Brad Stephens is a top 3 coach

[celtics2030]

No doubt in my opinion this guy is a top 3 coach. He implements a fantastic offense that any players can thrive in.

He is a such a good coach.

[Quetzalcoatl]

TP, I can't agree more.  We're the 5 seed with this team right now, that's bananas.  I don't know if any other coach could get these results out of this current squad.

[Ogaju]

I wonder what Brad Stevens thinks about that.

[Denis998]

I mean there's always Pop, but who else?

[SHAQATTACK]

I mean there's always Pop, but who else?

Rick C

[SHAQATTACK]

Top five anyway ......

If he would bench ET......he be better ...LOL...

[Ilikesports17]

I mean there's always Pop, but who else?

Rick C

After Pop Ive always felt like the next two were Carlisle and Thibs. Then the Bulls fired Thibs. So now IDK who would be 3.

Perhaps Budenholzer

Preseason I would have said Kerr, but his team clearly didnt need him.

Spoelstra deserves some respect purely based on resume.

Overall Id put Brad right there with Budenholzer, but not quite in the Carlisle or Pops tier just yet. Thats not to say he cant get there.

[GryphMinuteMan]

Was the spelling for Stevens a mistake on purpose? Some kind of inside joke?

[hwangjini_1]

No doubt in my opinion this guy is a top 3 coach. He implements a fantastic offense that any players can thrive in.

He is a such a good coach.

all true. but what has impressed me is how he has these guys playing outstanding team defense. they foul a lot but that is a good thing since it results in better defense. they force so many turnovers thanks to CBS's coaching.

hiring CBS has to rank up there among ainge's best moves ever.

[Denis998]

I mean there's always Pop, but who else?

Rick C

I think they are close to each other, Rick has way more talent to work with. Just look at our roster, and look where our players were like a year ago. Who was Turner without Brad? IT4 was on the suns bench, now he is a all star candidate, likewise with Crowder almost. Sully was on his way to Fat Camp. The list goes on and on. I think Brad is Pop's successor after he is done.

[CelticSince83]

I mean there's always Pop, but who else?

Rick C

Yeah, these 2 are in their own class.  I would probably put Budenholzer next. 

[86MaxwellSmart]

if the ping pong balls had fallen the CORRECT way in 1997--Rick Pitino would be a Hall of Fame NBA Head Coach-! ( and the Celtics would have about 21 Championships ).

[Ilikesports17]

I mean there's always Pop, but who else?

Rick C

I think they are close to each other, Rick has way more talent to work with. Just look at our roster, and look where our players were like a year ago. Who was Turner without Brad? IT4 was on the suns bench, now he is a all star candidate, likewise with Crowder almost. Sully was on his way to Fat Camp. The list goes on and on. I think Brad is Pop's successor after he is done.

Brad took over after Sullys rookie year. A year where Sully looked really terrific for a rookie and looked like he could turn into a really good long term 4. Brad was the coach when Sully descended into fat-camp Sully.

[Ilikesports17]

No doubt in my opinion this guy is a top 3 coach. He implements a fantastic offense that any players can thrive in.

He is a such a good coach.

all true. but what has impressed me is how he has these guys playing outstanding team defense. they foul a lot but that is a good thing since it results in better defense. they force so many turnovers thanks to CBS's coaching.

hiring CBS has to rank up there among ainge's best moves ever.

If RJ turns into a player (and I think he could) Ainges 2013 offseason could rival his 07 offseason.

Spinning the decaying big 2 + Rivers for 4 1st rounders including a very conservatively top 10 pick and the right to swap on a 5th first and also adding a top 5 NBA coach to facilitate the rebuild.

wow.

[CelticSince83]

I mean there's always Pop, but who else?

Rick C

I think they are close to each other, Rick has way more talent to work with. Just look at our roster, and look where our players were like a year ago. Who was Turner without Brad? IT4 was on the suns bench, now he is a all star candidate, likewise with Crowder almost. Sully was on his way to Fat Camp. The list goes on and on. I think Brad is Pop's successor after he is done.

Carlisle's teams exceed expectations literally every season.  Some of these Dallas teams the last few years have been utter garbage.  The last 3-4 years they have whiffed in free agency and he has somehow coached a makeshift roster of spare parts into the playoffs.  This Celtics team on the other hand was supposedly a 50-win team this year and will definitely not hit that mark.  I'm not putting that on HCBS, I think this current team was overhyped a bit, but I still don't think BS is anywhere near Carlisle's level.  Hopefully he will get there though.