Avery Bradley, Defensive Monster?

[Lightskinsmurf]

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.

I disagree that he will ever be much better than lee offensively. He will be a 9-12ppg guy I think which I'm fine with if he can keep the defense at an elite level.

[celticmania]

There is a 6'5" Avery Bradley in this years nba draft.... Victor Oladipo.

[Who]

There is a 6'5" Avery Bradley in this years nba draft.... Victor Oladipo.

I was reading his profile on draftexpress yesterday. Sounds similar to Tony Allen.

[celticmania]

There is a 6'5" Avery Bradley in this years nba draft.... Victor Oladipo.

I was reading his profile on draftexpress yesterday. Sounds similar to Tony Allen.

Oladipo is going to be a better offensive player.

[guava_wrench]

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 was under the impressing that Bradley's good offensive games this season have been considerably better than Lee's good offensive games this season.

[hpantazo]

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 was under the impressing that Bradley's good offensive games this season have been considerably better than Lee's good offensive games this season.

I think comparing Bradley's offensive ceiling to Courntey Lee's is very accurate.

[CelticConcourse]

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 was under the impressing that Bradley's good offensive games this season have been considerably better than Lee's good offensive games this season.

Lee has been dang consistent. Plus, "this season" isn't Lee's only season. He's been serviceable throughout his career, as a role player.

[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 was under the impressing that Bradley's good offensive games this season have been considerably better than Lee's good offensive games this season.

Yet less frequent.  They're both 12 points-per-36 guys right now.  Lee has been closer to 14 in the past.  I think Bradley is similar.

I mean, I think it's safe to say Jeff Green is a more polished and talented offensive player than Bradley -- perhaps better than he'll ever be -- and he's still a 15-16 points-per-36 guy.

[BballTim]

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.

  Bradley's looking like the better of the two on offense.

[BballTim]

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!

  I think his effect on the other players is a little overstated but his defense has been great, along the lines of Iggy a couple of years ago.

[hardlyyardley]

Bradley's only  bad game defensively was against Atlanta when Teague continuaily got to the rim

Oladipo = Tony Allen + 2 inches + better offense+ much higher IQ

[Snakehead]

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 was under the impressing that Bradley's good offensive games this season have been considerably better than Lee's good offensive games this season.

I think comparing Bradley's offensive ceiling to Courntey Lee's is very accurate.

If you think he won't get any better I suppose.  They are pretty similar right now.

[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!

  I think his effect on the other players is a little overstated but his defense has been great, along the lines of Iggy a couple of years ago.

How do you see it as "overstated"? I certainly haven't overstated it here, but there has been a stark improvement in how this team has played since his return, (compared to before), especially at the defensive end.

[Atzar]

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.

Arron Afflalo is an example of a defensive-minded player easing up on defense to focus on scoring more.  He used to be an elite defender.  Now he's fallen off a bit, but he's quietly scoring 17 per game for Orlando.

It's so tough to be dominant on both sides of the ball.

[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.

  Bradley's looking like the better of the two on offense.

My take on it is that when Bradley is looking good offensively, he certainly looks better.  But he seems less capable of doing that consistently.

Maybe Bradley can become a bit more productive than Lee is (or has been), but not that much more.

Let's be clear, though -- both Lee and Bradley are fine complementary offensive players.  The comparison is not meant to be negative. It's just that Bradley's primary value is and always will be on the defensive end.