CelticsBlog - Celtics targeting January return for BradleyA Boston Celtics Blog: 17 Banners and Countinghttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48431/celtic-small-1.png2012-12-28T10:46:37-05:00http://www.celticsblog.com/rss/stream/35520812012-12-28T10:46:37-05:002012-12-28T10:46:37-05:00Avery Bradley returning Jan 2nd
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<figcaption>Mark L. Baer-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>We could use a little good news today.</p> <p>The prophesy has been foretold. Yay verily on January 2nd, the savior shall return. (Please forgive the sarcasm)</p>
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<p>Ainge on <span>Avery Bradley's</span> projected Jan. 2 return: "That's been the target date for a while, and I haven't seen anything to change that."</p>
— Ben Rohrbach (@brohrbach) <a href="https://twitter.com/brohrbach/status/284416051855376385" data-datetime="2012-12-27T21:50:45+00:00">December 27, 2012</a>
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<p>Savior or not, he'll be a welcome addition to the team.</p>
https://www.celticsblog.com/2012/12/28/3811384/celtics-still-eye-january-2-return-for-avery-bradleyJeff Clark2012-12-23T22:46:49-05:002012-12-23T22:46:49-05:00Doc: a chance that Bradley could return early
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<p>...so you're saying there's a chance...</p>
<p><a href="http://www.csnne.com/basketball-boston-celtics/celtics-talk/Rivers-A-chance-Bradley-could-return-dur?blockID=816695&feedID=10424">Rivers: 'A chance' Bradley could return during road trip</a></p>
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<p><a href="http://www.csnne.com/basketball-boston-celtics/celtics-talk/Rivers-A-chance-Bradley-could-return-dur?blockID=816695&feedID=10424"></a>"I think there's a chance, but I don't know what the chances are," Rivers said following practice on Sunday. "I haven't talked to anybody. I just try to stay out of that because if he's close I don't want anyone feeling like I'm pressuring them -- Avery or, more importantly, the doctors. Avery wants to play. I guarantee he wants to play the next game. That's something I just try to stay away from."</p>
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https://www.celticsblog.com/2012/12/23/3799954/doc-a-chance-that-bradley-could-return-earlyJeff Clark2012-12-23T14:45:39-05:002012-12-23T14:45:39-05:00Rondo pins championship hopes on Avery Bradley
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<figcaption>Jared Wickerham</figcaption>
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<p>No pressure kid.</p> <p>Sounds like fans aren't the only ones putting a whole lot of hope (and pressure) on the recovering shoulders of <span>Avery Bradley</span>.</p>
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<p><a href="http://bostonherald.com/sports/celtics_nba/boston_celtics/2012/12/rajon_rondo_points_avery_bradley%E2%80%99s_pressure">Rajon Rondo points to Avery Bradley’s pressure | Boston Herald</a></p>
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<p><a href="http://bostonherald.com/sports/celtics_nba/boston_celtics/2012/12/rajon_rondo_points_avery_bradley%E2%80%99s_pressure"></a>"We’re going to be a completely different team, just with one player coming back," said Rondo, whose frustration and desire for a change in the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.celticsblog.com/">Celtics</a>’ 13-13 start couldn’t be more feverish. And then there’s this corollary to the last comment: "I think (Bradley is) the X Factor. He’s going to be the key to why we win the championship. He brings a lot to the team in terms of intangibles, the way he cuts offensively. His pressure defensively is going to raise everyone else’s pressure. His defense is going to make us a lot better."</p>
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<p>Rajon also calls Bradley the best defensive guard in the league "hands down." High praise and high expectations from our star point guard. Doc is trying to make sure that people don't consider Bradley the "savior" but it sure sounds like that is what Rondo considers him.</p>
<p>I think the guy is a wonderful player and I certainly hope that he makes a huge impact on the team. I just don't want him to feel like the whole season weighs in the balance with every cut, stop, and shot he takes.</p>
https://www.celticsblog.com/2012/12/23/3798564/rajon-rondo-pins-championship-hopes-on-avery-bradleyJeff Clark2012-12-18T12:10:03-05:002012-12-18T12:10:03-05:00Avery Bradley update: no soreness in shoulders
