Avery: Another hot streak or has he turned the corner?

[LarBrd33]

Avery Bradley has had a blistering month of December.

Averaging 16 points with 51%/57%/64% shooting splits.  Outrageous.  Has he evolved into a consistent 2-way player?

It's important to caution that this isn't the first blistering hot-streak Avery Bradley has had. 

In April 2012 he averaged 15 points with splits of 52%/55%/79% ... Outrageous shooting.

Otherwise, Bradley has been a pretty subpar offensive player.

#1 - In college he shot 41%/37%/55%
#2 - As a rookie he shot 34%/0%/50%
#3 - Last season he shot 40%/32%/75%
#4 - In 16 playoff games he has shot 38%/23%/73%

...

So the question is... has he turned the corner or is Avery Bradley just going through the 2nd outrageous hot streak of his career?

[KGs Knee]

The 'truth' probably lies somewhere in the middle.

Players go through 'hot stretches' all the time.  They also have 'cold streaks'.  The thing with Bradley has been that he hasn't had a single full-season of playing time up to this point in his career.  This is literally the first season in which he has appeared in all games.

Tough to have consistent performances when you cant stay on the court consistently.  Obviously, the ability to stay on the court counts too, but I think the 'real' Bradley is closer to what we are seeing now, than what we have seen in the past.

[LarBrd33]

The 'truth' probably lies somewhere in the middle.

Players go through 'hot stretches' all the time.  They also have 'cold streaks'.  The thing with Bradley has been that he hasn't had a single full-season of playing time up to this point in his career.  This is literally the first season in which he has appeared in all games.

Tough to have consistent performances when you cant stay on the court consistently.  Obviously, the ability to stay on the court counts too, but I think the 'real' Bradley is closer to what we are seeing now, than what we have seen in the past.

He's played a lot more games as an offensive liability than he has as a reliable scorer. But he's definitely had a solid season so far this year.

Maybe Bradley is the anti-Rondo. Where Rondo can look "ok" when the games don't matter and "amazing" when they games DO matter.... Bradley can look amazing when the games don't matter and dreadful when they do.

[Celtics18]

Avery can shoot.  I've always thought that his jump shot looked really smooth, too smooth for him to not be hitting shots at a higher rate than he was. 

He'll probably never be a big time shot creator, but he has a sweet looking stroke to go with his defensive intensity and his fiery attitude.  I still think he could be the perfect combination in the back court alongside Rajon Rondo. 

[hwangjini_1]

Although, in my adopted role of negative-Nellie, if Bradley is creating blisters with his shooting and he only averages 16 points a game, I have to wonder if he will ever contribute significant scoring to the team. I mean those don't sound like very large blisters to me

What we see now may be pretty much what we get. All shooters get on hot streaks. But the great ones will average more than 16 points over that streak I imagine. Bradley may, when all is said and done, be a great defensive player with a decent shot and a solid scorer. Not bad at all, but nothing that will carry the celtics to the promised land.

Just how much is a great defensive SG worth in salary when he averages about 12-14 points a season? The market may price him off the celtics.

[KGs Knee]

Although, in my adopted role of negative-Nellie, if Bradley is creating blisters with his shooting and he only averages 16 points a game, I have to wonder if he will ever contribute significant scoring to the team. I mean those don't sound like very large blisters to me

What we see now may be pretty much what we get. All shooters get on hot streaks. But the great ones will average more than 16 points over that streak I imagine. Bradley may, when all is said and done, be a great defensive player with a decent shot and a solid scorer. Not bad at all, but nothing that will carry the celtics to the promised land.

Just how much is a great defensive SG worth in salary when he averages about 12-14 points a season? The market may price him off the celtics.

Well, if Bradley's role ends up being a '3 & D' guard, I'd put his value somewhere between $6-$8m per.   Depends on how reliable a shooter he proves to be.

