82 games is a sufficient sample size to know how Jeff Green plays without 2 or 3 All Stars beside him. His prior seasons in green were with much different clubs than this one. In fact, I would say his seasons prior to this last one are less likely to show his current/future performance because conditions are so different. So if he scores more but that comes at a cost of his eFG (which was pretty lousy), then this is a bad thing. To think that his poor eFG last year isn't because he didn't have as many easy shots because he had PP, KG and Allen around him to occupy the defense is pretty absurd. After all, we all know Jeff Green isn't a #1 or a #2 option.
82 games with an established coaching playbook/schemes and a completely agreed upon franchise direction all with a healthy Rajon Rondo.....those 82 games are a more substantial sample size.
Last year's games, and the subsequent statistical production only serve to prove that Jeff Green could not help the Celtics win more than 25 games. That's it. There isn't enough concrete data to prove any possible predicatble future statistical production or future number of Celtic team wins.
People are going to make their guesstimates anyway, but those will be based on too small a sample size....a sample size of a "just starting" to develope product.
Last year's 82 games with a new role, new head coach (Stevens), new teammates, a recovering all-star teammate (Rondo), previously "secondary role" teammates called upon to fullfill new "frontline" roles themselves.......all these aspects have no barring on a player's eFG%?
Of course, all those changes wouldn't affect anyone's game.
Likewise, if I were to play alongside PP, KG....I too would think it to be very absurd that they wouldn't have any affect on my eFG% either.
(FWIW, the highest level of team basketball I was ever involved with was Junior High Varsity....I might have been the "8th man").
If I were playing with those two "scrubs"...the opposing defenses would triple - quadruple team me.....no question about that.
How do we know that Jeff Green can't effectively learn to elevate his game to turn into a #1 or #2?
From my perspective, Jeff Green has always been reluctant to initiate himself or assert himself to be a #1 or #2.
Last year, it seemed to me that Bradley was the #1, even Sully on the inside "took charge".
The only time Jeff Green looked like a #1 option was from that pass he got from GWallace to beat the Heat at the buzzer. But that wasn't by Jeff's own choice...that was by default.
Dee Brown had more of the #1 option persona than Jeff Green. Reggie Lewis....he was more of a #1 option even if Reggie were to play the game backwards & shooting with his left hand.
And ya know what?
I would have never thought, let alone imagine.......for Avery Bradley to be a legit scoring threat.
But last year, Avery showed something. Now there is that small glimmer....that I think Avery could be a threat on the offensive side of the ball.
Notice, I did not say Avery might be our future #1 option....I just stated "a legit scoring threat".
I'm saying we just need more time for Jeff to adjust to this new role. It takes different players, different amounts of time to grasp things.