Brad Stevens didn’t take home the 2018 NBA Coach of the Year Award, but the Boston Celtics head coach is proving he is elite year after year.
Who cares if five potential stars are walking through that door, Boston Celtics head coach Brad Stevens isn’t buying the hype. In fact, he isn’t impressed at all.
Following Tuesday night’s lackluster 102-95 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers at TD Garden, Stevens put his team on notice that their talent alone isn’t going to get it done in the NBA.
Yes, it was just a preseason game, but the Celtics coach sees a complacency in his team that could knock them off the Eastern Conference pedestal come regular season. They simply can’t just flip a switch and turn it on. From Kyrie Irving down to rookie Robert Williams, Stevens let his team know that they are “not as good as advertised right now.”
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Part of that is just chemistry as the team is trying to re-insert Gordon Hayward and Irving back into the flow of the offense and defense. Much of it is due to a lack of effort and the intensity that has come to define Boston Celtics basketball.
Although Stevens frustration may be considered overstated, the complacency is something he has feared before the preseason even started given the expectations of this team.
"“…the idea that when you have a team back that was so good defensively that we don’t skip steps. I’d say that’s the No. 1 concern I’ve got,” Stevens told Boston Herald’s Steve Bulpett in late September. “I’ve watched teams before have really good years and kind of go through the motions on that end of the court. And we can’t do that.”"
With defense or lack thereof being Steven’s biggest concern, his criticism of the team is understood. But, come on. We all know this Boston Celtics team is very, very good.
Here are three reasons why the team is as good as advertised.
Irving and Hayward have something to prove
Understandably, it will take some time for both Kyrie Irving and Gordon Hayward to find chemistry with a team that went all the way to the Eastern Conference Finals without them.
Both players make the Boston Celtics a better team even until they find their rhythm. We all know what Kyrie can do on the floor in a Celtics uniform, but Hayward is a player we only saw for five minutes. In getting back in the flow of things physically and mentally, Brad Stevens will find a way to utilize his strengths to help the team win.
The impact of both players will be felt towards the end of games where both can be go-to guys when the team really needs a shot. That is something that was missing towards the end of the 2017-18 season and into the playoffs. That alone makes the Boston Celtics good as advertised.
As far as complacency goes, I don’t see that happening with either Kyrie Irving or Gordon Hayward. Both are out to prove they can help this team get to the next level.
Irving is out to prove his commitment to the city of Boston and Hayward is out to prove, mostly to himself, that he can return to an All-Star level. Those motivations will only help fuel a very talented Celtics roster.
Jayson Tatum is the real deal
With Kyrie Irving and Gordon Hayward off the court last season, 2017 first-round pick Jayson Tatum stepped up and showed signs of stardom quicker than expected.
His overall performance throughout the season and playoffs has proven that Tatum is the real deal and will only get better in 2018-19.
While the same can be said about third-year swingman Jaylen Brown, Tatum showcases special skills that makes his stardom limitless. Not only can he create his own shot, he already exhibits a maturity and poise that makes this team even better. His coach sees it and so do opposing coaches and players.
Cleveland Cavaliers coach Tyronn Lue has witnessed Jayson Tatum’s talent and skill level first hand and feel he has no ceiling for the bright 20-year-old star.
"“I don’t see a ceiling right now,” Lue told reporters, via NESN. “I think coming in and playing the way he did and getting experience in the playoffs and taking that next step (was big), and this summer working with Kobe Bryan on his footwork and post skills.”"
Tatum has also put on some muscle that will make him a more physical player. Add more bulk to what he is able to do on the court and second-year forward should have no problem transcending his game.
The bench is very good
We all know about the starting five, but the main reason why the Boston Celtics is as good as advertised is their bench.
Due to the injuries to Gordon Hayward and Kyrie Irving, the bench was a weakness for the Celtics as far as depth goes. However, the minutes Terry Rozier, Marcus Morris, Marcus Smart and Aron Baynes contributed in starting roles gives Brad Stevens that much more depth and adds creativity to what he can do with his lineups.
Stevens can go small, he can go big, he can put in a lineup emphasizing defense or offense. That’s not even including Daniel Theis and Semi Ojeleye, two players who have also made contributions on the defensive end.
Add 2018 first-round pick Robert Williams to the mix and the Boston Celtics may have the best bench in all of basketball.
With their toughness, size and ability to add a spark off the bench, there will be many times when the bench wins games for this Boston Celtics team. The bench with attitude, as Morris has labeled them, will certainly push the starters.
As we know, Brad Stevens doesn’t play around. If one of the stars isn’t performing, this coach has no problem yanking them out of the lineup and go with a player who is getting it done.