Celtics finding time for Avery Bradley

The Celtics’ situation is illustrated by the fact the club may well have to count on a contribution from Avery Bradley until Rondo’s hamstring gets better. Bradley has played a grand total of 22 NBA minutes, 15 of them coming in the Newark brunch.

He put his defensive skills to better use in that game, but he remains, in many ways, a rookie in the headlights. For now.

Bradley has battled an ankle problem and is just starting to get in rhythm. After a slow start to his NBA career, things are moving rather quickly.

“When my name is called, I’m kind of shocked sometimes,” he said. “But it’s definitely exciting. And the coaches are always saying, ‘Whenever your name is called, just be ready.’ That’s the main thing I’m thinking about, just going out there, being ready and playing hard.”

He’s playing hard, but not yet instinctively. Where he will soon become more fluid offensively, one can almost hear Bradley thinking when he has the ball. As a result, he’s made just 2-of-9 shots — his first NBA field goal coming on a jumper with 7:26 left Sunday.

“I think I’m hesitating,” he said. “I usually would take the shot, because in college I shot more. But now I’m trying to look for my teammates more. Then it’s like, I’m way open so shoot it. But then it’s last minute.

“I think it’s more knowing what to look for, and that comes with the reps — me playing a little more and knowing what teammates can and can’t do. So I’m learning every single day. I try to watch Rondo even though we’re very different players. I just try to watch him as much as I can. He knows the game so well. But I just need to watch more film and get reps in, and I think I’ll be fine. Doc (Rivers) just told me to go out there and play my game.”

And Bradley’s game is defense. Against the Nets he seemed to turn a corner, dictating his opponent’s moves with more aggressive resistance rather than sitting back and trying to read the move.

“I did that because Doc told me to keep up the defensive intensity,” Bradley said. “I wanted to show him I could play hard the whole time.

“You’ve just got to play. That’s why I’m trying to be more aggressive right now. If you do that, it can make up for some things.”

The Celtics will try to spot Bradley as best they can. But if they take a more cautious approach with Rondo, the rookie will be needed.