Could Avery Bradley develop into a Russell Westbrook type player?

[D.o.s.]

The guy I'd recommend he look to for influence is Kevin Johnson from the 90's. He had almost the exact same build and athleticism as Avery, and a similar looking jumper, and he was a spectacular offense player.

As a mentor, sure, KJ was a very smart and talented player , but as a comparison to Bradley, not even close. KJ was a brlliant ball handler and fascilitator , with great instincts, Bradley is the opposite. Isn't KJ a mayor somewhere now anyway ?

He's the mayor of Sacramento, and was a significant part of why the Kings stayed.

[Snakehead]

He's not similar to Westbrook.  Your absolute ceiling/dream/hope is that he becomes Dumars like but I'd be happy with Bruce Bowen like if the pay is right.

Avery needs to get down his at least corner three and then be able to do some work in the open court and then his defense is already outstanding.

[Galeto]

No way dude. You don't develop athleticism like that. It's a genetic lottery thing. We might as well hope he develops to 6'6, too.

But I'm absolutely on board with the idea that Bradley should be more aggressive on the offensive end, especially if he's going to be our starting point while Rondo is out. That might have diminishing returns on his defense, though.

Bradley is a fantastic athlete.  Probably on par with Westbrook.  The problem is his skills.  He simply doesn't have the ballhandling or the instincts that Westbrook has, and his footwork (on offense...on defense, his footwork is spectacular) is pretty terrible.  Basically, it just seems like Bradley is behind on offensive fundamentals.  He got by on athleticism in highschool, and has been playing catchup ever since.  And, it would be nearly impossible to catch up with someone like Westbrook, who is going to continue to get better himself.

With that said, I do think Bradley has potential to improve significantly on offense.  I think he could be more like a poor man's Monta Ellis on offense...but with spectacular defense.

I don't see much of the good Monta in his game--that's the off-ball slasher/drive and dish guy who was an excellent finisher around the rim and had a ridiculous first step.

The guy you see now has slowed down a bit and started settling for contested jumpers--I think the moped accident really did a lot of damage to his development--but there was as time when Ellis was playing "the right way" and really helping his teams out.

On offense, that is.

Monta shot over 60 percent at the rim last season, as did Westbrook.  Bradley shot 49 percent which is abysmal.  Even a slowed-down Monta, which I don't necessarily agree with as he's still a great athlete, is a better offensive player than Bradley can ever dream to be.  Their skill level and scoring instincts are very far apart.  The only difference scoring-wise between Monta and Westbrook are their free throw rates.  If Monta got to the line at the same rate as Westbrook, their scoring per 36 and efficiency would be very similar.  Monta's issues aren't with talent or athleticism, they're decision making and physicality around the rim. 

Bradley's tough to compare because the signature shot of defense first perimeter players are usually not pull up jumpers.   

[PhoSita]

He's not similar to Westbrook.  Your absolute ceiling/dream/hope is that he becomes Dumars like but I'd be happy with Bruce Bowen like if the pay is right.

Avery needs to get down his at least corner three and then be able to do some work in the open court and then his defense is already outstanding.

I feel like the ceiling for Avery is a cross between Derek Fisher and Tony Allen.

I'd be happy with that, though I think it'll mean he ends up bouncing around the league to various contenders who can make the most out of a player with that skill set.

[Snakehead]

He's not similar to Westbrook.  Your absolute ceiling/dream/hope is that he becomes Dumars like but I'd be happy with Bruce Bowen like if the pay is right.

Avery needs to get down his at least corner three and then be able to do some work in the open court and then his defense is already outstanding.

I feel like the ceiling for Avery is a cross between Derek Fisher and Tony Allen.

I'd be happy with that, though I think it'll mean he ends up bouncing around the league to various contenders who can make the most out of a player with that skill set.

My Dumars comparison is just a hope/dreams ceiling to be clear.  If things went super well that's the type of player he would be.

I feel you on the Bowen/Allen/Fisher type of comparison (though I think Derek Fisher has always been a bad defender, never got thinking to the contrary).

[td450]

The guy I'd recommend he look to for influence is Kevin Johnson from the 90's. He had almost the exact same build and athleticism as Avery, and a similar looking jumper, and he was a spectacular offense player.

As a mentor, sure, KJ was a very smart and talented player , but as a comparison to Bradley, not even close. KJ was a brlliant ball handler and fascilitator , with great instincts, Bradley is the opposite. Isn't KJ a mayor somewhere now anyway ?

He's the mayor of Sacramento.

I agree that Bradley isn't close to what KJ was. The point is he has almost exactly the same body type and of athleticism. KJ was probably a top 10 all time point guard, so there is no way Bradley ever achieves the same level on offense, but he can learn several tricks from him.

Bradley has superior full court speed. KJ was probably the best ever at taking the ball up the court at full speed and getting easy looks. He could also learn to use high picks better to get easy 15 ft elbow jumpers, another KJ specialty. Those are both things that fit AB's skill set.

