Is Brad Stevens the problem?

[OhioGreen]

First off, lets get it out of the way.  I think BS is a hell of a coach.  One of the best.........for college!  Not sure about NBA, and not sure especially for the Celtics.  He's highly praised by other top NBA coaches, and players, but it's his coaching "style and preferences" that concern me.
In college, his teams were "underdogs".  Good solid teams, but not teams anyone expected to win national championships.  And thats the problem, to me.  I truly believe he LIKES it that way!  He WANTS it that way!  Don't give him superstars.  Don't give him five star recruits.  He wants blue collar, clean cut, hard working, high character guys.  And that's great in college, and to an extent in the NBA.  Not "ideal" in the NBA, though.  Two thirds of our roster is filled with guys he likes, and wants to be a part of his team.  He doesn't make personnel decisions, but has got "alot" of input.  Given the choice of say a Kyrie and Durant type, or Smart and Theis type, I really believe he'd take Smart and Theis.....and THAT'S A PROBLEM!  It's the way he wants to coach, and because of that I don't think we'll ever win a championship with him at the helm.  Just my 2 cents.

[pearljammer10]

3 ECF trips out of 4 years with teams that shouldn’t have gone that far in the playoffs and our coach is the problem?

Next thread.

[IDreamCeltics]

I don't think Brad's career is over, but he has probably coached his last full season with the Celtics.

It's clear he's lost the locker-room. 

Whether or not you think Stevens managed the Hayward situation well is irrelevant. because the players - to a man - don't trust their coach to put the best players on the floor or win meaningful games. 

[gouki88]

I don't think Brad's career is over, but he has probably coached his last full season with the Celtics.

It's clear he's lost the locker-room. 

Whether or not you think Stevens managed the Hayward situation well is irrelevant. because the players - to a man - don't trust their coach to put the best players on the floor or win meaningful games.

Cringeworthy

[Rikibellevie]

Yes boy scout Brad is THE problem... We may have asked your question after his two first years here eventually... But today ??

He always overachieved since 2015, with 3ECF and 1 ECSF, finishing from 7th to 3rd best team on the league on regular season... You argue he doesn't wnt any star but I don't think he refused the signing of Horford, Irving, Hayward or refused to sign AD...

If in 3 years we still don't win a ring maybe we could think about changing, but whatever, CBS is not THE problem or A problem at all... And the only time you can speak about loosing control of his locker room was 1 and a half year ago... And I am not sure one coach, prime Popovitch include can canalise Irving as a first team leader (with Morris, unhappy T Roz etc... in the core)

[GreenWarrior]

I know under stevens they've been eliminated from the playoffs the same way every yr. Ie. Opposing team goes on run and our idea of getting back in the game is to start chucking and we lose.

I'd blame the players more but this kinda offensive philosophy has been encouraged since day one.

It's losing basketball.

Maybe it's the players that have gotten us this far or both but there is a chance this is as far as the coach can take us.

[ChillyWilly]

We are 2 preseason games into the new season and we already talking about this is Brad's last season in Boston.

[BringToughnessBack]

I don't think Brad's career is over, but he has probably coached his last full season with the Celtics.

It's clear he's lost the locker-room. 

Whether or not you think Stevens managed the Hayward situation well is irrelevant. because the players - to a man - don't trust their coach to put the best players on the floor or win meaningful games.

What team is your team and why bother posting here? If you are a Knicks fan or Sixers fan, my condolences.

[Moranis]

No. Unrealistic fan expectations for a good but not great collection of talent is the problem

[Roy H.]

Come on, now.  Brad would prefer Theis over Durant?

[coco]

With 3 conference finals appearances under BS; no! BS is not the problem.

Heck, we don’t even have a top 10 player in our roster....and a PG playing on one leg the rest of his Celtic career.

We are fortunate to have BS as our coach.  Frustrating at times? Yes.  But he is a heck of a coach.

[coco]

3 ECF trips out of 4 years with teams that shouldn’t have gone that far in the playoffs and our coach is the problem?

Next thread.

Agreed

[Birdman]

I like Stevens and hoping he is here for years to come...Ainge on the other hand is a different story

[Kuberski33]

Well Tatum and Brown have committed to being here long term. I don't think they'd do that if the coach were a problem.  Bring a different personality in here and it might become one.  Brad is not the be-all/end-all for a coach. He has some weaknesses - biggest one to me is that when plan A obviously isn't working, there is no plan B. And that's mainly in the playoffs. 

But players tend to improve under him. I think he's a legitimate recruiting tool because other players notice this so they can see it being in their best interest to come here.  And he does a good job of putting the pieces in the right place to succeed.

I know his demeanor turns off some, but fiery guys tend to not last long in one place and that's usually a style better suited to college or high school vs the pros where the season is a marathon, not a sprint - and players making more money know that they're the priority - not necessarily the coach.

He'll figure things out with the current team, though I'm not optimistic about a trip to the Finals this season.  Conclusion- I think we could do a whole lot worse with the head coach.

[Atzar]

No. Unrealistic fan expectations for a good but not great collection of talent is the problem

This, mostly.  I believe in Tatum and Brown long-term, but they aren’t there yet, especially when asked to drag an unimpressive collection of roleplayers along behind them.