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<figcaption>Greg M. Cooper-US PRESSWIRE</figcaption>
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<p>Quick Twitter update from Celtics beat reporters: AB is feeling no soreness after yesterday's 90-minute practice.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p><a href="https://twitter.com/search/%23Celticstalk">#Celticstalk</a>: <a href="https://twitter.com/search/%23Celtics">#Celtics</a> <span>Avery Bradley</span> surprised himself in not feeling any soreness in his shoulders 24 hrs after first practice.</p>
— A. Sherrod Blakely (@SherrodbCSN) <a href="https://twitter.com/SherrodbCSN/status/281076811151069184" data-datetime="2012-12-18T16:41:48+00:00">December 18, 2012</a>
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<p><a href="https://twitter.com/search/%23Celticstalk">#Celticstalk</a>: <a href="https://twitter.com/search/%23Celtics">#Celtics</a> A. Bradley said he wants to get a few weeks of practice under his belt before he thinks about playing in games.</p>
— A. Sherrod Blakely (@SherrodbCSN) <a href="https://twitter.com/SherrodbCSN/status/281077199568769024" data-datetime="2012-12-18T16:43:21+00:00">December 18, 2012</a>
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<p><a href="https://twitter.com/search/%23Celticstalk">#Celticstalk</a>: <a href="https://twitter.com/search/%23Celtics">#Celtics</a> Avery Bradley will travel with the team out West later this month, but no plans as of now for him to play on the trip</p>
— A. Sherrod Blakely (@SherrodbCSN) <a href="https://twitter.com/SherrodbCSN/status/281077506407280640" data-datetime="2012-12-18T16:44:34+00:00">December 18, 2012</a>
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<p>Avery Bradley feeling good the day after his 1st full practice. said he thinks the 1st hit on his shoulder came from kg on a screen</p>
— greg dickerson (@gdickerson_csn) <a href="https://twitter.com/gdickerson_csn/status/281078103827152899" data-datetime="2012-12-18T16:46:56+00:00">December 18, 2012</a>
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<p>Avery says Celts have talked about a D-League stint, but he's planning to travel west on Celts' post-Christmas trip.</p>
— Steve Bulpett (@SteveBHoop) <a data-datetime="2012-12-18T16:49:38+00:00" href="https://twitter.com/SteveBHoop/status/281078780943036416">December 18, 2012</a>
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<p>Outwardly, it looks like the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.celticsblog.com/">Celtics</a> are being very cautious with Avery's return, but I'm guessing Doc and Danny are also trying to lessen the pressure on his surgically repaired shoulders. There's been a lot of talk of Bradley acting as a <a href="http://www.celticsblog.com/2012/12/17/3778740/doc-rivers-preparing-his-rotations-for-avery-bradleys-return">defensive "savior"</a> upon his return; Doc has even compared his presence to Perk's. That's heavy praise for a 22-year-old kid that was last seen gutting it out against the Sixers in the playoffs last spring. Hopefully by the time the he comes back in the new year and after that west coast trip, the Celtics will have righted the ship by then.</p>
<p>Although last season's turnaround coincided with Avery's insertion into the starting lineup, he hasn't been on the court for seven months. However, last season, the C's went 14-4 when he replaced #20. The move also pairs Courtney Lee and Jason Terry off the bench and Doc has mentioned that he likes the ball movement when those two are playing together. The real bright side is that he'll help tremendously with dribble penetration by opposing guards and that effort will spark more intensity on that side of the ball. His addition to this rotation probably won't have a huge statistical impact, but there's no doubt his energy and enthusiasm on defense will have a domino effect on the team's effort.</p>
<p>Kool-aid, anyone?</p>
https://www.celticsblog.com/2012/12/18/3780572/avery-bradley-update-1721-no-soreness-in-shoulders-possible-d-leagueBill Sy2012-12-18T06:12:07-05:002012-12-18T06:12:07-05:00Celtics targeting January return for Bradley
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<figcaption>Greg M. Cooper-US PRESSWIRE</figcaption>
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<p>He's not a savior, but he'll help. We just have to wait a little longer for him.</p> <p>Just because Bradley has started practicing doesn't mean he'll be available to play tonight. In fact, it looks like early January is the target date range.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.csnne.com/basketball-boston-celtics/celtics-talk/Bradley-returns-to-practice-for-Celtics?blockID=814631&feedID=3352">Bradley returns to practice for Celtics</a></p>
