Celtics' Bradley 'Changing The Game' With His Defense
BOSTON (CBS) - Avery Bradley's block on Dwayne Wade in the Celtics 91-72 win over the Heat on Sunday has many clamoring over the second-year guards' defense.
But that is old news to his teammates.
Kevin Garnett called Bradley the Celtics best "on-the-ball defender" after the win, a sentiment other C's agree with.
"Avery is just a tremendous defender. Just having him on D-Wade, we knew that he can guard a lot of the two-guards in the league, and the one-guards. I think (Sunday) really gives him confidence that he can guard the best," said Captain Paul Pierce. "He should be on the defensive team if he continues to go like this. I don't think a lot of people know about him, but (Sunday) a lot of people saw what he's capable of."
Bradley downplayed the second quarter rejection of Wade, saying it comes from giving it his best effort on every play.
"I was just playing hard and I made a good play," he said. "I think it just comes from just playing hard. I'm always out there playing hard, do what I can do to help my team win."
"He's a good defender; pretty athletic block," Wade said after being held to 16 points on 5-for-17 shooting. "I patted him on the butt and said, 'You looked like me on that block, kid.'"
Read: Celtics 'Know We Can Compete With The Best'
Bradley has shined since taking over for the injured Ray Allen (and then Michael Pietrus), averaging 14.6 points in five games, all Boston wins. Overall this season, the Celtics are 11-4 in Bradley's 15 starts.
"I think he's changing the game right now with his defensive energy and the way he's playing offensively as well," said Rajon Rondo, who has benefitted from having Avery run the floor with him. "Me and Avery get along very well. He respects me as an older guy and I try to be a role model for him; tell him to keep working and good things will happen. That's what he's showing right now."
Bradley said he has gained a lot of confidence since being inserted into the starting lineup, averaging over 10 points per game when he is out there to begin games.
"When I got the starting minutes I started feeling more comfortable because of who I'm playing with; gaining their trust and Doc's trust," said Bradley. "I'm just going to continue to come out and try to play defense the way I've been playing. I bring that defensive intensity, and I try to bring that to the first group and the second group."
Allen is expected to be back soon after missing six straight with an ankle issue, but with Bradley playing so well, head coach Doc Rivers will have a tough decision to make when it comes to who is on the floor when games begin.
Washburn On T&R: Should Bradley Start Over Ray Allen?
"I don't know yet," Rivers said after Sunday's win. "We're playing well, but we've also played well with Ray, by the way. I think people forget that part. The good thing is we have options. And we have players with confidence and we have a lot of them."
