Danny Green As an Example of the Type of Player the Celtics Should Look For

[LooseCannon]

With Danny Green's performance in the NBA Finals, I want to talk about his career path.  Come on, it's a thread not about Doc and the Clippers.

Green's career has a few features that some dismiss:
-He was a second-round pick.  Some people treat second-rounders as worthless.
-He was cut by a team.  The Cavs cut him in training camp before going 19-63.  The Spurs actually waived him six days after signing him before bringing him back a few months later.  Some fans want the Celtics to acquire proven talent and look down on picking up another team's castoffs.
-He was a D-Leaguer.  After the Spurs waived him, he went to the D-League.  Some people think the D-League doesn't have talent who aren't assigned there by an NBA team.
-Green doesn't have the elite athleticism that some people covet.  I think players sometimes get underrated if they have solid but unspectacular athleticism.
-Green shot 38.5%, including 27.3% from three, in 20 games as a rookie.  Some people will instantly dismiss a shooting guard that is that poor from beyond the arc, as if it wasn't a small sample size and rookies can't improve.

Why did Green succeed?

His top skill was defense.  He was considered to be one of the better perimeter defenders in his draft class.  I feel much better about players with an NBA-ready defensive skill-set who need to work on their offense rather than NBA-ready offense from a defensive liability.  I'd prefer a player who is intelligent and hard-working and has the mechanical form on his shot to make you think he has a chance of developing rather than a completely raw offensive player who needs to learn everything.

He went through a humbling period.  The Spurs cut Green because Popovich didn't like his practice habits.  He went to the D-League, improved himself, and eventually called the Spurs back, begging for a job.  Instead of the usual veteran journeymen to fill out a bench, I am in favor of checking overseas and in the D-League for talented players who were held back by their mental state to see if being out of the NBA forced them to re-evaluate and fix themselves.  It might not be DJ White, Shavlik Randolph, or Terrence Williams, but I think eventually we're going to see someone plucked from the Chinese league in the next few years who ends up being a solid contributor to some legitimate contender.

So, where can you find players like Green?  I think Ainge's willingness to seek roster solutions in China was a step in the right direction.  Maybe that back-up PG that the Celtics need can be found in the D-League, if Ainge can get over his aversion to back-up PGs who are not combo guards.  There are a lot of athletic wings in the D-League, so if you wanted a taller backup SG behind Bradley, you might find one there.

[Rondo2287]

Reggie Bullock.  Not just because they both went to UNC but trust me Reggie Bullock is the guy in this draft

[Fafnir]

Reggie Bullock.  Not just because they both went to UNC but trust me Reggie Bullock is the guy in this draft

Bullock was massive for the Tarheels.

I'd love for the C's to get a look at him (not at 16 though)

[slamtheking]

if by an example you mean a bench player (or any player) that actually performs up to their abilities when they're in the game, I agree.  Unfortunately, Danny signed/had a plethora of players that didn't fit that description: AB, Bass, JET, Lee, Darko, Collins, Wilcox.  If even half those guys lived up to to close to expectations, this would have been a much different (and better) season.

[Rondo2287]

Reggie Bullock.  Not just because they both went to UNC but trust me Reggie Bullock is the guy in this draft

Bullock was massive for the Tarheels.

I'd love for the C's to get a look at him (not at 16 though)

If they ended up getting the clips first round pick this year I wouldnt mind him with that pick

[lightspeed5]

[Fafnir]

Reggie Bullock.  Not just because they both went to UNC but trust me Reggie Bullock is the guy in this draft

Bullock was massive for the Tarheels.

I'd love for the C's to get a look at him (not at 16 though)

If they ended up getting the clips first round pick this year I wouldnt mind him with that pick

Yup, that's the range I'd be on board with him.

At 16 there are likely going to be too many guys with higher ceilings left on the board for him to be the right pick in my mind.

[PhoSita]

Danny Green is the product of great coaching and a phenomenal offensive system that works largely because of the aforementioned great coaching.

Lots of teams get players like Danny Green all the time, but they can't make the best use of them, which is why somebody like Green (or Gary Neal, or Matt Bonner, or Cory Joseph, or Matt Bonner, etc.) bounces around the league a bunch before catching on with a team like the Spurs.

