How do you perceive Avery Bradley as a player?

[CelticG1]

I don't think his ball handling is THAT bad to be honest.  Most of his turnovers during the playoffs were from bad passes and bad decision making rather than bouncing off his foot or losing the ball under pressure.

I don't think he is an offensive liability out there as long as he's not expected to do too much (i.e. handle the ball and run the offense).  He seems to lack confidence at the best of times, and when he is forced out of his comfort zone his confidence drops to the point where it affects other parts of his game - he starts making silly mistakes, he gets softer on defense, etc.

I'm not too concerned with AB defending bigger guards.  I've seen him defend strong guards (like D Wade) and bigger guards without much trouble.  Obviously he'll struggle if he ends up on someone like Lebron or Carmello though.

AB really struggled this season, far more then he did in the prior one.  He missed a LOT of open layup and midrange jumpers that were automatic for him last season.  I think that touch will return to him in time and he will be a servicable offensive player, but I don't think he'll ever be a dominant one.

Remember guys that AB is still only 22 years old.  Look how far Rondo's midrange jumper has come from the time he entered the league until this season (where he was hitting at up around 50% from midrange). Bradley is nowhere near as bad a shooter as Rondo was in his first two or three seasons, so I'm fairly confident he'll improve in that regard.  Hell even Lebron was a pretty poor shooter early in his career, but has come a LONG way in the last season or two. 

Honestly I'd like to give him another season or two just to see whether he improves, because I think he's just too young, athletic and hard working to not improve as a player.  I see the size concerns but the NBA is a different league today.  There are very few SG's out there at 6'6" - 6'7" today.  Most of those guys who would have played SG in the past are moving up to SF these days as more teams move towards small-ball lineups and three-guard rotations.

I think it's pretty rare that you'll see Bradley having to guard a guy with Joe Johnson's size.

Just my thoughts though!

I think his ball handling is that bad? How many guys at his size or even position is worse?

Turnovers while dribbling aren't the only thing that equates to bad ball handling. Having to sub Avery out for T williams or having Pierce have to pretty much bring the ball up or handle it in the half court constantly is a pretty good indicator.

And just the eye test. Its absolutely nerve wreckig anytime some is pressuring him

[Evantime34]

He is a Shooting Guard, when he can not play point guard, when they attempt to play him at point guard he struggles.

Elite defender at 21, will only get better defensively which is scary.

On offense he is an ok shooter right now but I think with more practice and healthy shoulders he will become a very good shooter.

Not a creator, he's a one dribble move (in and out, cross over, spin or behind the back) and go to the hoop type of guy. If his first move is shut off he doesn't have the handle to perform a counter move.

One of the best off the ball cutters in the league, needs to work on his finishing. Playing with a low post big man would help because he could crash to the hoop then dish it off.

Might be undersized for the two guard, but his ability to get up under the offensive player with the ball helps negate this deficiency. I thought his size was more of a problem this year, in the previous year he had the entire off season to bulk up, where this year he came in with less muscle (i.e. less strength).

Reported as one of the hardest working players on the team, he has 6-8 more years of development left in, he is extremely far from a finished product.

One of

[Moranis]

Allen/Bowen/Battier are all significantly bigger and stronger than Bradley.  Bradley may have a big reach, but he is in a very small frame.  As such, he won't have anywhere near the impact that the other three have.  His size will always be a problem and unless someone invents a size pill, he won't ever be able to fix it.

Just becauee they have more size doesn't mean bradley can't guard or play shooting guard position.

Size to me is about as irrelevant as having a 7 foot 1 guy or a 6.10 guy at center. What you need is a guy who possesses the skills.

I mean size was the last thing I was worried about. For me it was him not being able to dribble a basketball or being extrnely inconsistent with the jumper, shooting anytiime he was open and plenty of other things.

I rarely see size being an issueand hasn't really been proven at all yet. Weve seen him hound a variety of opposing players and get beaten by a couple here or there. If there are shooting guards who can take advantage of him I think they are a lot fewer and further between.

