Could Chris Johnson potentially replace Avery Bradley as the starting SG?

[Tr1boy]

He'll have to figure out how to play some team defense. I thick he's more of a 2 anyways, too skinny at the 3.

Yeah, he's a nice hustle guy and he's got the corner three thing down nicely.  He needs to bring some more defense to the table to be worthy of a rotation spot long term, however.  Definitely makes more sense at the 2.

I guess you didnt notice the block shot or two nice steals he had today. "Chucky" doesnt know when to stop shooting. At least johnson is automatic at the three pt line when he is open. Like ray allen automatic

steals/blocks doesnt mean good defense. There's more to defense than just steals and blocks.

And I mean, come on, I know we all dont like ray that much but johnson's is nowhere close to ray allen.

When he is left open he is ray allen automatic. Do you remember the last time he has missed an open 3?

[saltlover]

Chris Johnson's rookie play has been better than AB's rookie play.  Who knows.  I think if AB does not sign for reasonable cash then he is gone folks.

1) Chris Johnson is technically not a rookie.  He played with Atlanta a little last year, but spent most of his time in the D-league, which isn't very dissimilar from AB's first year.  If you consider this his second year, which it is, you'd probably take year 2 Bradley. I know I would.

2) Chris Johnson is 7 months older than Bradley right now.  If you think that AB has no more room for growth in his game, then what you see with Johnson is what you get. 

I'm not convinced that AB will be here next year, or even next month, but I think that we need to remember how young he still is, and how easy it is to get infatuated with a new shiny toy like Chris Johnson.  Last year it was Shavlik Randolph and Terrance Williams, neither of whom are in the NBA this year.

I do think Johnson has a chance to stick around and be a useful backup.  He's shown the ability to hit the 3, and he, so far, has given the type of energy that this team (and most teams) sometimes lacks.  And at the minimum salary, that's useful.  But at best he's a useful player that means you don't have to pay someone like Courtney Lee to play that role, and can save your cap dollars for a more impactful player.  And while that's very useful (having players like Chandler Parsons and Patrick Beverley allowed the Rockets the room to sign Howard), he probably doesn't become a franchise cornerstone.

[BballTim]

He'll have to figure out how to play some team defense. I thick he's more of a 2 anyways, too skinny at the 3.

Yeah, he's a nice hustle guy and he's got the corner three thing down nicely.  He needs to bring some more defense to the table to be worthy of a rotation spot long term, however.  Definitely makes more sense at the 2.

I guess you didnt notice the block shot or two nice steals he had today. "Chucky" doesnt know when to stop shooting. At least johnson is automatic at the three pt line when he is open. Like ray allen automatic

steals/blocks doesnt mean good defense. There's more to defense than just steals and blocks.

And I mean, come on, I know we all dont like ray that much but johnson's is nowhere close to ray allen.

When he is left open he is ray allen automatic. Do you remember the last time he has missed an open 3?

  I've seen him miss a couple but I couldn't say exactly when since I wasn't watching for it in particular. In the last 3-4 games though. But then, I've seen  Ray miss his share of open 3s as well.

[kozlodoev]

Chris is doing nicely. Solid defender, solid shooter and has size at 6 '6".
23 years old (same as Bradley) and absolutely lit up the D league last year.
He's listed as a guard/forward but seems to play the 2 guard well.
He's on a multi year deal that's been 'stretched', and his size makes him a versatile wing player.
Obviously the sample size is tiny but he's got good instincts and seems pretty comfortable out there.
As Tommy and Mike questioned on tonight's home broadcast...What's the reason behind him getting so few looks/minutes in the NBA?

I love rooting for an underdog, and I also personally don't see Bradley as the long term solution at SG for the Celtics going forward- not at the 7 or 8 million price tag getting thrown around on him this summer.

I also doubt C Johnson is the answer long term, but who knows...
Johnson is a great piece to build up during a 'developmental' season- see what he's got and if he blooms then we have a nice piece as a player and trade asset.

1) Could he play the SG long term if Avery leaves or is traded?
2) Why hasn't he played more time in the NBA? What's his weakness?
3) Does his play in the last few weeks have any effect on Ainge letting Bradley walk a little easier?

Thoughts?

Of course he can. Right after Bayless supplants Rondo.

[Fafnir]

He'll have to figure out how to play some team defense. I thick he's more of a 2 anyways, too skinny at the 3.

Yeah, he's a nice hustle guy and he's got the corner three thing down nicely.  He needs to bring some more defense to the table to be worthy of a rotation spot long term, however.  Definitely makes more sense at the 2.

I guess you didnt notice the block shot or two nice steals he had today. "Chucky" doesnt know when to stop shooting. At least johnson is automatic at the three pt line when he is open. Like ray allen automatic

I'm more worried about the back door cuts, lobbs, and open jump shots he gives up on poor rotations. He's given up far too many of those in his limited minutes.

He's not accustomed to NBA level team defense, the effort is there but effort isn't enough without instinctive recognition.

