HoopsHype.com Rumors

Eric Koreen: NBA 1st-team all defence: LeBron, Ibaka, Chandler + Noah (tie), Allen, Paul. 2nd team: Duncan, George, M. Gasol, Bradley, Conley. Twitter @ekoreen

LeBron James, Chris Paul, Paul George, Avery Bradley, Tyson Chandler, Tony Allen, Mike Conley, Joakim Noah, Tim Duncan, Marc Gasol, Serge Ibaka 

Baxter Holmes: Avery Bradley wasn't on the floor when the Celtics started practice. Came to the facility late. Is with them now. Twitter @BaxterHolmes

Boston Celtics, Avery Bradley 

The Celtics lost their seventh game in the last nine last night, but there was a bright spot in the 110-100 defeat to the Timberwolves. Avery Bradley broke out of his offensive funk with 19 points, the total he had in the last four games combined. The third-year guard shot 28.9 percent from the floor in the 10 games prior, but he drilled a 19-footer to begin this one and finished 8-for-14. “He needed it,” said C’s coach Doc Rivers. “It was good. I think five games in a row we’ve run the first play of the game for him, and finally he came up with a jumper. I just really believe he needed it to go in. I told him after the game the arc was back on his shot; it wasn’t flat, so that was good to see. I think that’ll make him a better defender, too. He’ll be able to relax.” Boston Herald

Boston Celtics, Doc Rivers, Avery Bradley 

Said Bradley, “I haven’t been playing as well as I wanted to. Tonight it was good to see some shots go in. It was just confidence. It’s always good to see them go in. When you’re not making shots and you’re not able to help your team, it’s hard. It was hard for me, because I didn’t feel like I was performing well for my teammates. I’m just going to continue to play hard, if I’m making shots or not. That’s all I can do.” Boston Herald

Boston Celtics, Doc Rivers, Avery Bradley 

But Bradley had a rough shooting performance in the Celtics’ 93-92 win over the Cavaliers, hitting just 1 of 7 shots, scoring just 3 points. And in the last 12 games, Bradley is shooting 32.2 percent (39 for 121) and several misses have been layups or other shots right around the rim. “I’ve just got to stay confident,” Bradley said before the game. “Sometimes I forget that I had surgery [on both shoulders]. “And I always think that everything will be perfect all the time. Obviously I’m going through a slump right now. I’ve just got to stick with it.” Boston Globe

Boston Celtics, Avery Bradley 

Bradley submitted another poor shooting effort in Tuesday night’s 100-85 loss to the Knicks, making just 3-of-11 attempts and dropping his field goal percentage to only 30.5 percent over his last eight games. In that same stretch, a 2-6 run for the Celtics, he has committed as many turnovers as he has collected assists (14). “He’s struggling,” said Celtics coach Doc Rivers, whose team has lost five straight games. “Listen, Avery’s trying his best. His shot is struggling right now. He can shoot the ball, but when you’re thinking about it, he’s clearly going through something. And so we’re going to have to to try to get him through that. “Especially now with all the guys out, we’re going to need him to be effective. I’m probably going to have to do something to try to get him going more, not less. But I feel for him, because he wants to play hard, he wants to play right, but you can see it. So, we’ll get him going.” WEEI.com

Boston Celtics, Doc Rivers, Avery Bradley 

Paul Flannery: Doc on Crawford: "He's on the all scare team. He scares me and Woody. He scares both coaches." Twitter

Boston Celtics, Doc Rivers, Avery Bradley 

Floated that scenario during a call to Boston sports radio WBZ-FM (98.5 the SportsHub), Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge brushed off the suggestion while stressing how much the team likes the Rondo-Avery Bradley backcourt combination moving forward. "I don’t know what you're insinuating, because Avery is not Rondo and Avery can also play 2 guard with Rondo and those guys have been extremely effective together," said Ainge. "I know that we haven’t had them together much this year and I think that Rajon loves playing with Avery Bradley, for a lot of different reasons. I think that combination last year proved to be spectacular, they just did’t get a chance to get together much this year, so it's a little bit unfair." ESPN.com

Boston Celtics, Trade, Rajon Rondo, Danny Ainge, Avery Bradley 

Later, Ainge was asked more directly if he'd ponder trading Rondo or Bradley in the offseason given the way his team has performed. "I can’t envision any scenario, no," said Ainge. "I love those guys, where Rondo is right in the prime of his career, and Avery's not even there yet, he's continuing to get better. I think they are a great guard combination and to ever consider doing something like that, it would have to be something significant." ESPN.com