Size isn't just about the actual guarding, but the staying healthy, something Bradley hasn't been able to do.  And if you haven't notice the size being a problem when guarding big SG's then you aren't paying attention.  Now granted Bradley spent much of the last half of the year guarding PG's, where size isn't an issue, but that poses a whole set of other problems.

[chambers]

Hard to say because he just finished his second season whilst.coming off major surgery. I think he's just a little too small to be a full time starter...he just gets abused in switches .
I'm assuming his offensive game will improve pretty we'll by his 5th year.
Should be a much stronger overall player than Allen because of his offensive potential but right now he's an undersized 2 guard who can't handle the ball we'll enough to be a PG, with a PER of only 8.5

To me he's the ultimate trade bait.

[slamtheking]

poor ball-handler where he isn't really viable as a backup PG.  not enough offensive skill to be a good starting SG.  Decent role-player that can come off the bench to wreak defensive havoc against a tired starting PG or any backup PG.  capable of playing good D on SGs provided he doesn't have to worry about handling the ball on offense.

the series against the Knicks really exposed him on D.  Felton just ate him alive.  I don't see him having a great trade value at this point.

[CelticG1]

Allen/Bowen/Battier are all significantly bigger and stronger than Bradley.  Bradley may have a big reach, but he is in a very small frame.  As such, he won't have anywhere near the impact that the other three have.  His size will always be a problem and unless someone invents a size pill, he won't ever be able to fix it.

Just becauee they have more size doesn't mean bradley can't guard or play shooting guard position.

Size to me is about as irrelevant as having a 7 foot 1 guy or a 6.10 guy at center. What you need is a guy who possesses the skills.

I mean size was the last thing I was worried about. For me it was him not being able to dribble a basketball or being extrnely inconsistent with the jumper, shooting anytiime he was open and plenty of other things.

I rarely see size being an issueand hasn't really been proven at all yet. Weve seen him hound a variety of opposing players and get beaten by a couple here or there. If there are shooting guards who can take advantage of him I think they are a lot fewer and further between.

Size isn't just about the actual guarding, but the staying healthy, something Bradley hasn't been able to do.  And if you haven't notice the size being a problem when guarding big SG's then you aren't paying attention.  Now granted Bradley spent much of the last half of the year guarding PG's, where size isn't an issue, but that poses a whole set of other problems.

You saying he struggles and not actually making in argument doesn't really do anything for me.

He's been in the league for 2 years and was just voted as second team all defense. Almost every defensive stat and advanced stat shows that he is an elite defender. Maybe some of that is because he was guarding pgs for a lot of this year. Even if that's the case it hardly proves that he's too small or weak to guard shooting guards or it least be above average on shootig guards and lights out against pgs.

I do agree that I'm worried about his injury history tho. I don't think that has to do with him being smaller tho. I don't think that's why steph curry is always injured or manu ginobli is always injured or vince carter and tracy mcgrady were always injured.

I mean it could be but you just state it like its fact or that its more of a trend without backing anuthing up

[wdleehi]

Allen/Bowen/Battier are all significantly bigger and stronger than Bradley.  Bradley may have a big reach, but he is in a very small frame.  As such, he won't have anywhere near the impact that the other three have.  His size will always be a problem and unless someone invents a size pill, he won't ever be able to fix it.

Just becauee they have more size doesn't mean bradley can't guard or play shooting guard position.

Size to me is about as irrelevant as having a 7 foot 1 guy or a 6.10 guy at center. What you need is a guy who possesses the skills.

I mean size was the last thing I was worried about. For me it was him not being able to dribble a basketball or being extrnely inconsistent with the jumper, shooting anytiime he was open and plenty of other things.

I rarely see size being an issueand hasn't really been proven at all yet. Weve seen him hound a variety of opposing players and get beaten by a couple here or there. If there are shooting guards who can take advantage of him I think they are a lot fewer and further between.

