NBA 2016 Offseason News: Avery Bradley for Defensive Player of the Year? 'No Fear' Facing Kyrie, Lillard
Can the Boston guard beat Leonard, Draymond Green for the ultimate goal?
Entering his seventh season in the NBA, Avery Bradley had established himself as one of the best defenders in the league. He finally gained the hardware after last season to prove it—getting named to the All-Defensive First Team.
The recognition, however, did not put a ceiling on Bradley's mindset. If anything, it only made him hungrier. Speaking to reporters at an Arbella home court event, he pointed to prize he really wanted: the coveted Defensive Player of the Year award.
No fear
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The Boston Celtics starter got the highest votes among all guards to crack the All-Defensive lineup, and it was, for stakeholders in the league, a well-deserved accolade. Coach Brad Stevens reportedly lobbied for Bradley to get the achievement, and even their opponents from the Portland Trail Blazers recognized the 25-year-old's talent.
All-Star point guard and Blazers star Damian Lillard went out of his way to deliver a message to Bradley after a win against the Celtics, telling him he was the best perimeter defender in the NBA. Top-tier scorer and 2016 Most Improved Player C.J. McCollum also praised Bradley, expressing his relief that they won't ever have to face the stifling Celtics defense in the Western Conference Finals.
In the same game, Bradley held Lillard to a mere 14 points on 3-for-16 shooting, while the Celtics forced second option C.J. McCollum to shoot 8 of 19 shots, scoring 17 points. Lillard scored 25 points per game on 41 percent shooting in the season, while McCollum was named the 2016 KIA Most Improved Player of the Year, scoring 18.5 points per game.
Bradley, however, is unfazed by all the star-studded, high-scoring rosters Boston faces next season. Even Kyrie Irving, who sank the clutch shot that clinched the Cleveland Cavaliers' 2016 title win, did not give him any worries. He said instead of getting nervous around these deadly scorers, he thinks they are the ones who have to prepare for him come game time.
Greater goals
Bradley certainly has the skillset to make a run for DPOY, but he will have dangerous adversaries. Kawhi Leonard of the San Antonio Spurs had won it the past two seasons, and the Golden State Warriors' forward Draymond Green had been putting up convincing numbers.
The goal, however, is not just to win the defensive accolades, but to get closer to the rings. To do that, Bradley believes they can hold on to what they do best, and rank at No. 1 or 2 in NBA defense.
Bolstering the pesky perimeter defense of Bradley, Jae Crowder and Marcus Smart, the Celtics had exchanged Jared Sullinger for an even more powerful inside defender in Al Horford. With shot blocker extraordinaire Amir Johnson, Bradley expects the team perform even better in that area, and last year was already great. Boston's defensive efficiency was fourth in the league, allowing opponents to score only 100.9 points per game.
Bradley's Celtics will play their season opener against the Brooklyn Nets, 7:30 p.m. ET October 4 at the TD Garden in Boston. Fans can watch the game on CSNHD and online via NBA League Pass.
