Brad Stevens

[D.o.s.]

Some of the guys who dis Stevens in this thread could not have coached Butler to a final four twice.  I would bet money on it.  In fact, I bet they don't even coach. 

I think he has done ok with the roster he has had.   I think he got a lot out of the team early on and they over performed but I think he let some of the vets take over the airways too much.

This roster was built to lose and tank.

I bet you've never constructed a roster. I would bet money on it. In fact, I bet you've never even been a GM.

Neither have I, but I tend to agree with Stan Van Gundy.

You can look at some of these teams and say pretty confidently, hey, that team is a certified loser.  I'm NOT a GM, which means I'm not as savvy or knowledgeable about NBA stuff as a GM.  So if I can see it, a GM definitely can.

There's no way Danny Ainge saw this team winning 50% of it's games heading into this season.  Most analysts figured this team would win something in the range of 25-30 wins, and that looks to be just about right.


If Danny were interested in winning games this season, I think we would have seen a very different set of moves this past summer.  But Danny's goal has been to set the team up to be a winner 2-3 years from now.

I totally agree. I think it's just funny to pull the "you've never done X so you can't really comment on X" card in a post that features the same thing.

[blink]

All you can really judge about him is does he have his team prepared to play, and is the team still engaged / working together to get better despite all the losses.  I think the answer is yes to both of those.

I don't want to take over the thread, but I cannot not comment on this. Over the course of the season, the following happened:

1. Our most experienced player ripped the team for lack of effort multiple times in the media,
2. One of our top scorers had to be given a talking to by his dad(!) to get to play up to his potential somewhat consistently,
3. A player was send home because he got disgruntled with his role, and
4. The coach and the team's best player couldn't get on the same page about a fairly innocuous situation with a missed team trip.

Given all this, I am at a loss how Brad Stevens can get a pass on having the team engaged. But that's just me.

I would say playing Indiana to the wire the other day is pretty good proof that the team is still together and engaged.

1.  So wallace spouting his opinion to the media means that Brad isn't doing his job?  What is he supposed to do about that?  Every player is going to have an opinion.  Why does Wallace saying something mean the team isn't getting better?
If you listen to Wallace after he got injured he says he enjoyed his time here and the team was getting better.

2.  What does Sully's Dad's conversation with him have to do with Stevens?  So Sully can't get good advice from anyone else or Stevens is a bad coach?  So you don't think that Stevens has any influence on Sully or the other young players?  That isn't a valid arguement.

3.  So Bogans not being on board with not playing is Brad's fault?  Give me a break.  Just because Bogans couldn't fill his role (site on the bench and collect his money) without complaining, that is somehow Brad Stevens fault?  You have got to be kidding.  I am glad they sent Bogans home.  So what should have Stevens done?  Played him and kept him happy when we have other younger players to develop. 

4.  That comment has it's own thread with a million comments and I don't see that situation as a huge problem.

[blink]

All you can really judge about him is does he have his team prepared to play, and is the team still engaged / working together to get better despite all the losses.  I think the answer is yes to both of those.

I don't want to take over the thread, but I cannot not comment on this. Over the course of the season, the following happened:

1. Our most experienced player ripped the team for lack of effort multiple times in the media,
2. One of our top scorers had to be given a talking to by his dad(!) to get to play up to his potential somewhat consistently,
3. A player was send home because he got disgruntled with his role, and
4. The coach and the team's best player couldn't get on the same page about a fairly innocuous situation with a missed team trip.

Given all this, I am at a loss how Brad Stevens can get a pass on having the team engaged. But that's just me.

This certainly sounds like Sully is engaged and all in with Stevens:

“Teams where we’re at right now, can really just kind of give up and just say, ‘You know what, forget this season. Let’s try again next year,’” Sullinger said. “I don’t think any of us are thinking like that and it shows in our play. Every night we come out and play hard. We’re always in the game. We just have to make two or three more plays a half, and we’ll come out … winning the game. I don’t think nobody wants to give up on the season. Everybody’s out here playing hard and everybody’s trying to get better.

“That’s just a testament of Brad. He hasn’t given up. He’s still coaching his butt off. He hasn’t given up on us, and I think this team has bought into his system, has bought into his coaching staff.”

http://www.masslive.com/celtics/index.ssf/2014/03/jared_sullinger_boston_celtics_3.html

[TheBigTicket23]

I would like Brad Stevens to coach the Boston Celtics for the next 20 years.

Ofcourse a lot can change but I like this guy, think he can improve and improve, works hard and is creating some celtic heart and is starting to bleed green.

[SparzWizard]

He's shown me absolutely nothing so far this season.

He's no exactly in a great position to showcase his defensive schemes and timeout plays...Doc was a basically a .500 coach with the magic for four years until he got fired, then had 2 losing seasons with the Celtics...Did he suddenly become THAT much better of a coach, or was he given 2 first ballot HOFers in one offseason?

