Boston Celtics: Brad Stevens needs to address disrespect of C’s logo

If the Boston Celtics players allowed an opponent to disparage the team in a so-called Celtics “Logogate”, it’s a big problem that needs to be addressed. Why is that? Easy…respect.

When a former player from the Nets insults the team and there is no response it depicts a lack of leadership in the current players.

If they haven’t any respect for the team or their fellow players then they should go. Now.

And that includes any players from the best, Jayson Tatum to the worst. A general manager, whatever his title, has to set a foundation for the team’s actions.

If players don’t respect the colors, then they should just go, whoever they are. If he’s not protecting the colors and the franchise, they should just go…period.

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Stevens is on the hot seat. He made a solid trade of an oft-injured very costly veteran player. But has he addressed the disrespect shown by a former player who basically told the franchise off?

Stevens was a relative failure as Celtics coach (no championships), so naturally, he should be elevated to be President of Basketball Operations.

Well, maybe not. Danny Ainge‘s influence there was clearly evident.

Stevens as Boston Celtics GM will be judged on results, not his personality

Hopefully, Stevens either as a coach or general manager addressed the mockery of the Celtics team and franchise by a former player stomping on the Celtics mascot at center court after a game at the Garden.

If not, it’s a major failing. Now, maybe no Celtics players witnessed that episode. If they did, players who are passive in that situation should be jettisoned.

And that includes anyone, no matter who they are or how good they are, including the very best. No respect for the flag? No need to be here. Goodbye.

If they didn’t react, make good trades and ship them out. That’s what should happen and we’ll see if Stevens has the fortitude to take those necessary actions.

It’s on Stevens to up the Celtics team consciousness to include pride in the flag. If he can’t he should be gone in a hurry.

Stevens most likely consulted Ainge on the big trade of Kemba Walker. I’m OK with that, I think. But on the other hand, it signals a possible situation where we have “Aingeism without Ainge”.

That’s not a good thing. One championship in 18 years is not exactly what Boston fans, some of whom, veterans like this fan, expect.

It’s totally unacceptable. Ainge was not a success as a Boston Celtics executive.

Boston Celtics fans expect excellence and too often they got far less than that. They got mediocrity. It’s not at all tolerable.

Derision of the team logo by a former player is not in any way, shape, or form admissible either. The next Celtics coach should be cognizant innately of that fact, or not be hired.

I might ask, does anyone think that the late, magnificently great Tommy Heinsohn would have tolerated that? Clearly, no. Not at all.

The absolute necessity is that the team respects itself. No disrespect should be allowed. There are boundaries that can’t be crossed, and that logo incident clearly crossed those boundaries.

So, we have seen one gutsy trade by Stevens to try to free up cap space. OK, that’s fine, but it’s just a start, nothing more, nothing less.

Now, let’s see if the new Celtics majordomo has the prudence and fortitude and to bring in the right coach and then make the additional deals and moves internally that will make the Celtics great again.

It will take guts, determination, and no fear. Does Stevens have the moxie to make that happen? We’ll see. If not, we’ll see more “Aingeism without Ainge”.

And that’s not nearly good enough.