100 replies to this topic

[radsoxfan]

Another great play by Bradley. That is the 5th turnover that he has forced on Nelson tonight.

Definitely appreciate his defensive pressure. Against a shaky ball handling PG like nelson, it can really be a weapon. Offensively, he is still bad. 2 horrible passes, one to Pierce and one to KG should have been TO's just in the last couple minutes.

Unfortunately, like Jose Iglesias, he belongs in AAA.

[ypioca]

This game really is staggering.

[Statman]

I am going to call Bradley the Honey Badger if he keeps playing defense like this.

Nelson looks absolutely shell shocked out there.

[ypioca]

If Pavlovic is 2 inches taller he makes a clean block on Superman right there.

I mean, WTF.

Edit: And the net result: 0 points and a foul.

Edited by ypioca, 23 January 2012 - 09:34 PM.

[mikeot]

This game really is staggering.

Word - five guys out, including Ray and Rondo, and yet they're blowing away the team with the third best record in the league right now.

[Statman]

The Magic are one of the best scoring teams in the NBA and we have limited them to 46 points after three quarters.

Alot of the credit has to go to Bradley who is smoothering Nelson (and their backup PG Duhon) right now. Orlando can't set up their offense and barely have enough time to even feed it to Howard in the post.

I have dogged Bradley in the past, but I have to give him credit for a great game so far.

[Curtis Pride]

I canot believe that the 2012 Celtics are up by 23 going into the 4th quarter.

[Nomar813]

If Pavlovic is 2 inches taller he makes a clean block on Superman right there.

I mean, WTF.

Edit: And the net result: 0 points and a foul.

Seeing him get up there on Dwight was staggering.

[Brickowski]

Also one of KG's best games of the year. I'm not a fan of KG at center, but he's played Howard very well (with the help of some effective double teams). KG still gets enough respect from the officials so that they don't call him for gratuitous fouls.

Edited by Brickowski, 23 January 2012 - 09:46 PM.

[Riles335]

This doesn't mean he is having a breakout game. Bradley's consistently been one of the worst players in the NBA. He has been decent tonight. One game.

This game might just be the best of his career, and he goes back to Sucksville when he falls asleep. I hope he can be a serviceable role player for this team, since it desperately needs a few of those, but to say "Avery Bradley has arrived" after three quarters is... hasty.

I don't understand why you and other posters are referring to Bradley's past performances. Nothing by me in this thread has been about how good Bradley has been. It is has been about what Bradley has done tonight. If you don't think this is a break through game, then you don't know basketball. Basketball is played at two ends of the floor.

Definitely appreciate his defensive pressure. Against a shaky ball handling PG like nelson, it can really be a weapon. Offensively, he is still bad. 2 horrible passes, one to Pierce and one to KG should have been TO's just in the last couple minutes.

Unfortunately, like Jose Iglesias, he belongs in AAA.

Shaky ball handler like Nelson? Nelson has averaged 2.2 turnovers over the course of his career. With someone like you it isn't worth arguing because no matter what Bradley does, you will never find the good in a player but rather just the bad.

[deconstruction]

Awesome team D on that possession.

[radsoxfan]

What has gotten into this team on D? Ridiculously good effort there

[Riles335]

Bradley is also doing this to the point guard who runs the 4th best offense in the Eastern Conference.

[ypioca]

I don't understand why you and other posters are referring to Bradley's past performances. Nothing by me in this thread has been about how good Bradley has been. It is has been about what Bradley has done tonight. If you don't think this is a break through game, then you don't know basketball. Basketball is played at two ends of the floor.

As far as I understand it, "break through" means you have reached a new plateau in your level of play. I'm just saying, that him having a good night doesn't mean that he has, overnight, stopped sucking, and can be trusted to stop sucking from now on. He could just be having a good night. I hope not, but this game is an outlier in his career. I would be thrilled if he can maintain it.

[radsoxfan]

I don't understand why you and other posters are referring to Bradley's past performances. Nothing by me in this thread has been about how good Bradley has been. It is has been about what Bradley has done tonight. If you don't think this is a break through game, then you don't know basketball. Basketball is played at two ends of the floor.



Shaky ball handler like Nelson? Nelson has averaged 2.2 turnovers over the course of his career. With someone like you it isn't worth arguing because no matter what Bradley does, you will never find the good in a player but rather just the bad.

I complimented him, and you still are upset. Nelson has only average quickness, and someone like Bradley can be very effective against him, thats all I meant.

Unfortunately, the only above average part of Bradley's game tonight has been his defense. That's nice, but we already knew that was the best part of his game. His offense has been less atrocious than usual, but calling it a breakout game is the height of silliness.

[Curtis Pride]

Dwight Howard is 4-15 from the field so far. Wow!

[Rudy Pemberton]

I thought Kendrick Perkins was the only one who could shut down Howard?

