Bradley is an awful starting SG

[Jailan34]

Avery's defense continues to decline, he's been burned by harden and now Reggie Jackson. He hasn't improved his playmaking or ball handling at all.
I would love to see him try and run some pick and rolls like he did early in the game.

Until then he's not worth his deal.

[Rondo9]

Avery's defense continues to decline, he's been burned by harden and now Reggie Jackson. He hasn't improved his playmaking or ball handling at all.
I would love to see him try and run some pick and rolls like he did early in the game.

Until then he's not worth his deal.

Those are two very good offensive players, in Harden's case it'll take more than Bradley to slow him down.

[Rondo9]

felt that way about him for a couple of seasons.  he's not starter material.  he'd be better as a change-of-pace guard off the bench to harass a tired starter or inferior bench PG.  his offense is better suited to being opportunistic -- backdoor cuts, open jumpers as a 3rd/4th option.

I'm probably over my limit on Bradley bashing posts so I won't beat the dead horse too much here but I've never been a fan of Bradley's game at all. He moves great without the ball on the baseline for those backdoor cuts and that's where he should get the most of his offense (if he finishes the darn layup).

I havent been a fan since we drafted him but he has really got on my nerves the last couple seasons because he is trying to do waaaaay too much. He is playing outside of his game and it is really hurting the team. His role should be lockdown, bulldog defender, pestering the other teams point guard the length of the floor, and then relying on his movement without the ball on offense. He is VERY good at both those things (wow, that took me a lot to admit) and he should stick to playing his role and excelling at those parts of his game.

And I hate....HATE...Evan Turner. But I think it says something about my feelings towards Avery Bradley when Stevens took Bradley out in the last 4 or so minutes of the game and put in Turner because Bradley was getting torched by Morrow on defense and it made me so dang happy.

Bradley could be a very pesky 7th man who comes in and changes the momentum of the game in a positive way for us by his full court defense. If he sticks to that, then I can stand him. As a starter, not so much.

Bradley is doing a decent job with a larger role, he's probably needs a smaller role but it shows that he can be a good starter.

[kozlodoev]

Avery's defense continues to decline, he's been burned by harden and now Reggie Jackson. He hasn't improved his playmaking or ball handling at all.
I would love to see him try and run some pick and rolls like he did early in the game.

Until then he's not worth his deal.

Those are two very good offensive players, in Harden's case it'll take more than Bradley to slow him down.

If defense is his calling card, this is not an excuse. He has to be able to guard the top players. Otherwise, he's just an average defensive player with horribly inefficient offence.

[Rondo9]

Avery's defense continues to decline, he's been burned by harden and now Reggie Jackson. He hasn't improved his playmaking or ball handling at all.
I would love to see him try and run some pick and rolls like he did early in the game.

Until then he's not worth his deal.

Those are two very good offensive players, in Harden's case it'll take more than Bradley to slow him down.

If defense is his calling card, this is not an excuse. He has to be able to guard the top players. Otherwise, he's just an average defensive player with horribly inefficient offence.

His offense is decent, Bradley did a fine job on Harden, but Harden got to the line a lot. I don't know what happened in the Thunder game so I can't comment on that. It's not an excuse especially if it's someone like Harden.

[kozlodoev]

Avery's defense continues to decline, he's been burned by harden and now Reggie Jackson. He hasn't improved his playmaking or ball handling at all.
I would love to see him try and run some pick and rolls like he did early in the game.

Until then he's not worth his deal.

Those are two very good offensive players, in Harden's case it'll take more than Bradley to slow him down.

If defense is his calling card, this is not an excuse. He has to be able to guard the top players. Otherwise, he's just an average defensive player with horribly inefficient offence.

His offense is decent, Bradley did a fine job on Harden, but Harden got to the line a lot. I don't know what happened in the Thunder game so I can't comment on that. It's not an excuse especially if it's someone like Harden.

Sorry, that's just not accurate. His midrange jumper is decent. The problem is that (a) the midrange jumper is one of the worst shots in the game, given typical conversion rates, and (b) when Bradley tries to do anything else but shoot it right away (dribble, pass, make a lay-up -- you know, things that fundamentally sound basketball players do every game), he looks so pathetic that you'd think the team picked up Joe Schmoe from the playground.

