Poll: Will Avery Bradley Be a Better Jump Shooter Next Season?

[LooseCannon]

Using the data from basketball-reference.com, Avery Bradley shot 38.5% on jumpers in 2011-2012 (regular season), with 40.0% on twos 16 feet or more and 40.7% on threes.  In 2012-2013, he shot 36.6% on jumpers, with 44.5% on those long twos and 31.7% on threes.  Reportedly, his upper-body strength was diminished last season due to recovering from shoulder injuries, so that may have affected his three-point shooting. 

For comparison, other Celtics last season on those long twos:
Rondo 50.8%
Terry 49.2%
Garnett 46.3%
Lee 46.1%
Bass 45.2 %
Green 38.5%
Pierce 38.2%

Some other notable shooting guards:
Gerald Henderson 43.7%
JR Smith 42.4%
Joe Johnson 42.0%
Dwyane Wade 42.0%
DeMar Derozan 41.4%
OJ Mayo 41.3%
Kevin Martin 40.5%
Kobe Bryant 40.2%
Bradley Beal 38.4%
Ray Allen 38.0%
Monta Ellis 35.5%
James Harden 33.3%
Lance Stephenson 27.1%
Thabo Sefolosha 24.4%


Can Avery Bradley maintain his improved shooting on perimeter twos while regaining some of his prowess from downtown?  Will he regress on twos while getting back some of this three-point shooting?  How good of a player will he be if he can play a full season shooting 45% on long twos and 38% on threes, with All-Defensive caliber play?

[Vox_Populi]

If he starts less games and averages less minutes definitely. Unfortunately, all of our shooting guards, including Brooks, are role players at best and Bradley's probably the best of the bunch. I expect his 3 ball to go down more but I don't expect his mid range shooting to go up all that much.

[The Playmaker]

The shoulders probably have to do a little with that but I don't expect a big bump.  We knew he couldn't shoot.

[Phil125]

I think he will be better.  Many people around the NBA think his shoulders were not 100% from the surgery and it affected him.

I'm looking for a step forward for him this year.  If not we need to find another option at SG.

[TeamGreen.dm]

I think his shooting may take a slight bump but nothing major. But its his defense we need more than anything

[SCeltic34]

I think we'll see a definite improvement (I mean he was pretty [dang] bad last year).  Remember, it's his first truly healthy offseason.  He's been working hard on his game, there were a few brief articles about it.

[ImShakHeIsShaq]

http://www.masslive.com/celtics/index.ssf/2013/06/boston_celtics_news_2013_avery_1.html

[Celtics18]

http://www.masslive.com/celtics/index.ssf/2013/06/boston_celtics_news_2013_avery_1.html

I think it's great that Avery is working on becoming more of a complete player as long as a big part of that work is becoming a more consistent spot up shooter.

I've got to so that I love the mechanics on Avery's jumper.  It looks sweet.  I think he should be able to make it more consistent. 

[hwangjini_1]

good thread, lots of research behind it. thanks and a tp.

next, glad to see bradley is working on his shot, he will be healed, and he will be asked to shoot more.

my concern is a different one. bradley's past shooting percentages were when he was NOT a primary scorer and therefore the defenses paid little attention to him. as an example, he used to cut to the basket and score with ease. then the league caught on and this play was often taken away from him.

my concern is that if the celtics expect bradley to score more, defenses will begin to focus on him more. i dont know if bradley is able to create his own shot when being pressured. i suspect not, or at least not yet.

maybe stevens can draw up some fabulous plays that put bradley in a great position to score. i hope so.

but i worry that other teams will be able to shut him down once they pay attention to him and play tougher defense on him.

[SHAQATTACK]

Love AB's game,    believe he has some issues with body last season that were bugging him.

He is my my fav Celtic now that PP and KG are gone.


Hope his hard work pays off....he is a good dude.

[slamtheking]

nowhere to go but up for him but I'm not expecting much improvement.  I'd just be happy if he could hit open shots within 18 feet.

The one I'm expecting to shoot better is Lee since his track record is better than it was last year

[BudweiserCeltic]

I think so. I really liked his 8-15 or so feet jumpshots as he was coming of picks.

More than his jumpshot, I'm looking for an increase in him cutting, something he barely did, if at all, without Rondo.

But more importantly, I want to see a comeback of his defensive minded self through the whole game. He failed to do it in the playoffs, and it killed us.

[Evantime34]

Not only was his strength hurt by his off season shoulder surgeries, but those surgeries meant he could not shoot a basketball at all during the off season. I think anyone who has shot a basketball knows what not shooting one for several months will do to your shot. I expect his percentages to go up next year and him to take the next step as a basketball player.