All respect to Doc (who is out the door anyhow), the Celtics don't have that level of coaching.  They especially don't have an offensive system on par with the Spurs, even if they had the coaching to implement one.

[CelticG1]

Danny Green is the product of great coaching and a phenomenal offensive system that works largely because of the aforementioned great coaching.

Lots of teams get players like Danny Green all the time, but they can't make the best use of them, which is why somebody like Green (or Gary Neal, or Matt Bonner, or Cory Joseph, or Matt Bonner, etc.) bounces around the league a bunch before catching on with a team like the Spurs.

All respect to Doc (who is out the door anyhow), the Celtics don't have that level of coaching.  They especially don't have an offensive system on par with the Spurs, even if they had the coaching to implement one.

I'm just not buying that Greens historic 3 point shooting has to do with Pop.

[KG Living Legend]

With Danny Green's performance in the NBA Finals, I want to talk about his career path.  Come on, it's a thread not about Doc and the Clippers.

Green's career has a few features that some dismiss:
-He was a second-round pick.  Some people treat second-rounders as worthless.
-He was cut by a team.  The Cavs cut him in training camp before going 19-63.  The Spurs actually waived him six days after signing him before bringing him back a few months later.  Some fans want the Celtics to acquire proven talent and look down on picking up another team's castoffs.
-He was a D-Leaguer.  After the Spurs waived him, he went to the D-League.  Some people think the D-League doesn't have talent who aren't assigned there by an NBA team.
-Green doesn't have the elite athleticism that some people covet.  I think players sometimes get underrated if they have solid but unspectacular athleticism.
-Green shot 38.5%, including 27.3% from three, in 20 games as a rookie.  Some people will instantly dismiss a shooting guard that is that poor from beyond the arc, as if it wasn't a small sample size and rookies can't improve.

Why did Green succeed?

His top skill was defense.  He was considered to be one of the better perimeter defenders in his draft class.  I feel much better about players with an NBA-ready defensive skill-set who need to work on their offense rather than NBA-ready offense from a defensive liability.  I'd prefer a player who is intelligent and hard-working and has the mechanical form on his shot to make you think he has a chance of developing rather than a completely raw offensive player who needs to learn everything.

He went through a humbling period.  The Spurs cut Green because Popovich didn't like his practice habits.  He went to the D-League, improved himself, and eventually called the Spurs back, begging for a job.  Instead of the usual veteran journeymen to fill out a bench, I am in favor of checking overseas and in the D-League for talented players who were held back by their mental state to see if being out of the NBA forced them to re-evaluate and fix themselves.  It might not be DJ White, Shavlik Randolph, or Terrence Williams, but I think eventually we're going to see someone plucked from the Chinese league in the next few years who ends up being a solid contributor to some legitimate contender.

So, where can you find players like Green?  I think Ainge's willingness to seek roster solutions in China was a step in the right direction.  Maybe that back-up PG that the Celtics need can be found in the D-League, if Ainge can get over his aversion to back-up PGs who are not combo guards.  There are a lot of athletic wings in the D-League, so if you wanted a taller backup SG behind Bradley, you might find one there.

 Dude Loose Cannon your a mind reader. Was thinking the EXACT same thing. Number one criteria of the role player to SHOOT well.

[CelticG1]

if by an example you mean a bench player (or any player) that actually performs up to their abilities when they're in the game, I agree.  Unfortunately, Danny signed/had a plethora of players that didn't fit that description: AB, Bass, JET, Lee, Darko, Collins, Wilcox.  If even half those guys lived up to to close to expectations, this would have been a much different (and better) season.

We've seen flashes from AB, Bass and even Wilcox though.

2 years ago Bass wasn't looked at very highly at all then the next year he comes here, plays phenomenal defense and gets his career high in scoring at an efficient level.

AB showed similar flashes last year as well.

Its really about who can sustain and whether you give up on someone or not

[Yoki_IsTheName]

Reggie Bullock.  Not just because they both went to UNC but trust me Reggie Bullock is the guy in this draft

Agree here.

