Jeff Green: Nice Numbers on a Bad Team Guy?

[PhoSita]

Jeff Green:

February - 15.3 pts, 4.1 rebounds, 2.0 ast, .512 fg% / .414 3p% / .863 ft%

March - 17.6 pts, 4.8 reb, 3.0 ast, .488 fg% / .426 3p% / .787 ft%

That includes 9 starts.


Jeff Green has been playing at a pretty high level, in terms of box score production, for the past two months.  Those aren't quite All-Star numbers, perhaps, but they're not so far off.

Still, I can't help questioning how much I ought to value these numbers, considering that Jeff's emergence has coincided with the talent level on the team, and consequently the team's competitiveness, falling off precipitously due to injuries and team-wide inconsistency (particularly on the road).

In short, the Celtics have been on balance a fairly mediocre team in this calendar year, with the exception of a few stretches of games where they played well.  During that time Jeff has vindicated his contract with his nightly box score.


Is Jeff an emerging star whose breakout is tempered by his team's struggles?  Or is he the sort of player who becomes more confident, comfortable, and relaxed when the stakes are lower and his teammates are less established -- i.e. when he's on a bad team? 

[pearljammer10]

I dunno in February and March we are 16 - 12. Would he be averaging better numbers on a team that actually qualifies as bad like a Cleveland or a Phoenix? I think the numbers wouldnt be far off of what he is averaging now for those two months. He is getting the ball more as a number two scoring option and producing in that role.

[wdleehi]

No.



Green is a solid starter.  His numbers have been in the same range when starting on good teams and bad teams. 




Injuries are just forcing him into a bigger role then he can handle is the team wants to win.  There is a significant lack of talent that can actually play for the Celtics at the moment.

[Snakehead]

Could you please explain to me how his offensive play makes a team bad?

He is not a volume shooter, and he's not a ball movement killer.  He plays within the offense, attacks the rim, and scores quite efficiently.

And on the other side of the ball, he has become a fine defender.

Jeff can't win man.

[coco]

Could you please explain to me how his offensive play makes a team bad?

He is not a volume shooter, and he's not a ball movement killer.  He plays within the offense, attacks the rim, and scores quite efficiently.

Jeff can't win man.

Ditto.  Some fans just refuse to awknowlege how good JG is playing.  Scores, gets to the line, guards LeBron, Melo as good as can be.

[sed522002]

You could probably say that if he was the #1 option on offense, but he's not (that belongs to PP). Jeff has been really efficient with the shots that he gets for the most part. He's taking on a bigger role and is getting more playing time, especially in critical possessions.

A lot of us forget that this is really his first FULL season with the C's. He knows his place with this team and he knows how to contribute and has the trust of his teammates.

[Celtics18]

Could you please explain to me how his offensive play makes a team bad?

He is not a volume shooter, and he's not a ball movement killer.  He plays within the offense, attacks the rim, and scores quite efficiently.

And on the other side of the ball, he has become a fine defender.

Jeff can't win man.

I agree.  Jeff Green's game is very well suited to being a guy who can fill a much needed role on a good team.  The last thirty games are a good case in point. 

[arctic 3.0]

Green is showing his stuff and that stuff looks good enough to be a #2 offensive option and solid defender.
Question is post KG/PP how do we build around him
pg RR (#3 option)
Sg ? (#1 opt)
sf JG (#2 opt)
PF sully (#4 opt)
C ?

[Jeff]

he's good enough to score 20 points a game as the #1 or #2 option, but I don't see him in that STAR category that wins championships

the problem is, can he produce as the 3rd or 4th option on a really good team?  that would be his ideal role but we haven't seen that from him consistently yet - maybe it will happen in the playoffs when we have KG and Pierce full speed

[clover]

Green is showing his stuff and that stuff looks good enough to be a #2 offensive option and solid defender.
Question is post KG/PP how do we build around him
pg RR (#3 option)
Sg ? (#1 opt)
sf JG (#2 opt)
PF sully (#4 opt)
C ?

I agree in your assessment of Green, if he can stabilize at his recent level of aggressiveness and pick up in rebounding, etc..

I think they've got to have a #1, 2 or 3 option from one of their front court positions, at least, and Green is slotted as Pierce's replacement (though he'll never be as good as Pierce), with the added flexibility of more match ups where he's suited for the 4.

But with so much up in the air over the next 15 months, I wouldn't slot anyone--Rondo, Green, Sully or Bradley--as a definite part of the next generation core.  Danny IMO has to swing some trades, not just fill in some pieces.

[Clench123]

I really do think so.  For that opinion to change, I'll have to see what he can do on a healthy good team or how he play comes the playoffs.  With Sully, Rondo, and KG on the floor he's seems so timid on the court and doesn't seem to give a lot of effort.  He hasn't shown that he can play efficiently with stars or star studded teams

[BballTim]

Green is showing his stuff and that stuff looks good enough to be a #2 offensive option and solid defender.
Question is post KG/PP how do we build around him
pg RR (#3 option)
Sg ? (#1 opt)
sf JG (#2 opt)
PF sully (#4 opt)
C ?

  Most teams get 60-70 ppg from their starters. If Rondo comes back healthy and Sully comes back healthy and playing the way he was before he went out those two and Green could combine for close to 50 a game. Then you'd need 15-20 points combined from your sg and c, which shouldn't be that hard to do. A good defensive center that can rebound and a good outside shooting sg would round out the starting 5.

[Josh88]

I would say no, based on the fact that he is an efficient shooter, he doesn't turn the ball over much and he's an above average defender. Generally the players putting up good numbers on bad teams are volume shooters, turnover prone and/or bad defenders.

It remains to be seen if he's capable of this level of consistent production as the 2nd or 3rd option, particularly when KG returns and he's relegated to the bench, or moved to PF. I think the playoffs will be a good test, I'm curious to see how he performs under real pressure.

[LilRip]

i think he'd put up nice numbers whether the team is good or bad. He's just not a franchise-level player, (and at least his contract doesn't pay him like one). I think he's a great piece to have (on any team), and he can definitely be one of the main cogs of a championship-caliber team, similar to Lamar Odom or something.

[SHAQATTACK]

this horrid rash of injuries , has one bright spot in a glum situation.....this all has allowed Jeff Green , a nice modest guy to step up and show what he can really do.

He never had this chance to be "THE " go to man on OKC or even even with his short time with C's and their stars.   Always was the 2, 3 th or 4 th option.

Best wishes to Jeff