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[Eddie20]

Great stuff. I was looking for this yesterday. Also curious to know what the Wade breakdown was vs Bradley and Lee specifically.


http://espn.go.com/blog/boston/celtics/post/_/id/4701709/green-day-limiting-lebron#more

Green wasn't perfect, but he played gritty defense on James and limited his scoring output. James scored 34 points on 14-of-31 shooting over 52 minutes, but much of his damage was done when someone other than Green was defending.

According to Synergy Sports individual defensive data, Green allowed a mere 0.75 points per play overall on Sunday as opponents were 5-of-17 shooting (29.4 percent) against him. Here's a closer look at plays that James finished with Green defending:


2nd   2:55   Miss 2PT   Green pushes James off the blocks in isolation situation and James settles for fadeay that rims out

2nd   1:31   Foul   James drives in isolation, fouled near the hoop (James makes 1 of 2 FTs)

3rd   2:09   Miss 2PT   In what would becomes a familiar sequence, James settles for a long jumper from the wing that rims out

4th   11:36   Miss 2PT   Green blankets James for much of the possession, then forces off-balanced jumper that won't fall

4th   3:02   Make 2PT   James loses handle of the ball driving into the paint, but recovers for short fadeaway jumper

4th   0:07   Make 3PT   Tough situation for Green as James chased down a long rebound, comes off high pick-and-roll and makes clutch pull-up 3-pointer to force OT

OT   3:25   Miss 2PT   Green prevents drive and James' fadeaway jumper is off the mark

OT   0:14   Miss 2PT   Isolated on left side, James drives to the hoop where Green gets help from Kevin Garnett to prevent a miss in a tied game

2OT   4:33   Miss 2PT   Familiar outcome: Fadeaway from left wing in ISO situation won’t fall

2OT   1:47   Miss 2PT   James backs Green down to low blocks, spins to baseline, but little hook shot won't go

2OT   1:02   Make 2PT   Green gets beat on drive and James produces a three-point play as Paul Pierce doesn’t get a charge call

2OT   0:06   Miss 2PT   With Miami down a point, James drives to the left side and gets a decent look, but Green contests and his shot finds back iron

The final tally for Green defending James: 3-for-11 shooting (27.3 percent) with one foul and a total of nine points allowed. Given that James averages around a point per possession this season, limiting him to nine points on 12 possessions is a stellar afternoon for Green. But maybe we shouldn't be surprised.

[crimson_stallion]

Doesn't surprise me at all - watching this game I was absolutely in awe at Green's defense on Lebron. 

I seriously don't think I've ever seen anybody give him that much trouble before. Green may have found his niche' because if he can play defense like that every night, he could go scoreless and STILL be earning that contract.

[PhoSita]

Doesn't surprise me at all - watching this game I was absolutely in awe at Green's defense on Lebron. 

I seriously don't think I've ever seen anybody give him that much trouble before. Green may have found his niche' because if he can play defense like that every night, he could go scoreless and STILL be earning that contract.

The possibility of having Green cover LeBron so that Pierce doesn't have to is, in my opinion, reason #1 that Ainge signed him to that contract in the first place.

[Roy H.]

Great stuff.  Green was definitely engaged on the defensive end.  Nobody is truly a "Lebron stopper", but I was impressed with how hard Green made Lebron work. 

If Green brought that level of play every night, I don't think anybody would be as upset with the sporadic shooting, rebounding, and passing.

[pearljammer10]

Great post TP for you sir. Love seeing these stats. Well done Green, keep the ball rolling sir.

[scaryjerry]

this was much ado about LeBron settling...green can't stop him

[krook]

this was much ado about LeBron settling...green can't stop him

at least we can contain him and forced to miss shots

[Roy H.]

this was much ado about LeBron settling...green can't stop him

Who can?  All a guy can do is make Lebron work hard for his points or force him into jump shots.

