WALTHAM, Mass. -- Long criticized for his lack of consistency, Boston Celtics forward Jeff Green has quieted most of those grumbles this season with reliable offensive output. The day after Green took on the challenge of guarding Kobe Bryant in Boston's win over the Los Angeles Lakers, coach Brad Stevens made it a point Saturday to single out Green's improving defensive consistency as well.
"He’s played well, defensively, this year," Stevens said. "I think it’s been a good area of growth for him. "[Friday] night, he took it and really stepped it up a notch, to the point where he got tired and came out of the game twice. And that’s good. That’s a really good thing. Any time you’re guarding a guy like Kobe, you’re going to be absolutely locked in. Hopefully he can continue to grow in that area because he has played a good defensive season so far."
Green has never been regarded as a lockdown defender, but his size and athleticism allow him to harass wings. Green's length tends to bothers shooters from the perimeter, and he's been known to produce a highlight-worthy chase-down block. Troubles tend to appear when opponents muscle him up near the basket.
Where Green appears to be making strides this year is in defending inside the arc, though troubles remain near the hoop. According to the league's player tracking defensive data, opponents are shooting 43.8 percent against him overall, which is 1.8 percent lower than those players' season average. Last season, opponents shot 46.7 percent against him (or 1.6 percent higher than their season average), so it's a step in the right direction.
Synergy Sports' advanced defensive data haven't reflected quite as well on Green. He ranks in the 30th percentile among all league players, as he allows 0.945 points per play. Green was credited with 19 plays defended in Friday's game against the Lakers and allowed only 14 points -- a quality 0.737 points per play -- which is made even glossier when you consider he was often guarding Bryant. Green had a particularly strong defensive second half against the Lakers.
But there remains one eyesore: Green's defensive rating on the floor is 107.5. That's two points worse than the team's season average, and Boston is nearly seven points better without him on the floor this season.
Green shrugged off the idea that his defense is improving.
"Just doing what coach asks me to do," he said. "The game plan for us is five guys play defense, so I'm just doing my job."
Offensively, Green is averaging a team-best 19 points on 45.5 percent shooting in 34.1 minutes per game in 17 appearances. He hasn't shot the 3-pointer particularly well (31 percent), but as Stevens noted, he's Boston's most consistent player in getting to the free throw line -- something Boston's offense desperately needs.
A few more notes from Saturday's session:
• Smart practices: Celtics rookie guard Marcus Smart engaged in the entirety of the team's off-day practice, then stayed late to get some shots up. Stevens held off using Smart in Friday's game. This after Smart played just five minutes in his return to game action Wednesday and made an appearance in the D-League on Thursday. The team is treading cautiously with Smart and trying to help him shake some rust before ramping up his minutes again. Stevens said Friday, "I think [Smart is] a really good player. I think he’s a big part of what we’re doing, but I’m not going to throw him out there if I don’t think he’s ready to roll."
• Powell, Young head north: Rookies James Young and Dwight Powell were headed back to Portland on Saturday evening to join the Red Claws for a game against the Sioux Falls Skyforce. This is the fourth assignment to the D-League this season for each rookie, as Boston attempts to maximize their game reps.
• Faverani sighting: Second-year center Vitor Faverani engaged in some light shooting as teammates stretched at the end of practice, but Stevens said there is no update on his condition. "He was just out here shooting around," Stevens said.