Edited by Rudy Pemberton, 23 January 2012 - 09:51 PM.

[eddiew112]

Bradley is clearly still lightyears away from contributing consistently. Hard not to love his defense though.

If Jermaine can give us 8-9 boards and 1-2 blocks a night, I will be very happy

[Brickowski]

Unfortunately, the only above average part of Bradley's game tonight has been his defense..

True enough. But his defense has been outstanding. Play after play after play.

[Riles335]

As far as I understand it, "break through" means you have reached a new plateau in your level of play. I'm just saying, that him having a good night doesn't mean that he has, overnight, stopped sucking, and can be trusted to stop sucking from now on. He could just be having a good night. I hope not, but this game is an outlier in his career. I would be thrilled if he can maintain it.

To respond to both yours and RadSoxFan, there have been a lot of things just outside of Bradley's defense that he has done well. Bradley has gotten the Celtics a bunch of open looks that haven't resulted in assists tonight. He has also shown a strong being on the glass tonight and an ability to get to the rim. He had a few run outs in transitions that resulted in two baskets and then he also had a strong take in on Howard that resulted him getting to the line for two. There was a lot to like about Bradley tonight than just his defense.

I do ask you both a question. If you had a strong offensive player and a below average defender at the age of 22 at the point guard position, wouldn't you say that the Celtics have a good player on their hands? Well defense counts just the same as offense. There are two ends of a basketball court.

[teddykgb]

I keep waiting for Tommy to compare Pavlovic favorably to Larry Bird

[BucketOBalls]

I thought Kendrick Perkins was the only one who could shut down Howard?

I think Howard wants out of Orlando and is just going through the motions. He could be dominating this game if he wanted to.

[eddiew112]

Seeing Pierce and Garnett play like this on the back end of a back to back is very encouraging

[RoDaddy]

Bradley is clearly still lightyears away from contributing consistently. Hard not to love his defense though.

I dunno - he's pretty CONSISTENTLY strong on defense. That part of his game is a valuable weapon for us.

Plus, he's getting on the job PG training while Rondo is out. Maybe's Rondo's injury is a blessing in disguise, leading to Bradley's much needed development as a PG.

[ypioca]

To respond to both yours and RadSoxFan, there have been a lot of things just outside of Bradley's defense that he has done well. Bradley has gotten the Celtics a bunch of open looks that haven't resulted in assists tonight. He has also shown a strong being on the glass tonight and an ability to get to the rim. He had a few run outs in transitions that resulted in two baskets and then he also had a strong take in on Howard that resulted him getting to the line for two. There was a lot to like about Bradley tonight than just his defense.

I do ask you both a question. If you had a strong offensive player and a below average defender at the age of 22 at the point guard position, wouldn't you say that the Celtics have a good player on their hands? Well defense counts just the same as offense. There are two ends of a basketball court.

Dude. Again. Everyone here agrees he's having a good game. All I'm saying is, IT IS ONE GAME. He has been awful for 45 games before this. Stop basing your entire assessment of a player on one game.

[radsoxfan]

I do ask you both a question. If you had a strong offensive player and a below average defender at the age of 22 at the point guard position, wouldn't you say that the Celtics have a good player on their hands? Well defense counts just the same as offense. There are two ends of a basketball court.

If someone was a strong offensive player but was just below average at D, then sure, there could be potential there. But if someone was the worst defender in basketball, then I would be much less optimistic. Degree of badness matters.

Loving me some Jujuan Johnson though.....

[Brickowski]

I don't know what the future will bring, but this was a highly entertaining game. It's not often that you see an NBA team held to 51 points with 2 minutes left to go. Outstanding D by the Celtics.

[PeaceSignMoose]

Dude. Again. Everyone here agrees he's having a good game. All I'm saying is, IT IS ONE GAME. He has been awful for 45 games before this. Stop basing your entire assessment of a player on one game.

That Sterling Moore is the next Ty Law, though!

[Nomar813]

Bradley certainly looks a lot more comfortable offensively with the extra playing time.

[AimingForYoko]

What a strange game.

[BucketOBalls]

I dunno - he's pretty CONSISTENTLY strong on defense. That part of his game is a valuable weapon for us.

Plus, he's getting on the job PG training while Rondo is out. Maybe's Rondo's injury is a blessing in disguise, leading to Bradley's much needed development as a PG.

Agree here. Not sure if Bradley is worth anything, but this would be a good time to find out.

[Curtis Pride]

Bradley has only 2 assists tonight. I suspect that Pierce was running the offense while he was on the floor.

[Nomar813]

Throw it down, big fella.

[ypioca]

JaJuan just flat out ignored a human being's arm in front of him.

[AimingForYoko]

Look at your decisions, Orlando. For shame.

[ypioca]

That Sterling Moore is the next Ty Law, though!