[kozlodoev]

Avery can shoot.  I've always thought that his jump shot looked really smooth, too smooth for him to not be hitting shots at a higher rate than he was.

I've never believed that the "looks" of a shot are any sort of a reliable indicator of whether a player can or cannot shoot.

[Celtics18]

Avery can shoot.  I've always thought that his jump shot looked really smooth, too smooth for him to not be hitting shots at a higher rate than he was.

I've never believed that the "looks" of a shot are any sort of a reliable indicator of whether a player can or cannot shoot.

Disagree.  I think that form is definitely a significant indicator. 

[BballTim]

Avery Bradley has had a blistering month of December.

Averaging 16 points with 51%/57%/64% shooting splits.  Outrageous.  Has he evolved into a consistent 2-way player?

It's important to caution that this isn't the first blistering hot-streak Avery Bradley has had. 

In April 2012 he averaged 15 points with splits of 52%/55%/79% ... Outrageous shooting.

Otherwise, Bradley has been a pretty subpar offensive player.

#1 - In college he shot 41%/37%/55%
#2 - As a rookie he shot 34%/0%/50%
#3 - Last season he shot 40%/32%/75%
#4 - In 16 playoff games he has shot 38%/23%/73%

...

So the question is... has he turned the corner or is Avery Bradley just going through the 2nd outrageous hot streak of his career?

  The problem is you can either judge Bradley from his hot streaks or when he was seldom used/out of position/injured/coming back from injury.

[Celtics4ever]

I hope he is turning the corner.  It will give him more trade value for us.

[BballTim]

The 'truth' probably lies somewhere in the middle.

Players go through 'hot stretches' all the time.  They also have 'cold streaks'.  The thing with Bradley has been that he hasn't had a single full-season of playing time up to this point in his career.  This is literally the first season in which he has appeared in all games.

Tough to have consistent performances when you cant stay on the court consistently.  Obviously, the ability to stay on the court counts too, but I think the 'real' Bradley is closer to what we are seeing now, than what we have seen in the past.

He's played a lot more games as an offensive liability than he has as a reliable scorer. But he's definitely had a solid season so far this year.

Maybe Bradley is the anti-Rondo. Where Rondo can look "ok" when the games don't matter and "amazing" when they games DO matter.... Bradley can look amazing when the games don't matter and dreadful when they do.

  You should probably take things into consideration like his playing through serious shoulder injuries before you knock him too much for his postseason play. Considering his injuries he did a good job in the 2012 playoffs.

[Atzar]

He's still just a jumpshooting guard with superb defense.

He needs to work on his handle and learn how to get to the line.  It's just too difficult to score efficiently with the two-point jumpshot, even if you're as accurate with it as Bradley has been recently.  He either needs to take more threes while maintaining his current ~40% rate, or he needs to develop a game off the dribble so he can get some points at the line. 

[Celtics4ever]

He's still just a jumpshooting guard with superb defense.

Looked quite human today on D.  Irving owned him for the most part and guys he was on him a lot and Kyrie had his way.   It was not JC or CL so don't use that excuse.  of Kyrie is probably the best young PG out there.

[SHAQATTACK]

I think what we are seeing is his true self.......he finally is healthy and rebuilt his game back to level of his pre shoulder injury days.

I think if he just continues to work on his shot and finishing layup s he'll be a great asset to e beside Rondo.

Avery is not scard to rebound ......same with Rondo.....they will area dynamic pair.

I hope we resign Avery .

[Vermont Green]

I am not sure what turned the corner means exactly but I think he can sustain his play and continue to improve.  Bradley is young, both in age and emotionally.  He is gaining confidence and maturing and I think that will continue.

He was on the court playing the point some today and I also think that will continue.  Now that he is more confident and comfortable on the court offensively, I think he will be more willing and more able to experiment at the point.

I think over time, he will become more PG and less SG, still always a combo.  This year still mostly SG but even by next season, he will start to be more comfortable playing the point.  Once that happens, I think he will really take off.