How to shade during P&Rs, how far you can dig down and recover, etc. Its stuff like that he's struggling with.

Nice pick up from the d-league but he hasn't been NBA caliber yet.

[PaulAllen]

He'll have to figure out how to play some team defense. I thick he's more of a 2 anyways, too skinny at the 3.

Yeah, he's a nice hustle guy and he's got the corner three thing down nicely.  He needs to bring some more defense to the table to be worthy of a rotation spot long term, however.  Definitely makes more sense at the 2.

I guess you didnt notice the block shot or two nice steals he had today. "Chucky" doesnt know when to stop shooting. At least johnson is automatic at the three pt line when he is open. Like ray allen automatic

I'm more worried about the back door cuts, lobbs, and open jump shots he gives up on poor rotations. He's given up far too many of those in his limited minutes.

He's not accustomed to NBA level team defense, the effort is there but effort isn't enough without instinctive recognition.

How to shade during P&Rs, how far you can dig down and recover, etc. Its stuff like that he's struggling with.

Nice pick up from the d-league but he hasn't been NBA caliber yet.

spot on... he not a player we want to build a future around but even on a good team he can come off the bench provide energy, create a turnover, and can hit an open 3..

Still lots to learn but a great D league pickup

[pearljammer10]

One can only hope he replaces Bradley.

Anybody but AB at this point. Really developing a strong dislike for Bradley.

This has been my thoughts on Bradley since we've drafted him. I wish we would have traded him in the offseason after his 14 game hot streak he had once upon a time when he had some sort of value.

[Snakehead]

One can only hope he replaces Bradley.

Anybody but AB at this point. Really developing a strong dislike for Bradley.

This has been my thoughts on Bradley since we've drafted him. I wish we would have traded him in the offseason after his 14 game hot streak he had once upon a time when he had some sort of value.

Yeah he definitely has no value now 

[PaulAllen]

Bradley is hurt... what can he do?... yea he is struggling but his shot will fall again..

now he he worth over 6-7 mil a year... no..... and thats why DA is trying to move him

[CFAN38]

I love what Johnson has been able to do for this team. I believe it was around the time that Lee was traded that I posted how I hoped the Cs could pull a 3 and D 2/3 out of the D-league league to develop. I think they have hit a home run in Johnson especially signing him to a team optioned long term deal for cheap.

With all that said AB is the better player and has a higher ceiling. Johnson should continue to grow into a very nice and cheap 8th man but AB has proven to be a competent starter at 23 and is still a few years off of his full potential. AB has had a roller coaster start to his NBA career. Rookie year with no preseason due to lockout and gets hurt, 2nd season beats out Ray to start at the 2 hurts shoulders has surgery, 3rd season Rondo goes down he is forced out of position at the point, and now 4th season team is terrible and he is trying to become a primary offensive player (which he is not). His niche is being an elite perimeter defending 2 guard who is a teams 4th option on offense netting him around 10-11FGA a game.   

[lon3lytoaster]

Bradley is hurt... what can he do?... yea he is struggling but his shot will fall again..

now he he worth over 6-7 mil a year... no..... and thats why DA is trying to move him

He's always hurt. And he takes those shots regardless if they're dropping or not in lieu of getting better looks for better offensive options.

[slamtheking]

posted a while ago that I think Johnson's been more productive than AB this year.  I think both players are bench players at best.  I think Johnson shows the better overall game though--better shot selection, better offense, better ball handling, better at playing within himself. 

AB is the better one-on-one defender but after watching a middle-of-the-pack PG like Felton torch him repeatedly in the Knick series last year, it's looked like his effort/reputation on D isn't what it used to be.

[SHAQATTACK]

Dump AB

To short a, bad passer ,  poor finisher ......and average shot .....at the expense of giving up his prized defense.....which is what having him is all about in my mind ...if he doesn't do that .......then he isn't worth a new contract .

Sell him high

Hire Johnson at AB present contract ......he shoots threes way better, taller , finishes better , and passes better with decent defense....... No brainier .

[pearljammer10]

One can only hope he replaces Bradley.

Anybody but AB at this point. Really developing a strong dislike for Bradley.

This has been my thoughts on Bradley since we've drafted him. I wish we would have traded him in the offseason after his 14 game hot streak he had once upon a time when he had some sort of value.

Yeah he definitely has no value now 

Yeah cause his 9 points per game and 32% shooting over his 4 games from coming back with his awesome 12 PER on the season is making him super valuable.

Thumbs up to that!

[Kuberski33]

Just back after a lengthy layoff, we need to cut AB a little slack.  However the questions with him are do his size and shooting range/ability make him worth a long term commitment?  You already have RR as a below average perimeter shooter.  Can you afford a 2 playing with him who's not a significantly above average shooter and doesn't have great 3 point range?

Re Johnson lets see a larger sample size.  But he deserves a long hard look at this point, wouldn't you think?