Nah, it was Tom Thibs who carried that load, not Doc.

[kozlodoev]

All you can really judge about him is does he have his team prepared to play, and is the team still engaged / working together to get better despite all the losses.  I think the answer is yes to both of those.

I don't want to take over the thread, but I cannot not comment on this. Over the course of the season, the following happened:

1. Our most experienced player ripped the team for lack of effort multiple times in the media,
2. One of our top scorers had to be given a talking to by his dad(!) to get to play up to his potential somewhat consistently,
3. A player was send home because he got disgruntled with his role, and
4. The coach and the team's best player couldn't get on the same page about a fairly innocuous situation with a missed team trip.

Given all this, I am at a loss how Brad Stevens can get a pass on having the team engaged. But that's just me.

I would say playing Indiana to the wire the other day is pretty good proof that the team is still together and engaged.

1.  So wallace spouting his opinion to the media means that Brad isn't doing his job?  What is he supposed to do about that?  Every player is going to have an opinion.  Why does Wallace saying something mean the team isn't getting better?
If you listen to Wallace after he got injured he says he enjoyed his time here and the team was getting better.

2.  What does Sully's Dad's conversation with him have to do with Stevens?  So Sully can't get good advice from anyone else or Stevens is a bad coach?  So you don't think that Stevens has any influence on Sully or the other young players?  That isn't a valid arguement.

3.  So Bogans not being on board with not playing is Brad's fault?  Give me a break.  Just because Bogans couldn't fill his role (site on the bench and collect his money) without complaining, that is somehow Brad Stevens fault?  You have got to be kidding.  I am glad they sent Bogans home.  So what should have Stevens done?  Played him and kept him happy when we have other younger players to develop. 

4.  That comment has it's own thread with a million comments and I don't see that situation as a huge problem.

Got it. The team plays without effort, the staff can't motivate some players, and fails to properly communicate to others, but it's not Brad's fault.

As a matter of fact, it's never Brad's fault. Brad is, you know, great. Because Butler.

[blink]

All you can really judge about him is does he have his team prepared to play, and is the team still engaged / working together to get better despite all the losses.  I think the answer is yes to both of those.

I don't want to take over the thread, but I cannot not comment on this. Over the course of the season, the following happened:

1. Our most experienced player ripped the team for lack of effort multiple times in the media,
2. One of our top scorers had to be given a talking to by his dad(!) to get to play up to his potential somewhat consistently,
3. A player was send home because he got disgruntled with his role, and
4. The coach and the team's best player couldn't get on the same page about a fairly innocuous situation with a missed team trip.

Given all this, I am at a loss how Brad Stevens can get a pass on having the team engaged. But that's just me.

I would say playing Indiana to the wire the other day is pretty good proof that the team is still together and engaged.

1.  So wallace spouting his opinion to the media means that Brad isn't doing his job?  What is he supposed to do about that?  Every player is going to have an opinion.  Why does Wallace saying something mean the team isn't getting better?
If you listen to Wallace after he got injured he says he enjoyed his time here and the team was getting better.

2.  What does Sully's Dad's conversation with him have to do with Stevens?  So Sully can't get good advice from anyone else or Stevens is a bad coach?  So you don't think that Stevens has any influence on Sully or the other young players?  That isn't a valid arguement.

3.  So Bogans not being on board with not playing is Brad's fault?  Give me a break.  Just because Bogans couldn't fill his role (site on the bench and collect his money) without complaining, that is somehow Brad Stevens fault?  You have got to be kidding.  I am glad they sent Bogans home.  So what should have Stevens done?  Played him and kept him happy when we have other younger players to develop. 

4.  That comment has it's own thread with a million comments and I don't see that situation as a huge problem.

Got it. The team plays without effort, the staff can't motivate some players, and fails to properly communicate to others, but it's not Brad's fault.

As a matter of fact, it's never Brad's fault. Brad is, you know, great. Because Butler.

For the points you made, no I don't think those are Brad's fault.  I never said Stevens was great, I just said that based on what I feel you can evaluate him on this year he seems to have done ok.  I never said anything about butler.  If you want to ignore what I write and respond to things I never said go ahead.  But using Sully talking to his dad and Bogans personal gripes / problems as a criticism of Stevens just seems to be seriously nit picking.

But whatever, you don't like Stevens.  Fine, just make some more credible points then.

[European NBA fan]

All you can really judge about him is does he have his team prepared to play, and is the team still engaged / working together to get better despite all the losses.  I think the answer is yes to both of those.

I don't want to take over the thread, but I cannot not comment on this. Over the course of the season, the following happened:

1. Our most experienced player ripped the team for lack of effort multiple times in the media,
2. One of our top scorers had to be given a talking to by his dad(!) to get to play up to his potential somewhat consistently,
3. A player was send home because he got disgruntled with his role, and
4. The coach and the team's best player couldn't get on the same page about a fairly innocuous situation with a missed team trip.

