Avery Bradley played so well for the Celtics last
season that he was expected to take the starting spot for good as the
Celtics reloaded for another title run this year. But with the additions of
Courtney Lee and Jason Terry in the backcourt, and Bradley still
recovering from surgery on each of his shoulders in the offseason, the
starting role has become more complicated.
That suits Bradley just
fine.
Lee will carry the starting load early on, with Bradley not expected to return until December at the earliest. But even when Bradley is ready to take the court, he said his main focus won't be on starting.
"It doesn't really matter to me," he said Friday at the Celtics practice facility in Waltham. "Danny [Ainge] got some great players. I'm excited about this year. I feel like the players he got are going to help us out a lot. However much time I give when I get back, it doesn't matter to me.
"The only thing that matters to me is winning a championship, so I just have to worry about being prepared and strong enough so I do come back."
Bradley — who hasn’t picked up a basketball since the
playoffs — started 38 games for the Celtics last year, including the postseason. He averaged
24.8 minutes a game in the playoffs before being shut down.
Lee, on the other hand, is a newcomer to the Celtics after five years in the NBA. Lee started 26 games for the Rockets last season, averaging 11.4 points in 30.3 minutes
per game.
Lee also wasn't concerned about the starting spot as he looked ahead to the season.
"There's no thoughts about [the logjam at shooting
guard] at all," Lee said Friday. "If you're on this team, your main focus is on winning and getting to the Finals
and winning a championship.
"All that will come into play. [Doc
Rivers is] the coach. He's the one who's going to make those decisions based on
players' performances, and the only thing you can control is how you're playing
and your effort."
The Celtics also picked up Terry in the offseason to make up for their needs at the guard spot after Bradley had surgery and Ray Allen signed with the Heat.