He's progressively looking as a 3-and-D type of player, except that the D is turning in suspect, he can't defend bigger guards and wings, and he's paid like someone who's expected to be a bit better than that.

[Rondo9]

Avery's defense continues to decline, he's been burned by harden and now Reggie Jackson. He hasn't improved his playmaking or ball handling at all.
I would love to see him try and run some pick and rolls like he did early in the game.

Until then he's not worth his deal.

Those are two very good offensive players, in Harden's case it'll take more than Bradley to slow him down.

If defense is his calling card, this is not an excuse. He has to be able to guard the top players. Otherwise, he's just an average defensive player with horribly inefficient offence.

His offense is decent, Bradley did a fine job on Harden, but Harden got to the line a lot. I don't know what happened in the Thunder game so I can't comment on that. It's not an excuse especially if it's someone like Harden.

Sorry, that's just not accurate. His midrange jumper is decent. The problem is that (a) the midrange jumper is one of the worst shots in the game, given typical conversion rates, and (b) when Bradley tries to do anything else but shoot it right away (dribble, pass, make a lay-up -- you know, things that fundamentally sound basketball players do every game), he looks so pathetic that you'd think the team picked up Joe Schmoe from the playground.

He's progressively looking as a 3-and-D type of player, except that the D is turning in suspect, he can't defend bigger guards and wings, and he's paid like someone who's expected to be a bit better than that.

He's converting them at a decent rate, the midrange is a good shot it's just not a shot you'd look for first. He also shot nearly 40 percent from three last year and is shooting 36 percent this year. While I do think SG's with post games would beat him, I think he can guard PG's and some SG's

[rondohondo]

Avery's defense continues to decline, he's been burned by harden and now Reggie Jackson. He hasn't improved his playmaking or ball handling at all.
I would love to see him try and run some pick and rolls like he did early in the game.

Until then he's not worth his deal.

Those are two very good offensive players, in Harden's case it'll take more than Bradley to slow him down.

If defense is his calling card, this is not an excuse. He has to be able to guard the top players. Otherwise, he's just an average defensive player with horribly inefficient offence.

His offense is decent, Bradley did a fine job on Harden, but Harden got to the line a lot. I don't know what happened in the Thunder game so I can't comment on that. It's not an excuse especially if it's someone like Harden.

Sorry, that's just not accurate. His midrange jumper is decent. The problem is that (a) the midrange jumper is one of the worst shots in the game, given typical conversion rates, and (b) when Bradley tries to do anything else but shoot it right away (dribble, pass, make a lay-up -- you know, things that fundamentally sound basketball players do every game), he looks so pathetic that you'd think the team picked up Joe Schmoe from the playground.

He's progressively looking as a 3-and-D type of player, except that the D is turning in suspect, he can't defend bigger guards and wings, and he's paid like someone who's expected to be a bit better than that.

He's converting them at a decent rate, the midrange is a good shot it's just not a shot you'd look for first. He also shot nearly 40 percent from three last year and is shooting 36 percent this year. While I do think SG's with post games would beat him, I think he can guard PG's and some SG's

which makes him a 3rd guard(7th or 8th man in rotation) getting paid starter money.

[Rondo9]

Avery's defense continues to decline, he's been burned by harden and now Reggie Jackson. He hasn't improved his playmaking or ball handling at all.
I would love to see him try and run some pick and rolls like he did early in the game.

Until then he's not worth his deal.

Those are two very good offensive players, in Harden's case it'll take more than Bradley to slow him down.

If defense is his calling card, this is not an excuse. He has to be able to guard the top players. Otherwise, he's just an average defensive player with horribly inefficient offence.

His offense is decent, Bradley did a fine job on Harden, but Harden got to the line a lot. I don't know what happened in the Thunder game so I can't comment on that. It's not an excuse especially if it's someone like Harden.

Sorry, that's just not accurate. His midrange jumper is decent. The problem is that (a) the midrange jumper is one of the worst shots in the game, given typical conversion rates, and (b) when Bradley tries to do anything else but shoot it right away (dribble, pass, make a lay-up -- you know, things that fundamentally sound basketball players do every game), he looks so pathetic that you'd think the team picked up Joe Schmoe from the playground.

