I really think Bradley is gonna have a great season next year

[fitzhickey]

Some people on this board hate on our players a ridiculous amount. I like AB quite a lot.

[NorthernLightning]

Yeah, fans hate a draft pick, and then keep hating the player forever.

I think he is going to continue the growth he showed last year. And he isn't only a one dribble scorer. He's actually very good at creating his own jump shot off the dribble. His athleticism/quickness/agility are truly elite for a shooting guard, and it's just a matter of time before he puts it all together as an excellent all around isolation scorer.

[Mikedmx6]

The name Avery Bradley and the words great season will never form together in a compatible sentence that escapes from my mouth.

What is with the extreme hatred for Bradley?

Lol these comments are priceless.  Every day it's why all the hate for bradley, rondo,  and green. I agree the hate is at such a high rate right now and notice how's it's our top team players that receive this hate.  I just wish everyone would stop being a cynic and just sit back and hope for the best for this team.. the hatred that is showed never have full valid points and stats to even back it up. Stats are just a little piece of what makes the player but hey its the celtics blog.

[LooseCannon]

I wouldn't be shocked if Bradley has a higher PPG than Green this season.

[#1P4P]

Ding ding ding!!!

I've been saying this for so very long now.  There is definitely a very prominent "Grass is greener on the other side" attitude on these boards.

The reality is that, statistically, Avery Bradley is already one of the top shooting guards in the NBA. 

Among all guards in the NBA (not just shooting guards, ALL guards), Bradley ranked:

* 9th in scoring (14.9 PPG)
* 7th in rebounds (3.8 RPG)
* 12th in steals (1.1 SPG)
* 16th in field goal percentage (43.8%)
* 6th in three-point percentage (39.5%)

He also ranked 3rd in "fewest turnovers per game" among all guards who played at least 30 minutes a night.

People jump on the hate bandwagon because he's not a great passer or ball handler, but then completely ignore all of the things he does well.   Plus I don't really care so much that Bradley doesn't get many assists, because he doesn't turn the ball over either.  His Assist-to-Turnover ratio is essentially 1:1 which means he's not a liability in that regard, he just doesn't give you any benefit. 

This doesn't even take in to account the intangibles such as effort, hustle, coach ability and unselfishness - all areas of strength for AB.

People completely ignore the fact that at the end of the day Avery Bradley is probably a top 10 SG in this league, and that's despite him being only 23 years of age (and hence theoretically having plenty of opportunity to improve).

TP... Also... See: Jared Sullinger

Bradley has demonstrated the ability to continuously refine his game and at 23 he still has time to improve. The silver lining to Avery's weaknesses (his handles and passing) are that they aren't due to a lack of skill, but to a lack of decisiveness. When he isn't comfortable in a situation, he's prone to mistakes. That can be fixed with situational practice and game experience. He had similar problems with his shot... now he's comfortable in most shooting situations (only the best shooters can come off curls to hit mid range shots the way Bradley does).

Off Topic: What people don't understand about last year is that it was 1) a developmental year for all of the young players on the roster; and 2) adjusting players to Stevens' offensive system. Avery was encouraged to stop full court pressing on defense (he still had one of the top Opp. FG% for Guards) and be aggressive on offense as Jared was encouraged to get used to spacing the floor by standing at the 3, catching an shooting.

If Stevens and the coaching staff didn't want Bradley/Sullinger doing what they did, they would have gotten benched; especially a 1st year NBA coach w/ a young team on a long term contract trying to establish a culture. The strategy Stevens employed last year is going to be excellent for the young players' comfort in his system.

Bradley is reportedly a gym rat, getting up to 200 since the end of the season. If he can stay healthy, he's due for another jump in production.

[beklog]

He also ranked 3rd in "fewest turnovers per game" among all guards who played at least 30 minutes a night.

Does this stat equate him having to dribble the ball? or it simply counts the number of TO/game...
If you see him hold the ball and try to create a play it's a TO waiting to happen....

Don't get me wrong, I like his tenacity and dedication to improve
he's shooting well, but he's handling and playmaking is very poor....

hope he can improve on that this off season..

