Roster Breakdown: The Wings

by **bobheckler** Wed Sep 02, 2015 3:14 pm

http://www.nba.com/celtics/news/sidebar/090215-Roster-Breakdown-The-Wings

Roster Breakdown: The Wings

Posted: Sep 02, 2015

By Taylor C. Snow | @Celtics
Celtics.com
September 2, 2015

With all the versatility on the Boston Celtics roster, it’s not easy placing positional labels on the players.

That’s not an issue for Brad Stevens, however, as he doesn’t classify his guys with the traditional 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 positional tags. Instead, the Celtics coach sings to his own tune with his own set of hybrid roles to fit the multitalented nature of his athletes.

In the book of Stevens, players generally fall into one of the four following categories:

Ball handlers – Typically played by the 1.
Wings – A hybrid between the 2 and the 3.
Swings – A hybrid between the 3 and the 4.
Bigs – A hybrid between the 4 and the 5.

Celtics.com has broken down the roster in Stevens-esque fashion to give you fans an idea of what role each player will take on this season. Keep in mind that there are currently 16 players on the roster, meaning at least one of these guys won’t be with us this season, but let’s go ahead and dish out the projected roles anyway.

On Monday, we tipped off our roster breakdown series with the C’s ball handlers. Today, we introduce to you their backcourt mates. Wing players are typically the best shooters on the floor and are expected to carry a heavy scoring load. On the defensive end, they’re frequently assigned to defend elite scorers on the opposing team.

The Celtics have a mix of youth and veteran leadership at the wing position, but all possess admirable shooting abilities and are capable of being game-changers.

The Wings

Avery Bradley

Avery Bradley was the most reliable all-around player on the team last season, which is exactly what you want out of a winger. On the offensive end, he was the only player to cross the 1,000-point plateau and attempted 1,012 of the team’s league-high 7,211 shots. His .352 3-point shooting percentage was the highest mark on the team among players who attempted at least 125 treys. That range has gradually improved over the years, as evidenced by the fact that his 3-point attempts and makes have risen every season. On the defensive end he has excelled since day one and at this point in his career he is often tasked with guarding the opposition’s best scorer. As Boston’s longest-tenured Celtic, his consistency and leadership will be vital for the team as it moves forward through the rebuild.

James Young

James Young could potentially be a key player in that rebuild, as long as he continues to develop and gain confidence in his NBA game. He came out of Kentucky last year with soaring potential surrounding his shooting ability, length and body control. But during his first season with the C’s, Young’s youth and inexperience was palpable. The then- 19-year-old struggled to consistently fit into the rotation and traveled back and forth 22 times between the Celtics and their D-League affiliate Maine Red Claws. Young spent 31 games in green and white, but only played 10.7 minutes per game and was 17-of-66 from 3-point land. On the other hand, he excelled during 17 games with the Red Claws, averaging 21.5 points and four 3-point makes per game. Young’s shooting ability is evident, and he’s put in the work in the offseason, gaining pounds and pounds of muscle. He just needs the confidence to utilize those assets in order to earn an increase in minutes this season.

R.J. Hunter

Boston’s second selection from the 2015 Draft will also need to prove his poise if he wants to crack the rotation. While at Georgia State, R.J. Hunter was the scorer, he was the finisher and he was the heart of the program. If a game was on the line, he showed no hesitation during the final possession, willing to jack up a 35-foot shot at the buzzer if needed. You can’t have enough of those fearless guys on your team, especially during crunch time. That confidence wasn’t exhibited initially at the Utah Summer League session in July, as Hunter hit just 4-of-15 shots during three games in Salt Lake City. But it appeared the 6-5 wing was simply getting adjusted to the faster style of play. He flipped a switch when he got to Las Vegas, leading the team with 15.6 points per game during Vegas Summer League. If he can maintain that composure when the season rolls around, we may be seeing Hunter tossing up treys on the TD Garden parquet very soon.
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bob
MY NOTE: Young's problem is that he isn't as good a ball handler as either one of these players (not that Bradley is so good but he's better than Young), he hasn't shown an ability to shoot as well as either, he hasn't shown he can play defense better than either and, at 6'6", is too small to qualify for the next category, 'swings'. The only place I see for him is on the side of a milk carton.

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