Grantland snippet on Brad Stevens

[Kuberski33]

I wasn't alive when Red Auerbach was alive, Pitino is the first one I can remember. That being said I do not understand how some can believe BS is not the main reason behind this success. Brad Stevens wins with inferior talent, that's what he does! He took Butler to back to back national championships. Yes they had Gordon Hayward, but he wasn't coaching a UK, Duke, UNC. Can anyone honestly say they thought we would be 1 game back from the 8 seed at the beginning of the season? What about after trading Rondo and Green? BS can flat out coach, so let's enjoy the ride and hope he stays around a long time with great success.

When I 'came of age' with the Celtics, Red was GM and Heinsohn was the coach.  Have watched a lot of basketball at all levels and what we're witnessing right now is pretty cool.  Brad has basically taken a bunch of spare parts and young guys with potential but no track record and -- without a training camp and pretty much on the fly-- has molded them into a better than competent NBA team.   It's shocking to me how he's pulled this all together so quickly and created a team with an identity and an entire roster that apparently has bought in.  And I love watching him do his thing in the 4Q because he's mixing and matching based on what the situation calls for vs managing the team the same way game after game.

History says teams like this (without star talent) can't win when it counts against top level NBA teams but it looks like that 'truism' is going to get another test this spring, assuming they make the playoffs, which I think they're going to.   

As you said 'enjoy the ride' and hope CBS sticks around for the long haul.  I think it's going to be a lot of fun following this team for the next few seasons at least.

[clover]

i think it is misleading that we are not a below avg defensive team
the stats probably show smart, bradley, crowder and zeller's impact defensively

as we have 2 above average defenders in smart and bradley and 2 competent defenders in crowder and zeller

eye test wise the clippers are easily a better defensive team with paul and jordan
as with them they would be able to get stops

I think Crowder might ultimately be a better defender than AB. He's already more versatile.

[greece66]

TP for the links.
Having said this, Koremenos hardly followed the C's games this year.
Had he followed the games, he would have known that trading Jeff Green (let alone Rondo) was hardly a blow to Stevens's plans for the team. Despite their talent both these players never really fitted into CBS's plans. IT, Jerebko and (fingers crossed) Gigi are better fits to the kind of team CBS wants the C's to become.
And last but not least, I am starting to get to get worried by the CBS hype. Remember Grantland saying he would go to Indiana because 'this guy should be winning college championships not wasting his time at a tanking team'? Remember the complaints about his rotations? Media have shifted from a very lukewarm take on Stevens to 'he is the best young coach in the NBA'. I really do not care what they think he is. We watch the games and can judge for ourselves. But this kind of Scottish showers (good C's/bad C's) can only hurt the team IMO.

[incoherent]

Sorry, can't take people seriously insist that the surge is because of Brad S and not because of Thomas and Jerebko.

Sorry. 2 wins without IT,one vs the 2nd best team in the league completely negates your attempt at contrarianism.

[Chief]

Does Brad Stevens get into the Coach of the Year race if the Celtics make the playoffs?

[Celtics4ever]

Stevens has also embraced his army of misfit toys, u

Classic quote.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5SH1j1luFOw

I have enjoyed watching the misfit toys come together through adversity.  I am disappointed that Young has not picked it up more though.  He is great at rehabing guys I just hope he is as good with player development.