Jeff Green = Clutch

[bballdog384]

I never thought I would be saying these words above. But it's true - and there are stats to prove it.

He is now 7/11 (63%) in game tying or winning scenarios with under 5 seconds on the clock:

Jeff Green made a game-winning three point field goal at the buzzer Saturday against the Heat, his seventh game-tying or go-ahead shot in the final 5 seconds in his career. Since entering the league in the 2007-08 season, Green has the highest field goal percentage in the NBA on game-tying or go-ahead field goal attempts in the final five seconds of games, minimum 10 FGA.

He is first on the list for percentage -  right above Tim Duncan, Rudy Gay, and Dirk.

He does have a relatively small sample size - but even if this is a fluke - building this type of confidence is what Green needs in order to become a better player.

[Vermont Green]

I really like Green's game last night.  Other than the last 0.6 seconds, I felt is was the kind of game that Jeff Green can do on any night.  Consistency is the most important thing in my mind.  We don't need 40 point games and then 10 point games.  If he could give us 24 points with that kind of efficiency, he could become our Paul George.

Opportunities for that type of game winner only come along once and a while.  They tend to get attention (understandably) but I am more excited about what Green did in the first 47:59.4 seconds than in the last 0.6 seconds.

[bballdog384]

The issue with Green is that he needs more confidence in order to be consistent night in and night out.

Hitting shots like last night (and being a career 63% shooter in those situations) can only help his confidence.

[Snakehead]

I really don't think it's confidence at all that makes Green play like he does at times.

He is just that kind of player mentally.  A ton of it is just mental.  He seems to think about spacing the floor a lot vs being in attack mode like some other players.  And yes you will see the prettiest drives in the league from him and at times he looks like he just isn't willing to drive.  That's his make up mentally, though I think he is growing past that some.

The mentality of players like KG, Kobe, Jordan, etc  play with is a lot of what made them as good as they were.  A lot of that shapes your game.

[LooseCannon]

It probably has a bit to do with him being the sort of player whose mentality makes him shy away from low-percentage end-of-game isos.  He will never be an iso-ball hero....and I am okay with that.

[Celtics4ever]

The mentality of players like KG

I don't think KG had a clutch shot mentality either folks.

[Snakehead]

The mentality of players like KG

I don't think KG had a clutch shot mentality either folks.

I wasn't talking about clutch.  I was talking about how he played due to his mental make up.  KG is actually pretty similar to Jeff on offense in ways, but his defensive intensity is what makes KG one of the best defenders ever.

Jeff doesn't have a super aggressive mentality on offense.

[Celtics4ever]

Jeff doesn't have a super aggressive mentality on offense.

Agree, nor does he on D.   If I have a problem with him it's that he let's the game come to him too much.

[Snakehead]

Jeff doesn't have a super aggressive mentality on offense.

Agree, nor does he on D.   If I have a problem with him it's that he let's the game come to him too much.

That I don't agree with.  I think he is a good defender for sure.

[mgent]

Jeff doesn't have a super aggressive mentality on offense.

Agree, nor does he on D.   If I have a problem with him it's that he let's the game come to him too much.

He didn't do that last night, he was making me cringe with how aggressive he was looking for 3s.  He attempted 8, his record with the Celtics, and at a much better percentage than the 3 times he did it in OKC.  Almost a tenth of our shots were Jeff Green 3s (career 35% shooter).  Admittedly, that's probably the last category we want Green being aggressive in, but at least it's something. 

We just have to accept that Green is otherworldly when he's feeling it, but he doesn't "feel it" often enough to play like that on a consistent nightly basis.  It might be a good thing that he's less aggressive on nights where he knows he can't hit those circus shots like he was vs the Heat.

[Celtics4ever]

I think he is a good defender for sure.

 A good defender and an aggressive one are two different things.  AB is a good aggressive defender.  JG is only the former.

[Snakehead]

I think he is a good defender for sure.

 A good defender and an aggressive one are two different things.  AB is a good aggressive defender.  JG is only the former.

There are a tiny amount of players that play as aggressive as AB (and he is at the top of the list in the NBA I'd say) so you're not going to get that out of a lot of guys.

Jeff is still effective.

[jr_3421]

Jeff Green's problem is that he doesn't get enough touches. Yeah he had a great game last night but half the time on offense he just stood in the corner and didn't contribute anything to the possession. I'm not putting the blame on him or the offense because I don't know what he's being coached to do. All I know is that Jeff Green is our best player and he should at least get a touch most possessions. Having the ball consistently in his hands I think will upstart the production we've been looking for with him.

[D.o.s.]

Jeff Green's problem is that he doesn't get enough touches. Yeah he had a great game last night but half the time on offense he just stood in the corner and didn't contribute anything to the possession. I'm not putting the blame on him or the offense because I don't know what he's being coached to do. All I know is that Jeff Green is our best player and he should at least get a touch most possessions. Having the ball consistently in his hands I think will upstart the production we've been looking for with him.

If he doesn't get enough touches and finishes with a 25,5,3... that's all right.

[BballTim]

Jeff doesn't have a super aggressive mentality on offense.

Agree, nor does he on D.   If I have a problem with him it's that he let's the game come to him too much.

He didn't do that last night, he was making me cringe with how aggressive he was looking for 3s.  He attempted 8, his record with the Celtics, and at a much better percentage than the 3 times he did it in OKC.  Almost a tenth of our shots were Jeff Green 3s (career 35% shooter).  Admittedly, that's probably the last category we want Green being aggressive in, but at least it's something. 

We just have to accept that Green is otherworldly when he's feeling it, but he doesn't "feel it" often enough to play like that on a consistent nightly basis.  It might be a good thing that he's less aggressive on nights where he knows he can't hit those circus shots like he was vs the Heat.

  It seems like every other post about Jeff Green contains a "inconsistent" comment. I'd wager that if people here watched most of the 15-18 ppg scorers in the league as often as they watched Green they'd feel that those players were equally inconsistent, especially if the were told by others that the player they're looking at is inconsistent.