I'm curious how many wins this team would have if the final roster were substantially the same as at the start of the season.
Rondo and Green were just not good fits for Stevens' system, a fact that's even more glaring in retrospect.
At least a few games over .500, that I'd be willing to bet on now since we could realistically end up 40-42 and something like 25-12 or w/e over the last few months. And that's with me still saying IT only comes at the deadline. If we had him all year? Is 50 wins really out of the question? If CBS had this team all year I think it would be a dead heat for COY.
I remember at the beginning of the year all the smart posters were predicting records based on whether we did or didn't trade Rondo/Green. I don't think anyone predicted 40 wins even with our two best players. EVERYONE, myself included thought after the Rondo trade (Silly me for hating that trade, looks better and better every day. Never doubt Ainge) that we were gonna be a top 5 lottery team. It speaks to just how good Stevens is. The success of this season is an excellent thing for him. His players love him, and if he continues his rise guys are going to want to play for him.
I won't say his name, but a few weeks after the Rondo trade I said I thought Stevens was in the top half of coaches in the league and a regular around here said "He's probably not even a top 30 coach in the NBA" by highlighting his record. Haha. Sarcastic as it was, Looking back now, they're isn't a whole lotta teams that wouldn't trade their coaches for the next few years of Stevens.