Celtics news: Praise to Ime Udoka; Nik Stauskas a sneaky good pickup

Like his team, Boston Celtics head coach Ime Udoka took much criticism when the team was staggering around the .500 mark and looking like an underachieving mess.

Fair or unfair, Udoka was labeled as one of the reasons the team just wasn’t meshing.  In his first season as a head coach, one of his challenges was getting the team to buy in, particularly the young core of Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Marcus Smart and Robert Williams.  It took some time, but Udoka has done just that as the team has a 13-2 record over their last 15 games.

Boston Celtics head coach Ime Udoka has his team ballin’

How is he doing it?  Well, he found the right combinations, shortened the rotation, and has the team playing together and playing inspired on both ends of the court.

One of the players not a part of that young core, but an important aspect of the team’s success is veteran forward Al Horford who recognizes his coach’s vision and has given praise to where praise is due.

"“Getting out of our comfort zone, we’re asked to do different things,” Horford told the Boston Globe, via NESN.  “That takes time as you can tell.  The defense has continued to pick up as the year has gone on.  (Udoka) came in and put some (offense) sets in us, forcing us to move the ball a little more.  From that point on, it started to click how we wanted to play.”"

Now at No. 5 in the Eastern Conference, the Boston Celtics are within shouting distance of the No. 1 spot in the conference.  While players like Tatum, Brown, Smart and Horford are playing with renewed energy and passion, have to give Udoka his props as he should be in the conversation of NBA Coach of the Year, especially if this resurgence continues deep into the playoffs.

Celtics rumors: Nik Stauskas a sneaky good signing

Brad Stevens, we see you.

As the team continues to move up the Eastern Conference, the Celtics president of basketball operations is making all the right moves, although minor moves, in adding the right pieces to compliment the team.

While Derrick White and Daniel Theis have been prime examples of that, the signing of the former lottery pick could come to pay dividends as well.

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As confirmed by MassLive.com on Thursday, the Celtics are singing Nik Stauskas to a two-year deal.  The move temporarily fills the final open spot the team has.

While Stauskas has turned primarily into a journey man, his outside shooting adds depth to the backcourt.  As a career 35.4 percent career shooter from beyond the arc, Stauskas could find some valuable minutes off the bench, especially going down the stretch.

Although his most productive years in the NBA was back in 2015 and 2016 in which he averaged 8.5 points and 9.5 points off the bench for the Philadelphia 76ers, he has recently lit up the G-League scoring a combined 100 points over his last two games with Grand Rapids.

Given the rotation the tight rotation Boston Celtics currently have, signing Stauskas adds some shooting off the bench and provides the team with some depth.  He also adds some experience and could turn out to be one of those minor moves that helps the team down the stretch.