Brad has done great thus far... He has surpassed what anyone of us would have imagined this season could be. He's an excellent coach, and yes I do believe he's a better coach (not at managing personalities like Doc), but X's & O's makes better.
The last few games I think Brad has not done too well with his coaching. Since the return of Isiah Thomas this team has not played too smoothly. I still feel Thomas recovery was rushed. Pressy was playing great, and as a coach with a very young team trying to make the playoffs he should've kept same players playing.
You could take a look back at every game since Thomas returned the mood of the game has changed when he checked in. Ball movement becomes stagnant, and for some reason we start looking at Isiah to be the leader of this team that plays better with no leader. I almost wanted to change the channel when Isiah checked in, because I knew the game we were winning was about to make a lopsided turn.
Isiah wasn't the only reason... Jerebko played great and then Brad subbed him out and that was the last I saw of him. Why bring in Bass when this man was doing well idk... The worst of the coaching was bringing in Jared 2nd half of the game??? I thought we were in a playoff hunt... bringing in a guy that hasn't played an nba game in many months was a horrible move. Brad coached poorly and Celtics lost a very important game they needed to win.
I'm going to agree with your assessment of IT and his use.
It's beginning to look like Thomas has bought in to the theory that he is the spark plug of the team. It looks like he's feeling totally responsible for how the offense functions when he's in the game. I mean, just him alone.
He was traded to a team that was sharing the ball. When he first arrived, he fit in very well, and with good success. The problem is, too much IT for long stretches will cause a stagnant offense, plus teams in the East have figured out the way to control him is make him defend, post him up or take the ball to the rim. There is a key to the proper use of IT that can make him a valuable member of the team. IMO it's bringing him in for shorter stints, more often. Use him as a spark at the end of close games, and not as the teams main answer. Unfortunately, to do this successfully we need better players that can score, defend, and share the ball.