Given all this, I am at a loss how Brad Stevens can get a pass on having the team engaged. But that's just me.

I would say playing Indiana to the wire the other day is pretty good proof that the team is still together and engaged.

1.  So wallace spouting his opinion to the media means that Brad isn't doing his job?  What is he supposed to do about that?  Every player is going to have an opinion.  Why does Wallace saying something mean the team isn't getting better?
If you listen to Wallace after he got injured he says he enjoyed his time here and the team was getting better.

2.  What does Sully's Dad's conversation with him have to do with Stevens?  So Sully can't get good advice from anyone else or Stevens is a bad coach?  So you don't think that Stevens has any influence on Sully or the other young players?  That isn't a valid arguement.

3.  So Bogans not being on board with not playing is Brad's fault?  Give me a break.  Just because Bogans couldn't fill his role (site on the bench and collect his money) without complaining, that is somehow Brad Stevens fault?  You have got to be kidding.  I am glad they sent Bogans home.  So what should have Stevens done?  Played him and kept him happy when we have other younger players to develop. 

4.  That comment has it's own thread with a million comments and I don't see that situation as a huge problem.

I would like to add:

1. Apparantly, Wallace has done that with every team, he has ever played on, so it would be a surprise if he didn't.

2. Sully's dad is a big part of who Sully is as a player. You can say that Stevens should be able to do the same, as Satch Sullinger did. But Satch Sullinger probably has a lower threshold when it comes to his son's attitude. (And I'm pretty sure that Sully would have shown attitude on any losing team).

3. Bogans isn't kept on the team to play, he is kept as a possible piece in a trade. My guess is that Danny told Stevens this, and said that he should rather play Brooks. I understand why Bogans couldn't come to terms with this, but I can't really blame anyone, since Bogans got a big pay day out of it.

4. Birthdaygate is the only one of these four points where I see signs of an inexperienced NBA coach.

When it comes to X's and O's, I still believe that he needs to develop, but I expect him to work hard on that.

[moiso]

Stevens really impressed me until Ainge started dumping players.  We were overachieving and then it seemed like morale took a hit after we traded Lee.

[SHAQATTACK]

Stevens really impressed me until Ainge started dumping players.  We were overachieving and then it seemed like morale took a hit after we traded Lee.

Yup......it was a losing Perk like hit ,  the wind went out of their sail immediately.    Obvious Lee was a well liked vet leader on this team.

Lee was playing good , finally the guy we hoped to have ,  then DA dumps him......so,yeah it took its toll on the team and fans not wanting to tank

[Fafnir]

Stevens really impressed me until Ainge started dumping players.  We were overachieving and then it seemed like morale took a hit after we traded Lee.

I think our level of play died before that.

[Fafnir]

I like what he's done defensively. He adjusted his schemes from Butler out of the gate immediately to deal with our personal (and our bigs in particular). A lot of coaches just run their system till the team self-combusts.

His offensive schemes I'm not as sold on. But I can't say the offensive talent on this team is under-performing by any means. We were 24th in the league last year and largely have held the same place this year.

I do think overall the team plays hard. If you think the C's quit and don't play had I suggest you go watch the Knicks.

[action781]

If Brad Stevens goal is to win games (which should be of any coach, player, or team) then you have to say he is doing a poor job.  We are underperforming on a wins basis even relative to the talent on our roster.  But management has shown by their transactions this season that winning games is not the Celtics' goal.

Brad Stevens' charge is developing young talent.  He really can't be assessed on that until we see what our young players become.

So he get's a N/A for assessment.

[More Banners]

I put this elsewhere, but it fits better here...

I mostly agree, with the caveat that we could just as well had a placeholder head coach during this (hopefully) bridge year.  Not much matters this year, other than the returning health of Rondo and the development of the guys we've drafted over the last few years, including Bradley as well as Sully and KO.  Truthfully, this is the least I've watched the C's in at least a dozen years, preferring to simply "follow" the progress.

I do agree on the "stamp" thing, or what we might more often call team identity.  Our identity is what our roster is: unremarkable.

At least Obie got the team to play really, really good defense, and it brought a mediocre team to the ECF.  He didn't have D-league players starting at any point, though. 

It looks like Brad and most of the guys "get" what this season really is about, most are handling it well, and THAT is an outstanding coaching job in itself.

[ChiefDK]

How can anyone judge him based on one season with inferior talent? Even before the trades, this roster was horrible. Look at the roster! Would Phil Jackson do any better?

Next season will be a good test (trades could change this though)- full season from Rondo, continued development of Sullinger, and probably a top 5 draft talent. There should be a decent improvement in wins. If he's 20-40 at this point next year, then maybe there's a problem.

Until then, not enough data.