Avery Bradley is practicing today!

We’ve been waiting for word as to when Avery Bradley would be ready to get back onto the floor.

Well, the word has come.  And that when is today.

Celtics guard Avery Bradley, sidelined since mid May due to shoulder issues that required a pair of offseason surgeries, is scheduled to engage in contact activities for the first time during the team’s offday workout on Monday in Chicago, according to the team.

……. too dramatic?

At the risk of reiterating to the point of exhaustion, the trickle down effect of Avery Bradley’s return should be noticeable, simply because Bradley will be able to cut down dribble penetration.

With less dribble penetration, there will be fewer bigs pulled out of position to help bail out the guards.

With less helping of the guards, there will be fewer offensive rebounds because bigs can stay home on their guys.

With fewer offensive rebounds, there will be fewer second chance points and points in the paint.

Also, with the ball pressure and fewer rebounds combined, there will be more opportunity to get out on the open court.  That means more lay ups, more transition 3’s for Jason Terry, more chaos for Rondo to bend impossible passes through for easy buckets.

Think of this team like a game of Wheel of Fortune where you’re watching at home… or maybe even playing along.

… and you know this is has happened to you…

There’s a phrase on the board.  You see it.  There are plenty of letters there… enough that you KNOW you should know the answer.   But you don’t.  For some reason, it’s not coming together.

Then the contestant says something like “I’d like to buy an ‘A’, Pat”

And suddenly, it all clicks.  You’re pissed because you know you should have figured it all out sooner.  But for whatever reason, you just needed that one more vowel to get it.

Bradley’s the vowel.  He’s the last piece that makes it all work, even though we know it should have worked by now.  It starts with him practicing today.