CELTICS GREEN BLOG by and for boston celtics fans: Don't Covet Thy Neighbor's Players

People always want what somebody else has and for whatever reason the genetics of a sports fan seems to enhance that sentiment. Celtic’s fans are the greatest fans in basketball (no question about it) and whether it means selling out every home game or supporting our team no matter what the outcome. Nothing epitomizes a great fan base better than the performance put on by the Garden faithful during last years Game 6 in the Eastern Conference Finals.

Passion goes both ways though and a lot of people are beginning to worry about this year’s team and want a legitimate center to handle the paint, Marcin Gortat’s name has been thrown around a lot and so have Avery Bradley’s and Jared Sullinger’s which needs to stop immediately. People have been making the argument about the rebounding or that this team is built to win now so we need to cash in our chips but there are major flaws to any trade involving Bradley or Sully.

For starters, besides Kevin Garnett's switch to center, the best decision the Celtics made was to give Bradley more minutes. The way he was able to perform was remarkable to watch considering how little he had actually played the year before. His defense was what had compelled Danny Ainge to draft him but I'm not sure even he understood what he was getting. He has already propelled himself into the discussion of best on ball defender and if it wasn't for Tony Allen, a former Celtic, I truly believe he'd be number one.

Not only did he break down opposing offenses but certain players' confidence too. " If it wasn't me, it was (Mavericks teammate) Jason Kidd, and (Bradley) would literally pick us up full court," Terry said. "One time I asked him the middle of the game, "Come on, young fella, you've got to back up a little bit" There mere fact that opposing players were asking for him to back down shows how much fear his defense strikes on offensive players and it seems Bradley can sense it too. " Some don't say anything, but I can just see how nervous they are because I'm picking them up full court, and that's hard". In Bradley we might have the closest thing to a Gary Payton this era might see and I'm not the only one that sees it. " I compare Avery to Gary Payton, the way he gets up into you and gets under you," Terry said. " He wouldn't let you get an inch."

With Bradley we have a player that potentially hasn't even tapped into his vast talents. The kid as a sophomore in the league was shutting down legitimate scorers and his offense made clear progress as well. His offensive game started off consisting of nothing but backdoor cuts but it quickly evolved. At one point in the season he was shooting 44% from the behind the arc and it could have stayed there had he not played with practically no shoulders for a stretch. He still managed to finish the season above 40% from deep and provided a spark during the playoffs that helped us get by the Hawks. The Celtics, the fans and I believe even Bradley himself don't really understand how good he is capable of being. At times watching him last year, it was amazing how strong his motor really was and his persistence to make any opposing guards life miserable. Personally I hope Bradley is here for the long haul and running with Rondo in the backcourt for years to come.

Like Bradley, Sully is another young piece people seem willing to let go and I don't understand why. The kid just got here yesterday and has been playing some really good basketball. 2011 was the year of Sully and had he come out for the draft we would have had to trade Rondo to get this guy, like seriously he was number 1 pick good so whats changed? Some doctors said he has a bad back and that makes him bad? He's looked pretty mobile and has a strong knack for grabbing rebounds. Just like Bradley we don't know what we have with Sully. He's just too young and talented to give away. Look at what happened with E'twaun Moore last year, we traded him even though he had shown flashes and now he's blossoming in Orlando. I'm not saying it's a guarantee that these players are going to be all-stars or superstars but on potential alone we need to give them time to grow. I'm sure the same people that wouldn't might trading Bradley or Sully now were pro adding Rondo into the Garnett trade, something that Minnesota was intent on adding to the stipulation. Sully was a national player of the year candidate every season he was in college, a potential lottery pick and if all works out a stud in the NBA.

Patience is a virtue that sports fan just aren't able to obtain. For as long as sports are around people will want opposing teams players and will be willing to give up their own. That type of logic can only take you so far because as soon as that trade people were clamoring for goes through it might come back to haunt you; hello Chauncey Billups and Joe Johnson and many more.

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