What sort of impact can we expect Stevens to have?

[ballin]

So I'm pretty happy with his first-year results. The question, then, in evaluating how much the team should be improving this upcoming year is this: how much better will Stevens be as a coach? What are the odds that he can get so Popovich-esque unexpected development from his players?

Also, what does everyone think of what he's done so far?

[D.o.s.]

I'd like to see a more effective/interesting offense, but a lot of that has to do with player continuity.

[Snakehead]

I'd like to see a more effective/interesting offense, but a lot of that has to do with player continuity.

And their abilities.  We really had basically no one who could create their own shot last year.  It was not a team built to score well.  That's why I think he had a ball movement "let it fly from 3" plan that saw even Sully jacking a lot of long balls.

I think he will have a ball movement style anyways.  I think this year with Smart and Young I will be interested to see how things develop.  Smart could be a good scorer for us with and without the ball and Young is made to shoot and score.

[Chris22]

What sort of impact can we expect Stevens to have?
About the same as the coach in The Fish That Saved Pittsburgh.

[incoherent]

Brad Stevens impact has been immediate and apparent to me. 

Yes, Paul Pierce and KG left giving others like Sullinger and Bradley more opportunity.. but they also played better in the extra minutes they got.

For example:  2012-2013 Avery:  MPG: 28.7 PTS 9.2 RBS 2.2  Two%.432  Three%.319
                      2013-2014 Avery:   MPG: 30.9 PTS 14.9 RBS 3.8 Two% .451 Three %.395

He played only 2 extra minutes under Stevens and was a much better, more efficient player.

But the number of players who blossomed under Stevens are pretty much... everyone. Lets see.

Kris Humphries played his ass off and was the heart of the bench.  Check
Jordan Crawford became the Eastern Conference Player of the Week. Check
Courtney Lee excelled under Stevens where Doc failed to get anything from him. Check
Turned undrafted Phil Pressy into a servicable back up. Check
Turned undrafted Chris Johnson into the teams best player for 2 weeks. Check
Kelly Olynyk had a break out 2nd half the season and is arguably the best big man in his draft class where 7 other bigs were taken in front of him. Check, Check and Check.
Jared Sullinger. Check

The only people who didn't thrive or improve under Stevens was Rondo coming off his injury, and Jeff Green who pretty much stayed the same.

You don't have to look far to see what Stevens is already accomplishing.  I would say his future is very bright.

[Jailan34]

If last year was Steven's "no pressure get used to the NBA no expectations year" this year should have some significance. No we won't be very good or an even average team but I'd like to see some sort of offense system implemented. Last year our offense was tough to watch and I'd like to see Steven's encourage more movement and passing, especially out of AB.

Otherwise it will be another player development year, hopefully we see Smart, Sully, KO and AB improve their games, which will require Steven's giving them minutes in favor of players like Bass, Wallace and Thorton.