You shut your mouth. I'm gonna name my future dog Sterling.

[RoDaddy]

This is astounding. The C's D has gotten better every quarter. 20 points for Orlando in theentire second half!! I wonder if that's close to an all time defensive record for a half since the advent of the 24 second clock?

[radsoxfan]

Bradley has only 2 assists tonight. I suspect that Pierce was running the offense while he was on the floor.

You suspect correctly

[Riles335]

Dude. Again. Everyone here agrees he's having a good game. All I'm saying is, IT IS ONE GAME. He has been awful for 45 games before this. Stop basing your entire assessment of a player on one game.

I don't understand how you can tell me to stop basing an assessment of one player on one game when he has now had a couple of strong games in which he has seen considerable minutes. It is no fluke and there is a connection between him getting minutes and his performance. In the one game last year in which he had more than 9 minutes came against the Knicks in which he got 26 minutes and went 10 of 16 for 20 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 turnovers, and 2 steals. He has now put together two strong games in his last three games.

You can't simply base anyone off of minimal minutes in which a rookie was on a contending team.

Edited by Riles335, 23 January 2012 - 10:07 PM.

[mikeot]

What a strange game.

Strange works for me, bring the strange for the rest of the season!

[Riles335]

Double post

Edited by Riles335, 23 January 2012 - 10:07 PM.

[ifmanis5]

Well, that was weird.

[Sprowl]

What has gotten into this team on D? Ridiculously good effort there

It's the Ghost of Thibodeau Past.

Bradley is clearly still lightyears away from contributing consistently. Hard not to love his defense though.

If Jermaine can give us 8-9 boards and 1-2 blocks a night, I will be very happy

Jermaine was intense and determined on defense. I hope his knees will let him sustain that.

[Sprowl]

Strange works for me, bring the strange for the rest of the season!

[Riles335]

Dude. Again. Everyone here agrees he's having a good game. All I'm saying is, IT IS ONE GAME. He has been awful for 45 games before this. Stop basing your entire assessment of a player on one game.

I have also said nothing of Bradley becoming the next Rondo. My point though is that even if Bradley doesn't develop an offensive game but can become a player like Bruce Bowen at the point guard position, Bradley will be valuable to any basketball team.

[RoDaddy]

This is astounding. The C's D has gotten better every quarter. 20 points for Orlando in theentire second half!! I wonder if that's close to an all time defensive record for a half since the advent of the 24 second clock?

To answer my own question, they may have just missed, as the record low was 19 up until at least the 2005 season

Fewest points, first half
19-L.A. Clippers at L.A. Lakers, December 14, 1999

Fewest points, second half
19-Miami at Orlando, March 26, 2000
Charlotte at New York, November 11, 2000

[Wave em in Wendall]

I have also said nothing of Bradley becoming the next Rondo. My point though is that even if Bradley doesn't develop an offensive game but can become a player like Bruce Bowen at the point guard position, Bradley will be valuable to any basketball team.

No he won't. Bruce Bowen was 6-7 and was so valuable because the league was (and i suppose still is) dominated by high scoring wing players (read: Kobe). He could play shut down defense on wing players and space the floor on the other end with an up and down, but generally good 3 point shot.

Bradley doesn't have the size to guard wings and doesn't have the luxury of only needing to space the floor by hitting open jumpers (which he can't do anyways) on offense.

[ypioca]

I have also said nothing of Bradley becoming the next Rondo. My point though is that even if Bradley doesn't develop an offensive game but can become a player like Bruce Bowen at the point guard position, Bradley will be valuable to any basketball team.

You just make it sound he is Bruce Bowen now, after 2/3 good games.

He's seen considerable minutes 6 times this season. He had more than 3 assists a total of one game (Saturday, against the God-awful Wizards). He shoots .375. He's an offensive vacuum. Being above-average on defense doesn't make up for that.

[Turrable]

Holy shit is that final score a typo?

[Nick Kaufman]

Definitely appreciate his defensive pressure. Against a shaky ball handling PG like nelson, it can really be a weapon. Offensively, he is still bad. 2 horrible passes, one to Pierce and one to KG should have been TO's just in the last couple minutes.

Unfortunately, like Jose Iglesias, he belongs in AAA.

The points you don't allow are as important to the points you can score. The crucial difference is that defense isn't as easily quantifiable as offense.

For the past couple of months all I see on this board is Bradley getting shat on and every time I watch him play, I am pleasantly surprised that while he's doing many rookie mistakes which can probably be corrected, he plays excellent on defense while gradually progressing on his offense.

I don't know what he's ceiling is, but for the time being, he's definitely getting better and he's earning that backup PG spot.

PS. We ve also outrebounded Orlando today which is something out of a bizzaro world. I guess both Garnett and O'Neil are starting to play a little bit better too.