The Brad Stevens Thread

[rocknrollforyoursoul]

Mods: I did a cursory search but couldn't find a general Brad Stevens thread, but please do merge this with another thread if you think it appropriate. ¡Gracias!

I just came across a video of Celtics defensive highlights against the Kings (spoiler alert: there were a lot!), and I noticed that Brad was shouting a lot of instruction and encouragement to his players.

This probably seems like a "no duh" kind of thing—it's what coaches should do, and Brad probably does it all the time—but my guess is that not all coaches are good about these kinds of things, and I'm glad that Brad is.

Brad applied this equally—I heard him instructing veterans like Al, as well as the younger guys—and I especially like how he was being so encouraging of Jabari Bird, shouting out "Good job!" every time JB followed Brad's instructions.

[Surferdad]

No issue from me.  Beating some top Western Conference playoff teams the Thunder and the Blazers in consecutive games, on the road, SHORT-HANDED, is enough proof that he is an elite coach.

[smokeablount]

No issue from me.  Beating some top Western Conference playoff teams the Thunder and the Blazers in consecutive games, on the road, SHORT-HANDED, is enough proof that he is an elite coach.

OKC was at home, FYI.

Here’s hoping Brad gets the love he deserves for CotY.

[SparzWizard]

No issue from me.  Beating some top Western Conference playoff teams the Thunder and the Blazers in consecutive games, on the road, SHORT-HANDED, is enough proof that he is an elite coach.

OKC was at home, FYI.

Here’s hoping Brad gets the love he deserves for CotY.

NBA will find a way to rig it and give it to Brett Brown for leading his 76ers to the playoffs after multiple years of tank job. 

But CBS deserves the CotY no doubt.

[nickagneta]

No issue from me.  Beating some top Western Conference playoff teams the Thunder and the Blazers in consecutive games, on the road, SHORT-HANDED, is enough proof that he is an elite coach.

OKC was at home, FYI.

Here’s hoping Brad gets the love he deserves for CotY.

NBA will find a way to rig it and give it to Brett Brown for leading his 76ers to the playoffs after multiple years of tank job. 

But CBS deserves the CotY no doubt.

While I agree Stevens deserves it I got the funny feeling Terry Stotts, Dwayne Casey or Brett Brown get it, which, IMHO would be complete crap

[DefenseWinsChamps]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N75SMHVsujs

[rocknrollforyoursoul]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N75SMHVsujs

Cool! TP.

[SHAQATTACK]

CBS rules

[Billz401]

He's definitely one of the more vocal coaches in the league during games. Talking, especially on defense is such an underrated aspect. KG was awesome with that, he never shut up on defense lol

[Boris Badenov]

Preseason, we were expected to: contend for the East and win 50-60 games.

Then, this happened:
1. Our 2nd best player breaks his leg 5 minutes into the season and never plays another minute;
2. We are so affected by injuries that a rookie ends up leading the team in games played and minutes played;
3. Our best player fights knee soreness and eventually has regular-season-ending surgery;
4. Our best defensive player also has season-ending surgery;
5. We start 12 different players over the course of the year;
6. We head into the home stretch of the season with 3 of our 6 best players out.

And at the end...where do we end up? Contending for the East and hitting the top end of that 50-60 win range.

[Eja117]

No issue from me.  Beating some top Western Conference playoff teams the Thunder and the Blazers in consecutive games, on the road, SHORT-HANDED, is enough proof that he is an elite coach.

OKC was at home, FYI.

Here’s hoping Brad gets the love he deserves for CotY.

NBA will find a way to rig it and give it to Brett Brown for leading his 76ers to the playoffs after multiple years of tank job. 

But CBS deserves the CotY no doubt.

Stuff like this is why I say only rings matter. Sports awards are just glorified participation trophies generally.

[jambr380]

Preseason, we were expected to: contend for the East and win 50-60 games.

Then, this happened:
1. Our 2nd best player breaks his leg 5 minutes into the season and never plays another minute;
2. We are so affected by injuries that a rookie ends up leading the team in games played and minutes played;
3. Our best player fights knee soreness and eventually has regular-season-ending surgery;
4. Our best defensive player also has season-ending surgery;
5. We start 12 different players over the course of the year;
6. We head into the home stretch of the season with 3 of our 6 best players out.

And at the end...where do we end up? Contending for the East and hitting the top end of that 50-60 win range.

TP for the breakdown and my thoughts exactly. It's not that the other coaches haven't done a nice job, it's just that Brad has had to deal with many more injuries and VERY young end of the bench and still ended the season about exactly where expected. He has been talked about as being an elite coach for several seasons now, it's about time he gets the [actual] credit he deserves.

[Ilikesports17]

Last night the Celtics became the 5th team in NBA history to win 50 games with a weighted average age of 25 or under.

If the Celtics go 7-2 down the stretch (unlikely) they will become the greatest 25 or under team in NBA history passing the Harden-Westbrook-Durant thunder and the Kareem Bucks.

[Ilikesports17]

No issue from me.  Beating some top Western Conference playoff teams the Thunder and the Blazers in consecutive games, on the road, SHORT-HANDED, is enough proof that he is an elite coach.

OKC was at home, FYI.

Here’s hoping Brad gets the love he deserves for CotY.

NBA will find a way to rig it and give it to Brett Brown for leading his 76ers to the playoffs after multiple years of tank job. 

But CBS deserves the CotY no doubt.

While I agree Stevens deserves it I got the funny feeling Terry Stotts, Dwayne Casey or Brett Brown get it, which, IMHO would be complete crap

I bet Casey runs away with it. He is the most improved coach in the NBA this year, but there's no way he's better than Brad.

[GreenEnvy]

I don’t care who they give that award to, nobody has done a better job than Brad this season. Every team deals with injuries but for the amount we have had to deal with and how he constantly has whoever is available prepared and finds a way to get them to contribute.

He puts us in a position to win when we have no business being in some of these affairs.

Yes, some coaches may have gotten more wins. And some may have exceeded expectations. But none have done a finer job than Brad. Pop may still be the best, but Brad is closing the gap and there is nobody close to those two.