Size isn't just about the actual guarding, but the staying healthy, something Bradley hasn't been able to do.  And if you haven't notice the size being a problem when guarding big SG's then you aren't paying attention.  Now granted Bradley spent much of the last half of the year guarding PG's, where size isn't an issue, but that poses a whole set of other problems.

You saying he struggles and not actually making in argument doesn't really do anything for me.

He's been in the league for 2 years and was just voted as second team all defense. Almost every defensive stat and advanced stat shows that he is an elite defender. Maybe some of that is because he was guarding pgs for a lot of this year. Even if that's the case it hardly proves that he's too small or weak to guard shooting guards or it least be above average on shootig guards and lights out against pgs.

I do agree that I'm worried about his injury history tho. I don't think that has to do with him being smaller tho. I don't think that's why steph curry is always injured or manu ginobli is always injured or vince carter and tracy mcgrady were always injured.

I mean it could be but you just state it like its fact or that its more of a trend without backing anuthing up

3 seasons.


And as someone has pointed out, he has missed close to 40% of his games because of injury.

[guava_wrench]

I don't think his ball handling is THAT bad to be honest.  Most of his turnovers during the playoffs were from bad passes and bad decision making rather than bouncing off his foot or losing the ball under pressure.

I don't think he is an offensive liability out there as long as he's not expected to do too much (i.e. handle the ball and run the offense).  He seems to lack confidence at the best of times, and when he is forced out of his comfort zone his confidence drops to the point where it affects other parts of his game - he starts making silly mistakes, he gets softer on defense, etc.

I'm not too concerned with AB defending bigger guards.  I've seen him defend strong guards (like D Wade) and bigger guards without much trouble.  Obviously he'll struggle if he ends up on someone like Lebron or Carmello though.

AB really struggled this season, far more then he did in the prior one.  He missed a LOT of open layup and midrange jumpers that were automatic for him last season.  I think that touch will return to him in time and he will be a servicable offensive player, but I don't think he'll ever be a dominant one.

Remember guys that AB is still only 22 years old.  Look how far Rondo's midrange jumper has come from the time he entered the league until this season (where he was hitting at up around 50% from midrange). Bradley is nowhere near as bad a shooter as Rondo was in his first two or three seasons, so I'm fairly confident he'll improve in that regard.  Hell even Lebron was a pretty poor shooter early in his career, but has come a LONG way in the last season or two. 

Honestly I'd like to give him another season or two just to see whether he improves, because I think he's just too young, athletic and hard working to not improve as a player.  I see the size concerns but the NBA is a different league today.  There are very few SG's out there at 6'6" - 6'7" today.  Most of those guys who would have played SG in the past are moving up to SF these days as more teams move towards small-ball lineups and three-guard rotations.

I think it's pretty rare that you'll see Bradley having to guard a guy with Joe Johnson's size.

Just my thoughts though!

I think his ball handling is that bad? How many guys at his size or even position is worse?

Turnovers while dribbling aren't the only thing that equates to bad ball handling. Having to sub Avery out for T williams or having Pierce have to pretty much bring the ball up or handle it in the half court constantly is a pretty good indicator.

And just the eye test. Its absolutely nerve wreckig anytime some is pressuring him

I am far more concerned about how he starts the offense than with his dribbling. He is not a confident passer and can often throw the ball away on pretty simple passes into the post or around the perimeter. It is one thing to throw the ball away on difficult passes. That is a product of being aggressive or possible of bad decision making. Throwing the ball away to guys in the high post with defenders on their back means you just can't pass (especially when you are passing to vets who know how to seal defenders).

[CelticG1]

Allen/Bowen/Battier are all significantly bigger and stronger than Bradley.  Bradley may have a big reach, but he is in a very small frame.  As such, he won't have anywhere near the impact that the other three have.  His size will always be a problem and unless someone invents a size pill, he won't ever be able to fix it.

Just becauee they have more size doesn't mean bradley can't guard or play shooting guard position.