Boston Celtics, Trade, Rajon Rondo, Danny Ainge, Avery Bradley 

Rivers has taken to comparing Bradley to the likes of Scottie Pippen, Derek Harper, and Alvin Robertson, with Michael Jordan's former running mate his favorite parallel. "It's like Scottie Pippen -- when you played the Bulls, you were praying that, 'I hope he guards the other guy tonight,' " explained Rivers. "Because [Pippen] was one of those guys that could guard the 1, 2, or 3. And you were hoping, 'OK, I hope [he guards the other guy].' I mean, how rare is it that you want Michael to guard you? Over Scottie. "And I'm thinking that's Avery, and even Courtney [Lee]. Courtney's a good defender as well, but they're probably thinking, 'I'll take him over him.' And [Bradley's] feet are so good. I mean, he stays in front of the ball, he gets up into it, and it's big for us. He's really making us a better defensive team." ESPN.com

Charlotte Bobcats, Chicago Bulls, Doc Rivers, Avery Bradley, Scottie Pippen 

An NBA advance scout looks at the race for the Defensive Player of the Year award: "If you're asking me, no single player can be called the Defensive Player of the Year," he said. "It's really a defensive team effort. "Memphis has a very good team defense, and Tony Allen is a hell of a defender. Chicago has a great team effort defensively -- Luol Deng is very good, and so is Joakim Noah. "You could say Kevin Garnett is the spearhead of Boston's defense. But then you also have to take into account that any defensive scheme relies on ball pressure. Without ball pressure, your scheme doesn't get in play. Without Avery Bradley, their team defense doesn't go anywhere. SI.com

Boston Celtics, Chicago Bulls, Memphis Grizzlies, Luol Deng, Avery Bradley, Tony Allen, Joakim Noah, Kevin Garnett 

Ben Rohrbach: Pierce: "I'd be very surprised if Avery Bradley didn't make the NBA All-Defensive team." Twitter @brohrbach

Boston Celtics, Paul Pierce, Avery Bradley 

To get Boston's Avery Bradley, the Wolves would have to sacrifice Williams and a future first-round pick, according to a league source. That's not happening. 1500 ESPN

Boston Celtics, Minnesota Timberwolves, Trade, Avery Bradley, Derrick Williams 

After the Celtics’ fourth straight defeat — a 95-90 loss suffered at the hands of Kyrie Irving (40 points) and the Cavaliers — guard Avery Bradley tweeted: “Nobody will score 40 on [me] unless they take 40 shots.” Irving scored his 40 on 24 shots, although just three of those attempts came against Bradley; meanwhile, the Cavs point guard made 6-of-11 attempts against Celtics point Rajon Rondo, according to Synergy Sports (h/t @ESPNForsberg. That may not even include plays like Irving’s isolation drive past with 22 seconds left in the fourth quarter, when he blew by Rondo and got (questionably) fouled by Jared Sullinger on a three-point play. WEEI.com

Boston Celtics, Rajon Rondo, Avery Bradley 

A second set of X-rays on Celtics guard Avery Bradley’s ribs came back negative Saturday afternoon. Bradley, who bruised his ribs during Wednesday night’s contest against the New Orleans Hornets, is expected to travel with the Celtics to Detroit for Sunday’s game against the Pistons. NBA.com

Boston Celtics, Avery Bradley, Injuries 

The Celtics’ transformation into a true contender may have taken longer than expected and there may be more obstacles as the season progresses, but president of basketball operations Danny Ainge said Sunday that he is content with the roster. Ainge has been scouting college games during the Celtics’ five-game winning streak, watching the rapid improvement of his team’s bench, the spark provided by Avery Bradley, and the improved defense over the past 10 days. With two available roster spots, the Celtics could make an addition, but Ainge said there is no guarantee he will make a deal. Boston Globe

Boston Celtics, Free Agency, Danny Ainge, Avery Bradley 

One team that the Celtics have been in contact with is the Sacramento Kings. Boston has expressed significant interest in DeMarcus Cousins and would like to put together a package for him. Ainge seems willing to part with some combination of his recent acquisitions and draft picks. He doesn’t want to move Rondo, Pierce, Garnett or Avery Bradley, according to sources close to the situation. HoopsWorld

Boston Celtics, Sacramento Kings, Trade, DeMarcus Cousins, Avery Bradley 

Greg Dickerson: Avery Bradley says he's ready to go and make his debut tomorrow. not feeling pressure about it Twitter @gdickerson_csn

Boston Celtics, Avery Bradley, Injuries 

Including guard Avery Bradley might get a conversation going, but the Cs love Bradley's two-way game and have imagined him a cornerstone of their rebuild; Bradley's rapid development the second half of last season before his shoulder injuries put him on the shelf in the playoffs made it much easier for Boston to absorb Ray Allen's departure. NBA.com

Boston Celtics, Sacramento Kings, Trade, DeMarcus Cousins, Avery Bradley 

Ben Rohrbach: Ainge on Avery Bradley's projected Jan. 2 return: "That's been the target date for a while, and I haven't seen anything to change that." Twitter

Boston Celtics, Avery Bradley, Injuries