Turning the corner

It's pretty easy to say that I've been pretty harsh on Jeff Green. Those around me feel I'm his biggest critic. However, it's not because I think he's a bad basketball player: it's the absolute opposite.

When Green was traded to the Celtics in a franchise-altering move during the 2010-2011 season, there was much skepticism. Many Celtics fans (and players and coaches as well) hated to see their lovable big man Kendrick Perkins leave town. However, the bright side was the potential that Green had. Still, the move was unpopular to say the least, and that sentiment was aided with the poor performance of Green upon his arrival.

Before he arrived in Boston, Green averaged 14.1 points per game in his time with the Oklahoma City Thunder. In the 26 games he played with Boston in 2010-2011, Green averaged a respectable 9.8 points per contest and shot 48.5% from the floor. Solid numbers, but not solid for a player like Jeff Green.

2011-2012 was supposed to be Green's time to shine. It was a chance to prove all the naysayers wrong and establish himself as a force to be reckoned with in this league. After finding an issue with his physical, Green nearly lost it all. It was discovered he needed heart surgery to repair an aortic root aneurysm, and he would go on to miss the entire season.

Jeff Green finished a pretty alley-oop from Rajon Rondo in last
night's victory over the Dallas Mavericks.

The time lost on the court was time spent getting his life in order. He got his degree from Georgetown, and he became grateful for the little things in life. He realized what was important, and tapping out his full potential to become the player everyone thought he would be was one of the things he needed to do.

During the preseason, Green was very impressive. He averaged 13.9 points, 4.9 rebounds, and shot 49.3% from the field. He finally looked like the player that president of basketball operations Danny Ainge and the rest of the Celtics thought they were getting when they first acquired him.

Once the regular season started, it was like a switch flipped back to 2010-2011. Green looked like he was lost and like he did not fit in. He was not the same, aggressive player he was during the preseason. In his first 15 games, he only averaged 7.7 points per game. For those games, he was Jekyll and Hyde: one night he would score in double-figures, then he wouldn't achieve that mark for another five games. Inconsistent is the best word to describe Jeff Green's play in those first 15 games.

On November 8, coach Doc Rivers praised Green in an interview with WEEI, but he also challenged Green to step up his game. "He can be really good -- whatever that means. But really, really good," said Rivers. "I think he has it in him. The question for Jeff, is he a guy that can consistently give you 20 points per night, or 18 points per night? It's in him, as far as what we see, ability-wise. But you have to have the ability and the mental [makeup], and that's what we'll find out, if the other part is in him."

Lately, Green has been turning the corner. Over his last 6 games, he's averaging 15.8 points. He's scored at least 15 in 5 of those 6 games, but a more important number is his shot attempts. In his first 15 games, Green was only taking 7.0 shots a game. In his last 6 games, Green is averaging 12.2 shots per game.

Although his field-goal percentage is not where he wants it to be -- he currently sits at 43.8% -- Green is staying positive. "I can't get down because I missed an open shot or an open three or a layup," said Green after Wednesday night's game. "I've got to continue to attack the rim, continue to be aggressive."

After Wednesday's game, Rivers said that he likes where Green is at right now, but believes there is room for improvement.“Jeff is staying aggressive," said Rivers. "We’ve just got to get him better."

Rivers, along with others across the league, feel Green has the potential to be a star and a cornerstone of the Celtics for many years to come. His play seems a bit lackadaisical at times, and he looks like he's moving in slow motion, not putting any effort and looking dumbfounded when things go wrong. According to Rivers, "Jeff's not going to ever show you intensity, even though he may have it, if you know what I'm saying. He's a poker-face player. You're just not going to get that out of him. But he has a fire."

The reason people get on Green is not only due to his lack of visible enthusiasm and emotional outbursts -- unlike the more popular Celtic players like Kevin Garnett and Rajon Rondo -- but because his ceiling is so high. Many view him as Paul Pierce's replacement, and seeing him not play up to his standards can be irritating.

Nonetheless, it appears Jeff Green is finally becoming the assertive, potent player that we all expected him to be. He's finally turning the corner.