Size to me is about as irrelevant as having a 7 foot 1 guy or a 6.10 guy at center. What you need is a guy who possesses the skills.

I mean size was the last thing I was worried about. For me it was him not being able to dribble a basketball or being extrnely inconsistent with the jumper, shooting anytiime he was open and plenty of other things.

I rarely see size being an issueand hasn't really been proven at all yet. Weve seen him hound a variety of opposing players and get beaten by a couple here or there. If there are shooting guards who can take advantage of him I think they are a lot fewer and further between.

Size isn't just about the actual guarding, but the staying healthy, something Bradley hasn't been able to do.  And if you haven't notice the size being a problem when guarding big SG's then you aren't paying attention.  Now granted Bradley spent much of the last half of the year guarding PG's, where size isn't an issue, but that poses a whole set of other problems.

You saying he struggles and not actually making in argument doesn't really do anything for me.

He's been in the league for 2 years and was just voted as second team all defense. Almost every defensive stat and advanced stat shows that he is an elite defender. Maybe some of that is because he was guarding pgs for a lot of this year. Even if that's the case it hardly proves that he's too small or weak to guard shooting guards or it least be above average on shootig guards and lights out against pgs.

I do agree that I'm worried about his injury history tho. I don't think that has to do with him being smaller tho. I don't think that's why steph curry is always injured or manu ginobli is always injured or vince carter and tracy mcgrady were always injured.

I mean it could be but you just state it like its fact or that its more of a trend without backing anuthing up

3 seasons.


And as someone has pointed out, he has missed close to 40% of his games because of injury.

So he's injury prone because he is 6 3" and not 6 5? He's not even really skinny at all and is extremely strong.

I think he's injury prone but I think its more that he goes so hard (and stupidly) at times. I don't think its cause he likes size or because he plays sg. Half the time he isnmatched up against pgs anyway.

There are 100's of NBA players who get injured for whatever reason. Again why is Steph Curry, Manu Ginobli, Tracy McGrady, Vince Carter, kyrie irving, etc etc always injured?

Saying Bradley is injury lrone because he is kind of small (I guess) jist seems riiculous. Its more that he doesn't need to go 100% in the last 2 minutes of a blowout preseason game. So of that's how he is only going to be good than that's the problem. Not his size.

[CelticG1]

Tony Allen forever injured on this team.

Did he lack size? Took him 5 years pretty much to stop getting injured so much. Stil early on for AB

[PhoSita]

At this point I see Bradley as a 6'2'' Tony Allen without the thuggish swagger but a decent corner jumpshot.

I think best case scenario he scores 10-12 points per game on corner threes and basket cuts as long as he's playing next to some good passers and never has to handle the ball himself for more than a few dribbles at a time.  If he can stay healthy and play starter minutes all year he should be a 1st team All-Defense guy, assuming he stays out of foul trouble.

[KCattheStripe]

Ace athletic defender who is still learning to defend with position and timing. Good cutter, likely to turn into a decent to above average jump shooter. Kind of like a young Richard Hamilton.

[hpantazo]

Ace athletic defender who is still learning to defend with position and timing. Good cutter, likely to turn into a decent to above average jump shooter. Kind of like a young Richard Hamilton.

Richard Hamilton? Have you been watching the same Avery Bradley? Hamilton at that age could dribble the ball past half court, make decent passes, and actually can shoot very well. Totally different player.

[PhoSita]

Ace athletic defender who is still learning to defend with position and timing. Good cutter, likely to turn into a decent to above average jump shooter. Kind of like a young Richard Hamilton.

Hamilton was a nice scorer in his day.  I'd be pretty shocked if Bradley ever turned into that kind of player on the offensive end.

Plus, Hamilton is 5 inches taller.

[LarBrd33]

A young tyronn lue... Back when lue's only purpose was chasing around iverson. 

Bradley is a good backup point guard.  He's terrible on offense, but he's a good weapon to slow down opposing point guards.  Effective role player if you don't mind giving up the offense.  Like the Kendrick Perkins of point guards