This kid is long and athletic enough to be able to pester opponent wings. Can play both wing positions and a decent shooter who can develop it to be a weapon.

Problem is, we are loaded in the wing spot, unless we trade Bradley/Lee/Jet to make room for him. I would, for a big and/or another pick.

[Boris Badenov]

I think Danny (our GM, not Danny Green) was hoping that Courtney Lee was that kind of player. He was actually a pretty good "3 and D" guy according to the scouting report and his previous performance.

For whatever reason that didn't work out, but Lee is still young enough that there's hope. Maybe if we get a new coach he will turn things around.

And TP for the non-Doc thread. If I saw one more nonsensical rant by someone in possession of exactly zero information, I was gonna lose it.

[PhoSita]

Danny Green is the product of great coaching and a phenomenal offensive system that works largely because of the aforementioned great coaching.

Lots of teams get players like Danny Green all the time, but they can't make the best use of them, which is why somebody like Green (or Gary Neal, or Matt Bonner, or Cory Joseph, or Matt Bonner, etc.) bounces around the league a bunch before catching on with a team like the Spurs.

All respect to Doc (who is out the door anyhow), the Celtics don't have that level of coaching.  They especially don't have an offensive system on par with the Spurs, even if they had the coaching to implement one.

I'm just not buying that Greens historic 3 point shooting has to do with Pop.

It has more to do with Tony Parker, Kawhi Leonard, Tim Duncan etc . . .

It's not as simple as being "all about Pop."  The Spurs as a team run their system so well, and Danny Green gets a lot of really good open catch and shoot opportunities.

Partly he's just nailing a ridiculous number of shots.  Crazy statistical anomaly, really.  But he's had the opportunity to do that because the Spurs are just so good at executing their offense, and Green, Neal, and Leonard are the major beneficiaries of that.  Green could not have done this on a different team.

[SHAQATTACK]

With Danny Green's performance in the NBA Finals, I want to talk about his career path.  Come on, it's a thread not about Doc and the Clippers.

Green's career has a few features that some dismiss:
-He was a second-round pick.  Some people treat second-rounders as worthless.
-He was cut by a team.  The Cavs cut him in training camp before going 19-63.  The Spurs actually waived him six days after signing him before bringing him back a few months later.  Some fans want the Celtics to acquire proven talent and look down on picking up another team's castoffs.
-He was a D-Leaguer.  After the Spurs waived him, he went to the D-League.  Some people think the D-League doesn't have talent who aren't assigned there by an NBA team.
-Green doesn't have the elite athleticism that some people covet.  I think players sometimes get underrated if they have solid but unspectacular athleticism.
-Green shot 38.5%, including 27.3% from three, in 20 games as a rookie.  Some people will instantly dismiss a shooting guard that is that poor from beyond the arc, as if it wasn't a small sample size and rookies can't improve.

Why did Green succeed?

His top skill was defense.  He was considered to be one of the better perimeter defenders in his draft class.  I feel much better about players with an NBA-ready defensive skill-set who need to work on their offense rather than NBA-ready offense from a defensive liability.  I'd prefer a player who is intelligent and hard-working and has the mechanical form on his shot to make you think he has a chance of developing rather than a completely raw offensive player who needs to learn everything.

He went through a humbling period.  The Spurs cut Green because Popovich didn't like his practice habits.  He went to the D-League, improved himself, and eventually called the Spurs back, begging for a job.  Instead of the usual veteran journeymen to fill out a bench, I am in favor of checking overseas and in the D-League for talented players who were held back by their mental state to see if being out of the NBA forced them to re-evaluate and fix themselves.  It might not be DJ White, Shavlik Randolph, or Terrence Williams, but I think eventually we're going to see someone plucked from the Chinese league in the next few years who ends up being a solid contributor to some legitimate contender.

So, where can you find players like Green?  I think Ainge's willingness to seek roster solutions in China was a step in the right direction.  Maybe that back-up PG that the Celtics need can be found in the D-League, if Ainge can get over his aversion to back-up PGs who are not combo guards.  There are a lot of athletic wings in the D-League, so if you wanted a taller backup SG behind Bradley, you might find one there.

Well written .