Why is Brad Stevens so good? Here you go

[KGBirdBias]

The guy allows his players to feel comfortable stepping into roles without feeling pressure to perform. He wants you to play hard and smart, that's it. Plug and play and if I were a FA and needed to resurrect my career, I'm signing in Boston. The guy put in Gerald Green and he won a game for us to propel a series win.

When he wins a title, it's going to open floodgates to multiple titles.

Pop had TD and Robinson and two superstars have wanted out (Aldridge and Kawhi) and they've looked pretty average since TD left. Name one HoF player Stevens has coached? When players leave they turn back into marginal players and fall off. Stevens System is the best in the NBA...period.

[goz421]

I'm a coach and all I can say after reading that is WOW!!!  No one who has never coached can understand how knowing how many possessions another team played a certain defense and that percentage of time it is of value is of importance.

Your talking photographic memory and precision with numbers. How many people have that gift?

[libermaniac]

https://youtu.be/Rp6LBdiX-0g

Watch Stevens reaction at the 1:50 mark - walks calmly down the sideline with arms crossed after his team's amazing victory.

How can he not show emotion?  Do you think he's intentionally fighting the urge to celebrate, or is just wired differently?

[kozlodoev]

The guy put in Gerald Green and he won a game for us to propel a series win.

I don't know why this is considered some sort of a stroke of brilliance. Green is currently a rotation player on a team that's considered a frontrunner for the NBA title this season.

[jambr380]

The guy put in Gerald Green and he won a game for us to propel a series win.

I don't know why this is considered some sort of a stroke of brilliance. Green is currently a rotation player on a team that's considered a frontrunner for the NBA title this season.

After he remained unsigned for the majority of the season. I don't necessarily think that this proves he is a genius, but Houston picked Green up off the scrap heap and has lucked out with the return they are getting.

[kozlodoev]

The guy put in Gerald Green and he won a game for us to propel a series win.

I don't know why this is considered some sort of a stroke of brilliance. Green is currently a rotation player on a team that's considered a frontrunner for the NBA title this season.

After he remained unsigned for the majority of the season. I don't necessarily think that this proves he is a genius, but Houston picked Green up off the scrap heap and has lucked out with the return they are getting.

So, Brad's a genius, but Houston just lucked into something. Ok.

[Chris22]

Brad took Butler to the NCAA Championship game....twice.

He's a f'ing genius.

[jambr380]

While we throw around the word "genius" to describe people who technically aren't, it's obvious to me that Brad Stevens is on the far right end of the IQ scale. I'm confident he's 160+. The way he talks, the way he conducts himself, and his precise methodology are all obvious signs that Earth is just too easy for him. While the other teams have coaches who know a lot about basketball, we have a coach who knows a lot about everything, and that includes how to get the best out of the people that you work with.

I always thought it was kind-of lame that so many former players get coaching opportunities. Of course they know basketball, but that doesn't mean they know the analytical side of basketball. I also feel the same away about television analysts, but realize they are there for entertainment value above anything else. Sports would be a lot more interesting if coaches were more like CBS and Belichick rather than many of these has-beens teams put out there for greater fanfare.

[jambr380]

The guy put in Gerald Green and he won a game for us to propel a series win.

I don't know why this is considered some sort of a stroke of brilliance. Green is currently a rotation player on a team that's considered a frontrunner for the NBA title this season.

After he remained unsigned for the majority of the season. I don't necessarily think that this proves he is a genius, but Houston picked Green up off the scrap heap and has lucked out with the return they are getting.

So, Brad's a genius, but Houston just lucked into something. Ok.

Are you serious? My [short] response literally stated that I didn't think this was an example of Brad being a genius.

How about Brad's ATOs - do you think his assessment of how he thinks the defense will react to a certain set (and having so much success in these situations) gives any credence to the fact that he probably has an above average IQ?

The dude knows what he is doing. Sometimes he probably overthinks himself, but he is as steady and methodical as they come. We are lucky to have him as our coach.

[byennie]

While we throw around the word "genius" to describe people who technically aren't, it's obvious to me that Brad Stevens is on the far right end of the IQ scale. I'm confident he's 160+. The way he talks, the way he conducts himself, and his precise methodology are all obvious signs that Earth is just too easy for him.

Are you qualified to assess that?  Are you say a psychologist or the like?  Or just a guy on a blog?

You don't need to be a psychologist to take an educated guess at someone's IQ. On some tests, the standard deviation is as high as 24, which places 173 at 1 in 1,000. 160+ would be more like 1 in a few hundred, which certainly isn't crazy for a brilliant guy like Stevens.

Yes, obviously the poster isn't being particularly scientific about it, but 160+ isn't outlandish depending on the test administered.

[KGBirdBias]

The guy put in Gerald Green and he won a game for us to propel a series win.

I don't know why this is considered some sort of a stroke of brilliance. Green is currently a rotation player on a team that's considered a frontrunner for the NBA title this season.

That's just one example...there are many. I'm not talking about Green in Houston, I'm talking about Green last year. He went unsigned and sat the bench ALL SEASON and then Stevens starts using him in the playoffs.

[kozlodoev]

The guy put in Gerald Green and he won a game for us to propel a series win.

I don't know why this is considered some sort of a stroke of brilliance. Green is currently a rotation player on a team that's considered a frontrunner for the NBA title this season.

After he remained unsigned for the majority of the season. I don't necessarily think that this proves he is a genius, but Houston picked Green up off the scrap heap and has lucked out with the return they are getting.

So, Brad's a genius, but Houston just lucked into something. Ok.

Are you serious? My [short] response literally stated that I didn't think this was an example of Brad being a genius.

It was cited as an example of Brad being a genius. This was mostly to highlight how when something works out for the Celtics, it's always because Brad is a genius, and never because we just lucked into it.

How about Brad's ATOs - do you think his assessment of how he thinks the defense will react to a certain set (and having so much success in these situations) gives any credence to the fact that he probably has an above average IQ?

Why do you think this is different from how other coaches do it? Have you heard how other coaches describe their strategy in those situations? What are the material differences that make Brad stand out?

As far as the success of out-of-timeout plays is concerned, people tend to remember the ones that work out spectacularly (e.g. Horford vs. Covington), and ignore the ones that end up in an ugly looking jump shot (and he's had quite a bit of those as well).

[KGBirdBias]

I think you're hung up on the word 'genius".

He hasn't had a top college player or top NBA player throughout his career. He's resurrected players career's, won while the team was going through a transition and developed young players.

What is it that you have a problem with? Use whatever adjective you want too...but use one.

[kozlodoev]

I think you're hung up on the word 'genius".

He hasn't had a top college player or top NBA player throughout his career. He's resurrected players career's, won while the team was going through a transition and developed young players.

What is it that you have a problem with? Use whatever adjective you want too...but use one.

Sure, he's worked out great for us. He tends to get plus performance from otherwise average players (e.g. Evan Turner). He's also had players grow complacent in their roles to the point of the team (e.g. Jae Crowder). Also, early in his career, he's sometimes been too stubborn to realize what works and what doesn't (e.g. IT coming off the bench). It's a mixed bag, just like any other coach. The good is probably more than the bad anyway, so I'll take it.