Every morning, we compile the links of the day and dump them here… highlighting the big story line. Because there’s nothing quite as satisfying as a good morning dump.
Bradley said he spent last summer working on getting his team defense on par with his individual defense, and it paid off with him being recognized as the best defensive guard in the league. He said he is hoping his assist numbers this year reflect a similar dedication to being a better facilitator.
“I know it’s something that I needed to improve,” said Bradley, whose career-best coming into the season was 2.1 assists per game last year. “In order to take my game to the next level I needed to add that to my game. That’s something that I’m challenging myself every single game, every single practice, to get my teammates involved. I know I have a lot of opportunities to do it. I’m starting to look at the game, and see the game different, understanding where my spots are and where I can get guys shots.”
He’s dribble-driving into the lane and kicking out to teammates for open looks.
Bradley’s beating players off the dribble in isolation situations.
And the end result after two preseason games has been Bradley averaging a team-best 5.5 assists per game while turning the ball over just 1.5 times per game.
While seeing Bradley excel in the role of playmaker is unusual, it serves as yet another reminder that Bradley has improved in some facet of his game every year he has been in the NBA.
File this under the ‘huge if true’ heading. I think all of us have watched our fair share of cringe-worthy, wince-inducing point guard Avery Bradley moments.
If he’s added the ability to bring the ball up the court and work out of Boston’s sets as the primary ball-handler–even if it’s only one trip up the court out of ten–that’s going to be a huge problem for opposing defenses. If their defense is based on IT as the ball handler, and now he’s doing his thing off ball, that’s a whole other wrinkle in Boston’s offense that has to be accounted for. Good teams will be able to adapt, but most of the teams in the NBA aren’t good.
Despite averaging a career-best 15.2 points per game last season, Bradley has typically been viewed as a limited offensive player, living off spot-up shooting and cuts. Former Celtics coach Doc Rivers flirted with the idea of Bradley as a backup ball handler early in his NBA career, but often abandoned those plans when the offense struggled with Bradley at the helm. For his career, Bradley has averaged a mere 1.6 assists per game.
This past summer, Bradley huddled with famed basketball trainer Tim Grover with the goal of increasing his offensive Rolodex, particularly in terms of becoming a better playmaker. After displaying a stronger handle last season, Bradley wants to improve as a passer and learn new ways to generate opportunities for his teammates.
This is one of the reasons why there are all these expectations this year: The first two preseason games have been showcases for summer improvement projects from most of the Celtics’ rotation players, whether it’s Jae Crowder’s three point shooting, IT’s work off the ball, Terry Rozier’s all around play, or Bradley’s improved ball-handling. Stevens has done a great job instilling a culture of continuous improvement that the players are responding to.
Also:
MassLive Avery Bradley on surprising assist totals early in Boston Celtics preseason: Starting to ‘see the game different’
Page 2: Where Gerald Green’s back
Green, who has been out for most of training camp with a left hip flexor injury, is set to make his first preseason appearance of 2016 on Saturday afternoon against the Charlotte Hornets.
Celtics coach Brad Stevens confirmed that Green will be in uniform for the first time this season.
Drafted by the Celtics in the first round of the 2005 NBA draft, Green re-signed in the offseason.
While it’s unclear how much playing time Green will get on Saturday, the Celtics will surely get him on the floor at some point.
And with that, Boston’s bench unit will have a guy that can make shots, which, you know–no matter how good you are on defense–is one of those things that is a necessary part of winning a basketball game.
Page 3: Where IT is getting used to Al Horford being really good
Now that the two are teammates, Thomas notices Horford can initiate a fast break after grabbing a defensive rebound. The Celtics hoped David Lee could provide that skill last year, but Horford does it (and most other things) on another level.
“That’s a skill he really has and it’s special since he’s not just looking for the guards. He’s looking to push it himself and we just have to learn to run the lanes,” Thomas said. “I’ve got to get used to it because I’m used to coming back to the ball all the time. And he’s good at making the right play. He gets the rebound and brings it. I’ve got to trust in him and I know he’s going to make the right play. I just have to get used to it. I haven’t really had a guy, other than DeMarcus Cousins, that can get the ball and go all the way down and make a play for himself or somebody else.”
Jay just had to remind us about the David Lee experiment didn’t he? Eesh.
Anyway, this is one of those things that sets Stevens apart as a coach. He got Butler where it was by figuring out how to maximize the ability of players who were almost always less talented than their name brand opponents. I can imagine Stevens watching video of how good Al Horford is at starting fast breaks and saying, ‘hey, let’s figure out how to get him more opportunities to do this’. As opposed to, say, having some ‘system’ in which some of Horford’s abilities would go to waste.
What amazes me is not that Stevens does this–it’s that more coaches don’t. It’s such a common-sense way of approaching your players: “What are you good at? Okay, let’s figure out how we can put that to use.” Why is it that so many NBA coaches are bent on their systems–whether it’s D’Antoni or PJ or whoever? Is it an ego thing?
In case you missed it
Garnett always looked out for his teammates, Doo said. During one road trip, the Celtics wanted special dinners for a flight home, then realized the meals would exceed the travel budget. So Garnett paid for the food, unbeknownst to the others.
When Garnett signed with the Chinese shoe company Anta, he asked Doo, a third-generation Chinese-American, to join him on a trip to the country. Doo had never been there before.
“This is part of my heritage, you know?” said Doo, his eyes beginning to well up. “He just said, ‘Hey, I want you to come. You helped train me, you’re part of my crew, and this is home for you.’”
Adam Himmelsbach with a deep look into KG’s relationship with Bryan Doo. It’s a fun read.
However, a big ‘what?’ to the Celtics players being worried about meals and their travel budget–I hope those were some fancy meals.
Finally: Jaylen Brown goes to school
“Oh yeah, he’s going to tell the world,” Brown said. “You’re never going to hear the end of it. I’m going to hear this for like the next two weeks. So now I have to play him, and play football with him, and beat him at his own game tomorrow so then he can be quiet. Because I’m going to hear it for forever now.”
The rest of the links:
MassLive: Al Horford, Boston Celtics starters have crushed teams early in preseason
Boston Globe: Celtics’ Al Horford leading the break is a new look
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