Brad Stevens: Happy with Celtics’ play, content with role
Brad Stevens stated Tuesday he is glad with the Boston Celtics‘play this season in addition to his present role with the staff.
The Celtics president of basketball operations, typically linked with teaching and govt jobs outdoors of Boston — together with North Carolina before it opted to sign Michael Malone — stated he is content in his present place.
“I mean, the whole idea of the coaching carousel being news is a little bit tiresome, but I get why in this day and age,” Stevens advised reporters in Boston, forward of the Celtics’ recreation in opposition to the Charlotte Hornets.
“I like being here. They’ve been great to me, and I haven’t been seeking anything else.
“I’m not motivated to do something however what I’m doing is the underside line, and I’m actually glad with the individuals we’re round and every part else. That’s been the perfect half about being right here, and actually, as you get to this age and stage, I feel that is the motivator for me. I do not actually have some other motivation than being round people who I need to be round.”
Stevens coached the Celtics for eight seasons, then left that position to take over as the team’s president of basketball operations in 2021.
This season’s team has been arguably the surprise of the league, overcoming the initial absence of Jayson Tatum as he recovered from a ruptured Achilles tendon in addition to the offseason departures of Jrue Holiday, Kristaps Porzingis and Al Horford.
The Celtics entered Tuesday night’s contest two wins away from clinching the No. 2 seed in the East and as a legitimate NBA title contender.
That doesn’t mean Stevens is ready to make any predictions. Far from it. He’s content following the same one day at a time mantra that has driven him his entire basketball life, from the coaching sidelines and now in the front office.
“I really feel the very same as I did initially, I actually really feel that means usually,” Stevens said. “When we get into the playoffs, it’s going to be the identical factor. It’s one recreation at a time. I do not suppose when it comes to the massive image so far as this particular person staff. I simply suppose, I do know that we are able to play.”
He’s also watched the remaining players that constitute his once-underestimated roster to find individual new gears that have contributed to their collective success.
With Tatum out to start the season, Jaylen Brown seized on the opportunity to be the No. 1 option and leader, taking his game to new levels on the offensive and defensive end. It’s added up to him achieving career-high averages in points (28.7), rebounds (7.0) and assists (5.2).
It’s also gained him entry into a crowded MVP conversation. More than that, since Tatum’s return on March 6, Brown’s play has some of the pressure off Tatum taken as he’s worked his way back into form. The same is true for defensive stalwart Derrick White.
The result has been a successful return for Tatum, whose comfort and confidence have grown exponentially over the past month. He had scored 20 or more points in five straight games entering Tuesday.
“I’ve seen us rise and meet challenges and I do know this staff is wanting ahead to the subsequent one,” Stevens said. “As you get into this time of the yr and get into the playoffs, every part’s onerous and the opposite groups are actually good. See the place all of it stacks up, however I’m going to proceed to not put a ceiling on us.”
As is his style, Stevens has stayed mostly in the background this season, with Tuesday marking his first comments with reporters since Tatum’s return. He said they never truly entertained the thought of Tatum returning this season until around the trade deadline.
“He was in a reasonably great place bodily and from the standpoint of his energy,” Stevens said. “And then it is only a matter of reconditioning and getting your confidence again in quite a lot of methods and taking part in and getting again on the courtroom.”
What’s also been clear to Stevens is that he has a coach in Joe Mazzulla, who along with his staff, are putting this team in the best position to achieve. While Brown has been the biggest catalyst to how this team has overachieved, the improvement of players such as Payton Pritchard, Sam Hauser, Neemias Queta, Jordan Walsh and rotation addition Baylor Scheierman you have also helped.
Queta in particular went from a fourth-string center at one point earlier in his career to the starter this for the Celtics, one of the most improved players in the league and among its top performing big men.
It garnered Mazzulla high consideration for coach of the year honors, praise that he repeatedly eschewed while deferring his players and assistants.
Stevens, who surprisingly elevated him to the job after Ime Udoka was suspended, said Mazzulla is worthy of all the compliments he’s gotten.
“They all, gamers, coaches, and everyone else which can be up for all these awards, whether or not they need them or not, they definitely all deserve it,” Stevens stated.
Information from The Associated Press was used on this report.