When you say things like that it just gives more props to AB. People are upset with Sully for taking and missing so many 3s but when AB doesn't force his weakness, it's also a negative? None of these guys can do right in "your" eyes, no matter how they stack up against their peers.

where in my statement did I say AB forces his weakness??

I'm just merely stating that his handling & play making is poor...
I get it that he's a SG, an undersized SG....
I know he's a gym rat and he even mentioned asking advice from Rondo on how to look at the court differently, he knows his weakness and at this young age he got a lot of time to improve on it....

[Mazingerz]

Man I wish that Rondo and Bradley could be like Isiah Thomas and Joe Dumars of the Pistons with Marcus Smart as the Microwave Vinny Johnson. All udersized guards but pack a lot of punch

[pokeKingCurtis]

Man I wish that Rondo and Bradley could be like Isiah Thomas and Joe Dumars of the Pistons with Marcus Smart as the Microwave Vinny Johnson. All udersized guards but pack a lot of punch

You mean you hope?

[Future Celtics Owner]

Yeah, fans hate a draft pick, and then keep hating the player forever.

I think he is going to continue the growth he showed last year. And he isn't only a one dribble scorer. He's actually very good at creating his own jump shot off the dribble. His athleticism/quickness/agility are truly elite for a shooting guard, and it's just a matter of time before he puts it all together as an excellent all around isolation scorer.

(This is speculation and rumors)
My college roommate works for bleacher report. He says that they were all surprised and thought it was bad signing when Bradley got the deal, so they asked around or someone informed them: Ainge signed Bradley to that big contract because Bradley has taken a step in his game. Apperantly Bradley has been knocking down 3's all summer and improved enough that Ainge would feel ok giving him that contract that made us cringe.

It could be bs, I don't know. but thats what they think.

 

[LooseCannon]

(This is speculation and rumors)
My college roommate works for bleacher report. He says that they were all surprised and thought it was bad signing when Bradley got the deal, so they asked around or someone informed them

I'm not sure if I believe that one.  Bleacher Report has sources?

[Galeto]

I expect Bradley to be the same player he was last season, assuming his shooting remains consistent, which has not been a given with him.  He just doesn't have the ballhandling skills to be more than that.  Bradley's basically the same player he was coming out of high school: a terrible ballhandler, a non-playmaker, a poor finisher around the rim off non-cuts and a fine jump shooter. 

[Future Celtics Owner]

(This is speculation and rumors)
My college roommate works for bleacher report. He says that they were all surprised and thought it was bad signing when Bradley got the deal, so they asked around or someone informed them

I'm not sure if I believe that one.  Bleacher Report has sources?

Well thats why I prefaced with "this is speculation and rumors". But if Bradley was ripping it up this summer, that would help explain why Ainge signing him to a larger contract than most people think he deserved. I take everything with a grain of salt, and it seems you do too. I just thought I would share what I heard bc some of us were scratching our heads with 8m a year. I did not say you have to believe it.

[LooseCannon]

(This is speculation and rumors)
My college roommate works for bleacher report. He says that they were all surprised and thought it was bad signing when Bradley got the deal, so they asked around or someone informed them

I'm not sure if I believe that one.  Bleacher Report has sources?

Well thats why I prefaced with "this is speculation and rumors". But if Bradley was ripping it up this summer, that would help explain why Ainge signing him to a larger contract than most people think he deserved. I take everything with a grain of salt, and it seems you do too. I just thought I would share what I heard bc some of us were scratching our heads with 8m a year. I did not say you have to believe it.

I'm just doubting the general idea of Bleacher Report talking to people.

[SHAQATTACK]

He'll shoot us into the Lottery .

Loss of Hump is another lock  in the Lottery prison

[Eddie20]

(This is speculation and rumors)
My college roommate works for bleacher report. He says that they were all surprised and thought it was bad signing when Bradley got the deal, so they asked around or someone informed them

I'm not sure if I believe that one.  Bleacher Report has sources?

They're more reputable than you might think since being part of Turner. I know they do have Ethan Skolnick working for them and he's the Heat's best beat writer .