He's progressively looking as a 3-and-D type of player, except that the D is turning in suspect, he can't defend bigger guards and wings, and he's paid like someone who's expected to be a bit better than that.

He's converting them at a decent rate, the midrange is a good shot it's just not a shot you'd look for first. He also shot nearly 40 percent from three last year and is shooting 36 percent this year. While I do think SG's with post games would beat him, I think he can guard PG's and some SG's

which makes him a 3rd guard(7th or 8th man in rotation) getting paid starter money.

Not necessarily.

[ImShakHeIsShaq]

I guess I need to say it again. If you think CBS brought Turner in for his defense on Morrow then the only part of the game you must have watched were the only 2 maybe 3 buckets of his 11 made on AB. Not even his first buckets (Turner let him get hot and RR was on him too). If you also look back at the game, when RJ got hot the first bucket was a 3 with RR defending him, I said during chat that would set him on fire and it did! Then Pressey was on him after that. AB had him in the 4th and he was back to the RJ AB had shut down aside from going to the line in the first half (Morrow took shots from him too, take that into account)! He only made 8 shots and I would say most were in the window of the 3pt he hit on RR and the ones he got on Pressey in the 3rd quarter!

RJ was not amazing but he was hot for a stretch in the 3rd. I don't care how good of a defender you are, once a player gets a rhythm it's nearly impossible to stop him. Especially if you expect ONE player to stop him!

I would have agreed if the thread was all about his shot selection/shooting last night but I refuse to watch people put the blame of Morrow and RJ getting hot on AB and torching us.

How about this, someone who says it was AB's lack of defense on those guys, prove it. Show me how many of their 19 (Morrow+RJ) buckets made were with AB as the primary defender. I hope I'm wrong so I wont feel the need to argue with you guys about it any longer, I'll just say you were right and move along!

I'm not even arguing that he is defending great, just arguing that last night's play has you picking the wrong scapegoat,  unless you are talking about shooting bc I agree there (last night not overall).


Please please let me be wrong, I'm tired of arguing about it but I feel compelled. It's funny how every time I ask people to show any proof why AB is such a bad player on both ends (all around comparison to his peers), they don't have them but always have the 2 things no one argues (assists and ball handle).

You say AB is a terrible starting 2 but it comes off as hate because if you use both sides of the ball, he just isn't.  He's not good at handling or assisting but he stacks up well on both sides with all of them. Expecting him to be good at everything is expecting too much! That type of play is reserved for LeBron. Even KD isn't a great defender. AB doesnt get paid enough for the high expectations you people have!

I'd argue the same way about RR but he has a lot of supporters who do a fine job of it already!

[Chris22]

I thought resigning Bradley to a big contract was a huge mistake.
He is too small and too fragile, and he isn't that good.

[wdleehi]

I think Bradley's future with the Celtics is to be the G off the bench with Smart eventually replacing him as the starting SG.  I think Smart's size defensively will be an asset against larger SG while Bradley comes off the bench as the ball pestering defender against either the more tired starter or weaker backup. 


Not a knock on Bradley, but I think the team would eventually be more effective in that setup.

[Evantime34]

I think Bradley's future with the Celtics is to be the G off the bench with Smart eventually replacing him as the starting SG.  I think Smart's size defensively will be an asset against larger SG while Bradley comes off the bench as the ball pestering defender against either the more tired starter or weaker backup. 


Not a knock on Bradley, but I think the team would eventually be more effective in that setup.

I've been as big of Bradley fan as there is throughout his career but I'm starting to feel this way as well.

[Celtics4ever]

I think AB can be a great defender, I have been pleased by his offensive improvement.   But if I had the chance to trade him straight up for RJ, I think I would consider it.

think Bradley's future with the Celtics is to be the G off the bench with Smart eventually replacing him as the starting SG

Since when do they pay bench players 9 million a year?  I think he was signed to be trade fodder or our starter not come off the bench at 9 mil a year.   It may be his natural place to come off the bench but with that kind of money I do not see it.

[iadera]

I agree. Bradly is a bench player. But also, Pressey is not an NBA calibar at all. Further, Green is not a championship team player, certainly not a leader. What we have worthy in this team is: Rondo, Sully and Olynyk. Everithing else is an non-playoffs-calibar. We need a trade desperately, excluding Rondo of course.