Ainge talks candidly about Green

[Eddie20]

http://bostonherald.com/sports/celtics_nba/boston_celtics/2013/11/great_expectations_not_fair_for_cs_green

“Well, I don’t think Jeff will be a focal point of our team this year,” president of basketball operations Danny Ainge said. “I don’t think we have a player who’s a focal point of our team, especially with Rondo out. I think that we have to do it collectively. If we expect Jeff to be the focal point and to turn into Kevin Durant or LeBron James or even Paul Pierce, I think that we’re putting unrealistic expectations on him.”


“I think Jeff is a complete player who can defend and pass and score,” Ainge said, “but, no, I don’t think Jeff is one of those guys who’s going to get you 25 a game. He may be a go-to guy some nights, but I think we’re going to be more of an equal-opportunity basketball team than we are a team that’s built around one or two players like we have in the past.”

[Eddie20]

I respect Ainge's honesty, but I don't know if I'd be so open about it. It can't help any potential trade talks or Green's confidence for that matter.

[D.o.s.]

See, now I'm interested to hear what all those posters who swore up and down that JG was going to be one of those LeBron/Pierce type guys have to say.

[LooseCannon]

Maybe talk like that helps Green by letting him know that the team is going to let him play his natural role that fits his abilities, so he doesn't feel pressure to try and force himself to score more than he should.

[kozlodoev]

See, now I'm interested to hear what all those posters who swore up and down that JG was going to be one of those LeBron/Pierce type guys have to say.

They will obviously say this is just a twist from Ainge's elaborate plan to tank this year to the ground.

[Donoghus]

Aka....Green in more in line with those who believe he's a solid 3rd banana.

[kozlodoev]

Aka....Green in more in line with those who believe he's a solid 3rd banana.

I think he's fully capable to be the second scorer on a contending team. But he just doesn't have the ability to manufacture points out of thin air, and to do it night in and night out.

[BASS_THUMPER]

I respect Ainge's honesty, but I don't know if I'd be so open about it. It can't help any potential trade talks or Green's confidence for that matter.

hmmm

hidden agenda

[Eddie20]

Aka....Green in more in line with those who believe he's a solid 3rd banana.

I think he's fully capable to be the second scorer on a contending team. But he just doesn't have the ability to manufacture points out of thin air, and to do it night in and night out.

I'd agree with that. I think he could be the second leading scorer, but not necessarily the second best player.

[Donoghus]

Aka....Green in more in line with those who believe he's a solid 3rd banana.

I think he's fully capable to be the second scorer on a contending team. But he just doesn't have the ability to manufacture points out of thin air, and to do it night in and night out.

I think you need to have a transcendant talent in that situation as the #1 guy but its certainly not out of the realm of possibility, either. 

If you had something like Alpha Dog/Rondo/Green then I think you're talking real contention.

[vinnie]

Let's see.... "The coach is not using him right,"...."his selfish teammates refuse to pass him the ball,"...."He can't score on his own. They need to run plays for him." And so on.

Green will continue to have occasional monster nights and good nights and then will pull his disappearing act. That is what he has been, is, and probably always will be. I still think he ends up in a trade to a contender.

[ssspence]

Ainge says everything for a reason. How I see the translation?

"If Jeff thinks he's arrived, he's not paying attention. Some nights Jeff's awesome, and some nights he still presses the snooze button. #1 guys don't have a snooze button. #1 guys don't get one rebound in 35 minutes. #1 guys carry their team virtually every fourth quarter, not every 10th fourth quarter. Jeff will never be a #1 guy unless he opens his eyes to this."

[TwinTower14]

or he is telling the truth and Jeff Green is an average NBA player, that's it.  He will have big nights every once in a while to suck the Green Teamers back in but in reality he is a guy that average 15pts a game, play decent defense and doesn't like to rebound....

[Chris]

I respect Ainge's honesty, but I don't know if I'd be so open about it. It can't help any potential trade talks or Green's confidence for that matter.

Every GM in the NBA knows exactly who Jeff Green is at this point. 

As for Green's confidence?  I don't think I want him thinking he is Kevin Durant.  He should be focussing on being exactly what Danny said.  A complete player who can defend, pass, and score (he left out rebound).

[LooseCannon]

If Jeff Green can be as useful as Luol Deng, is that a bad thing?