Boston Celtics: 3 things Brad Stevens has to do better
Recognize rotations that don’t work
Finding the right rotations is something Brad Stevens has been trying to do since the start of the 2018-19 NBA season.
The first move Stevens made at the beginning of the season when the team was struggling was move Gordon Hayward and Jaylen Brown to the bench and inserting the energy of both Marcus Smart and Marcus Morris into the starting lineup.
That change did help catapult the team into an eight-game winning streak, but there are certain combinations that seem to struggle, and Stevens has to recognize that because the momentum of the game changes too drastically.
The Boston Celtics head coach has mentioned how the team struggles during the second and third quarter and it is no coincidence that those are times when players like Gordon Hayward and Terry Rozier are on the court.
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This is not to put the blame solely on these players, but there are times when Stevens stick to certain lineups way too long. If Hayward is hurting the defense during certain stretches, take him out. If Rozier is hurting the offense by throwing up quick shots, sit him. If Al Horford does not have the energy during certain points in the game, take him out.
It’s all easier said than done, but the depth the Boston Celtics have does not mean they all to need play big minutes. Brad Stevens needs to find a way to manage these lineups based on matchups and what’s working in that particular game.