Bradley Looking to Improve Shot Distance

Avery Bradley has made a living with the Boston Celtics on long two point shots. Bradley has always been a solid finisher in most areas but the spot he excels most in is between 16 feet and the three point line. Other than his rookie season, Bradley has never shot below 40% in that range and that is by far his best anywhere on the court beyond three feet of the rim.

In fact, Bradley regresses as he approaches the rim. His career average from 10-16 feet is 35.4% and his career average between 3-10 feet is a lowly 29.5%. The only other area where Bradley has seen success is beyond the three point line as his career average is 36%.

Even though Bradley has sustained success in the deep mid range game, Brad Stevens has him focused on changing that mentality. Bradley had this to say at media day: “He just wants us to try to eliminate the foot-on-the-line twos or long twos”. Stevens realizes that they need to improve their three point shooting and he is looking to the team’s strongest area to send over some help.

Apr 4, 2015; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Boston Celtics guard Avery Bradley (0) takes a jump shot past the outstretched hand of Toronto Raptors guard Greivis Vasquez (21) in the second half of the Celtics 117-116 overtime win at Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports

Stevens risks losing a lot by threatening the team’s mid range game but it is a worthy risk. The Celtics had relative offensive success with 101.4 points per game a year ago but it is still no where near where Stevens wants it to be. The main reason for the offense’s shortcoming is three point shooting.

32.7% from three point range as a team is going to be unacceptable but if they can begin to turn those long twos into three pointers, their problems could disappear.

The Celtics depend greatly on ball movement creating open looks and in that sense much of the offense is taking advantage of the opportunities presented to them. The team will not actively seek out to get three point shots. Instead, they will focus on capitalizing on the most open shot. Bradley also discusses this very topic and had this to say: “I couldn’t do a stepback back to the three, you know what I mean? So I was just taking what the defense gave me”.

It is not a case where the Celtics were actively avoiding three pointers in favour of long twos. However, the did not actively look to create the open looks beyond the arc when long twos were available. It appears as though Stevens will be changing this approach as Bradley revealed that “I feel like the plays that we’re going to be running are going to be for threes”.

Stevens realizes that he has many great mid range shooters who may have been selling themselves short by not taking more three point shots. Bradley is the best example because of how many mid range shots he took, and how successful he was at shooting in that area.

The problem is that the Celtics have to ensure that they do not regress while attempting to fix their three point shooting woes. The Celtics can certainly be better, but they were still a strong offensive team. Personnel changes alone should help the Celtics’ three point shooting but adapting the offense is how they can see drastic improvements.

Stevens has already built a strong reputation because of his successful offensive system and if he can make it work with long two pointers then there is no reason to doubt that he will find the necessary ways to create those three point shots.

A combination of talent and scheme is how the Celtics are going to improve their three point shooting and Stevens is looking to adapt the strongest part of the team’s offensive game from a season ago.

Three point shooting it too important to the Celtics and the NBA as a whole for a team to struggle as badly as the Celtics did last season. The Celtics are hoping to make another leap this year and the number one priority on offense will be three point shooting.

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