Also, I think you're not giving Green enough credit.  According to that data, Lebron shot 3-for-11 against Green, and 11-for-20 against everyone else.  That suggests that Green was doing his job.

[Evantime34]

Great stuff.  Green was definitely engaged on the defensive end.  Nobody is truly a "Lebron stopper", but I was impressed with how hard Green made Lebron work. 

If Green brought that level of play every night, I don't think anybody would be as upset with the sporadic shooting, rebounding, and passing.

This game was a great step for our future. Jeff Green doesn't need to score 20 a game to live up to his contract, if he can defend, provide energy, score on the break and knock down the open jumper he will be worth every penny.
A 1,2,3 combination of Rondo, Bradley and Green means this team will continue its defensive mentality long after KG retires.

[BudweiserCeltic]

this was much ado about LeBron settling...green can't stop him

Who can?  All a guy can do is make Lebron work hard for his points or force him into jump shots.

Also, I think you're not giving Green enough credit.  According to that data, Lebron shot 3-for-11 against Green, and 11-for-20 against everyone else.  That suggests that Green was doing his job.

Love the rationalization about LeBron "settling", we were very good guarding his dribble drives, and forcing LeBron to "settle" has been the Celtics' strategy when guarding LeBron since forever... it's what helped us eliminate the Cavs multiple times during the playoffs.

Enticing the opposing player to take a bad shot IS good defense.

[krook]

Great stuff.  Green was definitely engaged on the defensive end.  Nobody is truly a "Lebron stopper", but I was impressed with how hard Green made Lebron work. 

If Green brought that level of play every night, I don't think anybody would be as upset with the sporadic shooting, rebounding, and passing.

This game was a great step for our future. Jeff Green doesn't need to score 20 a game to live up to his contract, if he can defend, provide energy, score on the break and knock down the open jumper he will be worth every penny.
A 1,2,3 combination of Rondo, Bradley and Green means this team will continue its defensive mentality long after KG retires.

1 more game in season vs heat, i want to see it again

[KGs Knee]

Jeff Green has long way to go to prove he is capable of playing defense like that consitently.  I was thoroughly pleased with his effort though.

I'd be perfectly content if Green became an Igoudala type player.  Mostly known for his defense, but capable of putting up 15ppg/5RPG.  I'm just not sold he is capable of bringing that level of effort every night.  He has yet to do it 5 years into his career.

[tarheelsxxiii]

All well and good if Pierce and KG were 5 years younger... and Green was given a big contract to be the Lebron stopper for multiple years of contention. His fit... if we are rebuilding... sucks. Guy has a unique skill set and may be worth the contract if he can make such a contribution on a contender. Rebuilding around him, though, is silly. How many years does it take a GM to gauge an individual's motor/personality?

[tarheelsxxiii]

Jeff Green has long way to go to prove he is capable of playing defense like that consitently.  I was thoroughly pleased with his effort though.

I'd be perfectly content if Green became an Igoudala type player.  Mostly known for his defense, but capable of putting up 15ppg/5RPG.  I'm just not sold he is capable of bringing that level of effort every night.  He has yet to do it 5 years into his career.

Iguodala is only limited by his abilities... freak athlete, great defender, turned himself into a shooter with work. Green is way too soft to compare, at this stage... (which is prob halfway through his frieken career) to start change his make-up. I don't hate him. I actually think he's quite pretty. Would be perfect for He Got Game 2. Just smushy soft.

[ImShakHeIsShaq]

Jeff Green has long way to go to prove he is capable of playing defense like that consitently.  I was thoroughly pleased with his effort though.

I'd be perfectly content if Green became an Igoudala type player.  Mostly known for his defense, but capable of putting up 15ppg/5RPG.  I'm just not sold he is capable of bringing that level of effort every night.  He has yet to do it 5 years into his career.

He has been good defensively against Melo, Lebroid, Deng, and Durant... exactly what we need him for!