C's want AB to 'calm down' on defense

[sed522002]

But the Boston Celtics now want more from Bradley. And in this case, more sometimes means less.

“I was always on the ball last year so I could get time off the shot clock, but this year they want me to calm down a little bit more, not be so reckless I guess you could say on defense,” Bradley said Tuesday after a morning shootaround at the Barclays Center. “They want me to be disciplined, pick my spots every now and then, pick up fullcourt but get back and play angles. They’re just trying to make me into a great team defender, as well as an individual defender.”

Brad Stevens said, “I think what people think Avery’s really good at is true, is picking the ball up the court. But he can be really, really good off the ball. And that’s where we think we can get even better, is off the ball.

But perhaps Bradley’s evolving defensive role is most interesting. The guard said the changed focus could help preserve his legs.

“But I don’t think that’s why they’re doing it. They just want me to be a better defender,” he said. “At times I found myself trying to pick up full court, then you see the coach (motions with arms): ‘Get back.’ It was weird, but at the same time it makes me disciplined. I didn’t go for steals. I was just being smart on the defensive end, and that helps our team out a lot.”

http://www.masslive.com/celtics/index.ssf/2013/10/boston_celtics_news_2013_avery_3.html

[NocturnalRebel]

When we were first introduced to Bradley, I hated seeing him shoot jumpers but loved watching him on defense. But if it helps him and tha team improve and get better I'm with it.

TP for you Sed for always picking little extras like this up. It's appreciated.

[wdleehi]

Anyone else read this as "there is no one there to protect the paint to clean up the times you miss when taking a chance on defense"




Even the best on ball defenders have those moments when they go for the ball, miss, and are out of position.  With out someone to help (KG) down low, that leads to more easy baskets.

[sed522002]

When we were first introduced to Bradley, I hated seeing him shoot jumpers but loved watching him on defense. But if it helps him and tha team improve and get better I'm with it.

TP for you Sed for always picking little extras like this up. It's appreciated.

Thanks. I think one of the things this can do is keep him from getting so many ticky tack fouls from the ref.

[sed522002]

Anyone else read this as "there is no one there to protect the paint to clean up the times you miss when taking a chance on defense"




Even the best on ball defenders have those moments when they go for the ball, miss, and are out of position.  With out someone to help (KG) down low, that leads to more easy baskets.

In the article Stevens pretty much says that just uses different words.

[rocknrollforyoursoul]

Anyone else read this as "there is no one there to protect the paint to clean up the times you miss when taking a chance on defense"




Even the best on ball defenders have those moments when they go for the ball, miss, and are out of position.  With out someone to help (KG) down low, that leads to more easy baskets.

I've never viewed Bradley as a big gambler—unlike Rondo, who seems to take a lot more risks, especially of the "let the defender go by, then try to poke away the ball from behind" variety.

[D.o.s.]

Anyone else read this as "there is no one there to protect the paint to clean up the times you miss when taking a chance on defense"




Even the best on ball defenders have those moments when they go for the ball, miss, and are out of position.  With out someone to help (KG) down low, that leads to more easy baskets.

Yup.

[LarBrd33]

He's a very talented defender but at least half of his "gift" is based on his lopsided defensive effort.  It's not sustainable.  I saw the same thing with Marcus Banks.  You can't do full-court press on every single possession and have anything left for the offensive end.  With Banks it didn't last long, because he was being forced to learn the point guard position.  Unfortunately, Bradley doesn't have the offensive talent to really make a mark in this league... and if he eases up on defense, he'll basically be removing his lone super power.  That combined with the fact that he's extremely undersized for the SG position...  I don't see this working out well.  I think ultimately we're looking at a long-term niche backup.  Eventually they'll realize his natural role is PG defensive specialist off the bench.

[Roy H.]

We've got 99 problems, and AB's defense ain't one.

Seriously, though, I'll take improvements anywhere.  I'm hoping for a better showing on the offensive side for AB, though.

[sed522002]

We've got 99 problems, and AB's defense ain't one.

Seriously, though, I'll take improvements anywhere.  I'm hoping for a better showing on the offensive side for AB, though.

Hopefully he won't be playing the Pg much..I think they're starting Crawford tonight as well. When he's not handling the ball he's a much better player.

[guava_wrench]

Anyone else read this as "there is no one there to protect the paint to clean up the times you miss when taking a chance on defense"




Even the best on ball defenders have those moments when they go for the ball, miss, and are out of position.  With out someone to help (KG) down low, that leads to more easy baskets.

Exactly what I was thinking. It will be interesting to see how this effects Rondo on defense since Rondo puts a lot of pressure on the bigs with his risk taking.

[byennie]

I just read this as Stevens being an analytical guy. Bradley's ball pressure is one of our weapons, but Stevens wants to be able to control it. Let him pressure the point guards who can't handle it (Jameer Nelson anyone?). Let him save his energy for the 4th quarter when Stevens wants to make a push against tired legs. If he just goes all out all the time, it's not really part of the gameplan (as admirable as it is).

[NocturnalRebel]

When we were first introduced to Bradley, I hated seeing him shoot jumpers but loved watching him on defense. But if it helps him and tha team improve and get better I'm with it.

TP for you Sed for always picking little extras like this up. It's appreciated.

Thanks. I think one of the things this can do is keep him from getting so many ticky tack fouls from the ref.

You're right. I was gonna add that to my post but you beat me to it. That's where most if not all of his fouls come from. It didn't cross my mind when I first read it but Wdleehi has a point too.

I think AB and Rondo help prevent or slow down a lot of guard penetration from tha likes of Westbrook, Teague, Rose, wade, but they do gamble on defense (More so Rondo)  and miss.

I love Bradley for his defense. He's one of tha best defending guards if not THE best. But I do wonder if this will or will not take away from his own contributions on tha defensive end or make him any less aggressive. It will limit what little gamble he does but I don't wanna see AB become less aggressive and turn back into what we saw from him from last season in tha Knicks series.

I like AB's attitude about this though. He see's it as making him a better defender and he acknowledges tha guards have to help tha bigs out. And it will. But we'll definitely see how it turns out against tha Nets and tha rest of preseason though.

Why do I love tha experimenting in tha Brad Stevens era?

[letsgoblue86]

Obviously a tanking move.

[manl_lui]

But the Boston Celtics now want more from Bradley. And in this case, more sometimes means less.

“I was always on the ball last year so I could get time off the shot clock, but this year they want me to calm down a little bit more, not be so reckless I guess you could say on defense,” Bradley said Tuesday after a morning shootaround at the Barclays Center. “They want me to be disciplined, pick my spots every now and then, pick up fullcourt but get back and play angles. They’re just trying to make me into a great team defender, as well as an individual defender.”

Brad Stevens said, “I think what people think Avery’s really good at is true, is picking the ball up the court. But he can be really, really good off the ball. And that’s where we think we can get even better, is off the ball.

But perhaps Bradley’s evolving defensive role is most interesting. The guard said the changed focus could help preserve his legs.

“But I don’t think that’s why they’re doing it. They just want me to be a better defender,” he said. “At times I found myself trying to pick up full court, then you see the coach (motions with arms): ‘Get back.’ It was weird, but at the same time it makes me disciplined. I didn’t go for steals. I was just being smart on the defensive end, and that helps our team out a lot.”

http://www.masslive.com/celtics/index.ssf/2013/10/boston_celtics_news_2013_avery_3.html

calm down on defense doesn't necessarily means go easy on defense. Look at the [dang] quote! It says to not be reckless. Play tight D, body your man, but don't be reaching, etc, etc. Bradley is still playing elite defense. Get those tanking conspiracies out of here!