Bradley isn't as big or explosive as Westbrook, and probably won't ever be able to do the same things he can.

[D.o.s.]

No way dude. You don't develop athleticism like that. It's a genetic lottery thing. We might as well hope he develops to 6'6, too.

But I'm absolutely on board with the idea that Bradley should be more aggressive on the offensive end, especially if he's going to be our starting point while Rondo is out. That might have diminishing returns on his defense, though.

Bradley is a fantastic athlete.  Probably on par with Westbrook.  The problem is his skills.  He simply doesn't have the ballhandling or the instincts that Westbrook has, and his footwork (on offense...on defense, his footwork is spectacular) is pretty terrible.  Basically, it just seems like Bradley is behind on offensive fundamentals.  He got by on athleticism in highschool, and has been playing catchup ever since.  And, it would be nearly impossible to catch up with someone like Westbrook, who is going to continue to get better himself.

With that said, I do think Bradley has potential to improve significantly on offense.  I think he could be more like a poor man's Monta Ellis on offense...but with spectacular defense.

I don't see much of the good Monta in his game--that's the off-ball slasher/drive and dish guy who was an excellent finisher around the rim and had a ridiculous first step.

The guy you see now has slowed down a bit and started settling for contested jumpers--I think the moped accident really did a lot of damage to his development--but there was as time when Ellis was playing "the right way" and really helping his teams out.

On offense, that is.

Monta shot over 60 percent at the rim last season, as did Westbrook.  Bradley shot 49 percent which is abysmal.  Even a slowed-down Monta, which I don't necessarily agree with as he's still a great athlete, is a better offensive player than Bradley can ever dream to be.  Their skill level and scoring instincts are very far apart.  The only difference scoring-wise between Monta and Westbrook are their free throw rates.  If Monta got to the line at the same rate as Westbrook, their scoring per 36 and efficiency would be very similar.  Monta's issues aren't with talent or athleticism, they're decision making and physicality around the rim. 

Bradley's tough to compare because the signature shot of defense first perimeter players are usually not pull up jumpers.

I agree.

Re the slowed down Monta;Go back and look at some footage of Ellis's game before he hurt his ankle--try the year he won Most Improved Player. Dude's definitely started to pull up more rather than take it to the basket. To his detriment, usually.

[SHAQATTACK]

About as much chance as him developing in Bill Russell

[pearljammer10]

[clover]

If you didn't see the AB interview on celtics.com on media day, go see it now.

He really speaks with great appreciation, admiration and respect for Stevens and how Stevens is paying so very much attention to each player's game and what they need to do individually to improve it. Part of what he really likes is how Stevens is apparently giving that level of attention to each and every guy on the team.

Though left unsaid, I think it speaks volumes for the pro coaching he could/should have had the last three years, which really were college-age years for him.

I don't think he'll probably ever have the mind to be a top PG, but I'll be interested to see how he and the other young players do manage to improve over the next couple of years.

(Then for a contrast with the AB interview, click on and watch the Crawford one. He essentially says that Stevens is going to have to learn to chill out now that he's coaching in the NBA--and then is given the quick hook for a very short interview overall.)

[Freeease1]

In Brad Steven's Offense Avery will have the Green Light to be more Aggressive. THat was not the case for him with Doc or his teammates. He will not be the secon coming of Russell Westbrook but he will be the Real Avery Bradley on Offense this year. He wil have the green light to shoot and he will………………

[mmmmm]

I don't really see any of Russell Westbrook in Avery Bradley's game and I don't really care.

I'm getting tired of all the extreme projections.  Some folks point to his hot Spring of 2012 and think he can score 20 per game.  Other folks point to this last season and think he can't touch the ball on offense without tripping over his feet.   Both sides seem silly to me.

My prediction is that Bradley will become Avery Bradley.   He probably won't be as super-efficient as he was during the Spring of 2012.   And he probably won't be the brick-tossing guy (coming off double-shoulder surgery) who would miss wide-open layups during the Spring of 2013.

My prediction is that he will be somewhere in the middle.   

He'll probably end up being somewhere around a 37% 3PT shooter who can sneak in for the back-door cut 3 or 4 times a game.   And he'll play elite press defense.   

And that combo will make him extremely valuable.

[bfrombleacher]

He already has the poor vision for a point guard and the questionable BBIQ.

Just needs the recklessness and the overblown ego.

He'd be a poor man's Russell Westbrook. A Russell Westbrook type.

[Kuberski1]

No - not even close.

[pearljammer10]

In Brad Steven's Offense Avery will have the Green Light to be more Aggressive. THat was not the case for him with Doc or his teammates. He will not be the secon coming of Russell Westbrook but he will be the Real Avery Bradley on Offense this year. He wil have the green light to shoot and he will………………

And its a shame that he is such a terrible shooter.