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<p><a href="http://www.csnne.com/basketball-boston-celtics/celtics-talk/Bradley-returns-to-practice-for-Celtics?blockID=814631&feedID=3352"></a>It's still too soon to say when he will play again, but <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.celticsblog.com/">Celtics</a> president of basketball operations Danny Ainge told CSNNE.com recently that he anticipates Bradley's return to games being sometime in early January.</p>
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<p><span>Doc Rivers</span> is quick to point out that Bradley is "not a savior" - which is pretty much what I've been saying for weeks. Chris Forsberg agrees.</p>
<p><a href="http://espn.go.com/boston/nba/story/_/id/8756205/boston-celtics-mailbag-avery-bradley-return-save-team">Boston Celtics mailbag -- Will Avery Bradley's return save this team? - ESPN Boston</a></p>
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<p><a href="http://espn.go.com/boston/nba/story/_/id/8756205/boston-celtics-mailbag-avery-bradley-return-save-team"></a>Bradley can help bring some much-needed consistency to the Celtics' rotation. But let's keep in mind that it might take some time to get there because (1) Bradley has to shake off some rust after seven months away from contact and (2) the bench guard rotation must be worked out. (How will coach Doc Rivers split minutes with Terry, Lee and even <span>Leandro Barbosa</span>?) The idea of Bradley as a savior is misguided, but he can help this team in a big way.</p>
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<p>Bradley can and will help a lot, but it is going to take a lot from everyone to progress to where we want to be.</p>
https://www.celticsblog.com/2012/12/18/3779646/celtics-targeting-january-return-for-bradleyJeff Clark2012-12-17T21:25:48-05:002012-12-17T21:25:48-05:00Doc preparing his rotations for Bradley's return
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<figcaption>Drew Hallowell</figcaption>
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<p>Bradley's return may slot Lee and Terry into backup roles.</p> <p><span>Courtney Lee</span> made his return to the starting lineup this weekend and that might have more to do with what Doc wants to do with his lineup than it does with how well Lee has played.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.boston.com/sports/basketball/celtics/extras/celtics_blog/2012/12/avery_bradley_r.html">Avery Bradley completes first practice of season -Celtics blog - Boston Globe basketball news</a></p>
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<p><a href="http://www.boston.com/sports/basketball/celtics/extras/celtics_blog/2012/12/avery_bradley_r.html"></a>"I want Jason off the bench. You could see how well he's playing now. He's comfortable there," Rivers said. "We're just keep starting Courtney or whoever. I like Jason off the bench. I don't think it helps the starting lineup right now but you put him on the starting lineup and then our bench struggles. It's one or the other. "Honestly, Jason and Courtney are really great in the second unit together. They really move the ball. The last three or four games our second unit has really come in and made runs for us."</p>
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<p>Sounds to me like Doc has already decided that he wants <span>Avery Bradley</span> to start along side <span>Rajon Rondo</span> and have a JET-Lee backup backcourt. Of course he's not going to just say that.</p>
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<p>"Yeah (but) he's got to get it," Rivers said of Bradley eventually returning to the starting lineup. "But he'll have to earn that and get it but I think on paper, it looks better. But you have to wait and see how it works once he gets back."</p>
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<p>That's the right thing to say. Of course, everyone's hoping that Bradley is the linch-pin that will make everything fit more snuggly together. One can also hope against hope that Bradley will be able to fill in a little more at the backup point position. Not that he'll be able to do what Rondo does (who can?). But giving Rajon some rest and providing a defensive change of pace guy might be just what the doctor ordered.</p>
https://www.celticsblog.com/2012/12/17/3778740/doc-rivers-preparing-his-rotations-for-avery-bradleys-returnJeff Clark