Doc Rivers told reporters before Sunday’s Game 4 at The TD Garden that Avery Bradley will start, despite needing his shoulder to be popped back into the socket during Game 3.  Via Gary Dzen of The Boston Globe:

Bradley warmed up twice before tonight’s game under the direction of team doctor Brian McKeon before being cleared to play.

“It’s a concern,” said Rivers. “It’s a concern tonight and moving forward as well. We’re just going to throw him out there … I guess each time it comes out you lose strength. But he’s ready to go.”

Atlanta potentially had some good health news as well, as Al Horford was placed on the active list and is considered a game-time decision following his warm up. Via Royce Young of CBS Sports:

For the first time in four months, Al Horford will be in uniform for the Hawks. He’s active for Game 4 against the Celtics in Boston, though he’s still a gametime decision. He warmed up pregame, but it isn’t a sure thing he’ll play.

Horford has been out since January when he tore his left pectoral muscle. He was expected to miss the entire first round of the playoffs.

Via ESPN Boston:

Both starting center Jermaine O’Neal and backup guard Keyon Dooling did not participate in Thursday’s 90-minute practice session due to knee ailments. Rivers said it was more of a rest day for O’Neal (who appeared to be hobbled by a bothersome hamstring or knee in Wednesday’s game), but deemed Dooling questionable for Friday’s visit from the Bulls. “They’re all questionable,” Rivers quipped of his veteran team. “But, yes, I think Dooling is [questionable]. I think J.O. will go.”

I’m not sure when Dolling injured himself, but I know I’m petrified of the phrase “Avery Bradley, primary backup point guard.”

During his rookie season, Avery Bradley often seemed to play with all the confidence of a stuttering, unprepared student whose palms start to pour sweat every time he’s called on to speak in front of the class. Every move Bradley made seemed hesitant. Every shot he took seemed second-guessed. His defense was always rugged, but that’s the aspect of basketball least affected by nerves. When his number was called offensively, Bradley was either A) nervous, or B) hopelessly inadequate, and as a Celtics fan I’d like to think it was the former.

He says it was. There were some practices when Bradley became so nervous he didn’t want to participate. (Boston Herald)

“It was real important for me [to go overseas],” he said. “I got a chance to play point guard, play 30 minutes a game, and (work on) parts of my game I wasn’t able to work on last year.

“Going there that was one thing my agent told them — that I needed to play point guard,” Bradley said. “That helped my confidence level. Coming into this year I’ll have more confidence playing against these guys. Last year I was a little nervous because of the people on our team. Some practices I didn’t even want to get in because I was so nervous. Now I feel like I’ll be ready. Everything I can learn from Rondo I’ll take and put into my game.”

Bradley was a 19-year old rookie playing alongside four first-ballot Hall of Famers, so nerves were expected. But he needs to become confident and he needs to do so quickly. The NBA isn’t the place for people afraid to hear a coach call their names. It’s the place for conscience-less souls who can miss seven consecutive jumpers and know the eighth is going down.

Avery Bradley did not earn Doc Rivers’ trust last season. But before the NBA lockout kept teams from speaking with their coaches, Bradley visited Orlando to spend time with Rivers and try to create a bond. (ESPN)

“It was cool, I was just trying to build a relationship with him,” the just-turned 21-year-old Bradley said Friday of time he spent with coach Doc Rivers. “It was a good experience. I got to work out with both of his sons and play pick-up with a few NBA players down there. It was a good experience. But like I said, for the most part, I was just trying to go down there and start a relationship with Doc, which I felt like I did.” …

“I feel like if someone has trust in you off the court, they’ll be able to trust you on the court,” said Bradley. “That was the main thing for me, to just build that relationship with Doc, let him know how much I want to play. I feel like he’s seen that, now I just have to prove it on the court. When I come in here, from Day 1, I have to go hard and show him that I improved over the summer and, not only that, but I’m looking to improve throughout the year.”

Bradley desperately wants to succeed. He went to play in Israel. He spent time in the Impact Basketball League. He traveled to Orlando to sit in the front of the class and give Doc an apple to earn Doc’s trust and show him how badly he wanted to succeed. I’m rooting for the kid, not just because his evolution would make Boston a stronger team, but because he’s the type of person willing to work out with Doc Rivers’ sons just to prove how badly he wants to earn a spot in Boston’s rotation.

But the key words in his quote were these: “now I just have to prove it on the court.” Doc didn’t keep Bradley on the bench because he didn’t like him. He kept Bradley on the bench because Bradley’s a point guard who doesn’t know how to play point guard. Because Bradley’s handle is shaky, his jumper’s suspect and his rugged defense wasn’t enough to outweigh his shortcomings running an offense. No matter how much time Bradley spent in Orlando — don’t misunderstand me: I LOVE the commitment Bradley’s visit showed, and I LOVE that Doc Rivers is willing to host his players during the offseason — his playing time will be determined by how much he improved during the offseason.

P.S. — I’m half joking, but how badly do you think Bradley got eaten alive by Austin Rivers?

Avery Bradley appeared lost and hesitant at times last year, like the high schooler who forgot to do his homework. The raw nature of his play wasn’t stunning — after just one season at Texas, and a so-so-season at that, Bradley entered the NBA with a higher learning curve than most first-round draft picks.

His coach, Doc Rivers, is not known for having an affinity for rookies, especially rookies like Bradley who need to learn a position on the fly. Joining a championship contender, backing up a budding All-Star, and missing training camp due to an ankle injury, Bradley played catch-up all season.

After Bradley appeared in just 31 games for Boston, playing just 162 minutes all season most of them with the game already out of hand, he said people from Texas told him he should have stayed in school. Bradley heard the criticism, sure. But he said he will only use it as motivation. (ESPN The Magazine)

“As a one-and-done guy, people know that you’re not experienced. Right when you get to the NBA, people just assume that you don’t know as much about the game as other players, which you don’t. But if you’re a college guy that’s done three or four years, you’re gonna know a lot about the game. A lot of the Texas fans were excited. But as my rookie season went on and I wasn’t playing, they started saying that I should’ve stayed in school. My whole life I’ve always been the underdog, so I take that as motivation.”

When Bradley says, “My whole life I’ve always been the underdog,” he really means, “I was rated higher than John Wall in high school.”

That being said, he’s the underdog now. And though he didn’t come prepared for class last year, Bradley needs to cram for next season’s examination. In year two and beyond, the teachers — err, Doc Rivers and the Celtics coaching staff — will expect him to contribute.

(Check out those jersey tops. They look like the Indiana Hoosiers warm-up pants on crack.)

Despite (inaccurate) reports of his release, Avery Bradley continues to compete for Hapoel Jerusalem of the Israeli basketball league.

In his last game on Sunday, Bradley scored 13 points, adding five rebounds, one assist and two steals as Hapoel Jerusalem held off Elitzur Netanya and my new favorite player, Shgb Zikri. In the spirit of full disclosure, Shgb barely played in the game, but I mention his name because it’s quite obvious his parents couldn’t afford to buy a vowel. Bradley led his team with 36 minutes played (they play 40 minute games in FIBA competition), a sign that he is probably endearing himself to the coaching staff.

Through three games with the team, Bradley is averaging 13.7 points, 2.7 rebounds, 0.7 assists and 1.7 steals. He’s shooting 45.7% from the field, including 30.7% on threes from the closer international line. The lack of assists is troubling, considering that Bradley’s biggest need for improvement is running a team from the point guard position. But he has quickly earned minutes, he continues to play basketball during the NBA lockout when he could have chilled at home, and he’s making a little cash during a time when most NBA players are getting nothing. Things could be worse.