watch, and it seems to get better game-after-game. I honestly haven't had so much fun watching a young Celtic player in a long time, and he takes such pride in knowing that he's acquiring this defensive reputation across the league.

Even better than what he's doing individually, though, is the effect he's having on the rest of the team ... it's clear that they all want to emulate his energy and work on the defensive end, and since he's been back the defensive skills of many others on the team have improved.

At the very least this team will continue to improve defensively, and that should increase our fast-break opportunities and offensive pressure, (although there's always going to be bad shooting days like today). This kid is just plain awesome and exciting to watch, and if we hang onto him long-term, I see a lot of good things for the future.

No young player on this team defines more what Celtic Pride is all about, and it's exciting to think that he's only going to get better. Yes, this guy is becoming a defensive monster, and I feel very secure saying that. Sweet stuff, Avery ... keep it up!

My legs get tired just watching him in that low of a stance.

[LarBrd33]

He's lived up to the hype on that end of the court.

It's tough to maintain that level of defensive intensity and also have anything left in the tank for offense, though.  At some point we might see him ease up a bit if he's asked to do more on the other end.

Tonight was a good example of that.  Bradley expended a ton of energy limiting Westbrook.   Green and Pierce expended a ton of energy limiting Durant.  We knew it was going to come down to whether or not our other guards got hot. They didn't... so we lost.

[PhoSita]

He's lived up to the hype on that end of the court.

It's tough to maintain that level of defensive intensity and also have anything left in the tank for offense, though.  At some point we might see him ease up a bit if he's asked to do more on the other end.

Tonight was a good example of that.  Bradley expended a ton of energy limiting Westbrook.   Green and Pierce expended a ton of energy limiting Durant.  We knew it was going to come down to whether or not our other guards got hot. They didn't... so we lost.

Eh, I don't think Bradley is a good enough offensive player to worry about saving himself for scoring.  On a good night he's about as useful offensively as Lee is.  Which is nice, but we can get that elsewhere, too.

[Evantime34]

Bradley is the player that will ensure the Celtics continue the defensive identity KG built when he got here.

[nickagneta]

He's lived up to the hype on that end of the court.

It's tough to maintain that level of defensive intensity and also have anything left in the tank for offense, though.  At some point we might see him ease up a bit if he's asked to do more on the other end.

Tonight was a good example of that.  Bradley expended a ton of energy limiting Westbrook.   Green and Pierce expended a ton of energy limiting Durant.  We knew it was going to come down to whether or not our other guards got hot. They didn't... so we lost.

Eh, I don't think Bradley is a good enough offensive player to worry about saving himself for scoring.  On a good night he's about as useful offensively as Lee is.  Which is nice, but we can get that elsewhere, too.

I think he is or will be a much better offensive player than Lee. He moves well without the ball and is an excellent cutter. His shooting form is great and I think his shooting will be very efficient in a couple of years once more offensive responsibility goes his way and he has Rondo playing beside him.

[PhoSita]

He's lived up to the hype on that end of the court.

It's tough to maintain that level of defensive intensity and also have anything left in the tank for offense, though.  At some point we might see him ease up a bit if he's asked to do more on the other end.

Tonight was a good example of that.  Bradley expended a ton of energy limiting Westbrook.   Green and Pierce expended a ton of energy limiting Durant.  We knew it was going to come down to whether or not our other guards got hot. They didn't... so we lost.

Eh, I don't think Bradley is a good enough offensive player to worry about saving himself for scoring.  On a good night he's about as useful offensively as Lee is.  Which is nice, but we can get that elsewhere, too.

I think he is or will be a much better offensive player than Lee. He moves well without the ball and is an excellent cutter. His shooting form is great and I think his shooting will be very efficient in a couple of years once more offensive responsibility goes his way and he has Rondo playing beside him.

Perhaps.  His offense will almost certainly never get to the same level as his defense, though.  So I'm fine with him expending the vast majority of his energy on that end.

At best I think Bradley is a 12-14 ppg player in 35ish minutes a night.  I'd be pretty happy with that.