The announcers last night tried to give the Celtics a pass because they are "putting in a new program". I really, really question whether that is the case. Is anything the Celtics are doing on offense different than what they did last year? Yes, Ime talks about ball movement. Brad talked about ball movement, too. I don't see any difference in how they actually play.
Brad played two bigs for much of last season, Ime has played two bigs for much of this season.
Brad played a switch everything defense, Ime has played a switch everything defense. Yes, their defense this season is better - but their defensive personnel (Richardson, Horford, slimmed down Grant Williams) is better. I'm not seeing any difference in defensive strategy.
I honestly don't think the head coach needs to be some wunderkind at coming up with ATO plays. I think the head coach needs to have someone on his or her staff that can draw up ATO plays, and the head coach needs to have the wisdom to choose which one, if they are presented with some options. I have no idea if Ime has someone like that on his staff, or if they do, and the players just don't listen. I don't feel like the Celtics, despite Brad's reputation for being a wunderkind ATO guy, were particularly good ATO last season, either. So, maybe it's the players - but at some point, if it's the players, the coach needs to be able to get them to execute the ATO play - or you need a new coach.
I'm perfectly fine with a narrative of "This team just isn't good enough" - because I think that is a pretty fair assessment. I'm really not fine with "The players need time to learn Ime's system" - because I don't see what that system is. That narrative also dooms the Celtics to more mediocrity, IMHO, because it doesn't solve the underlying problem - which is not enough talent.
Brad played two bigs for much of last season, Ime has played two bigs for much of this season.
Brad played a switch everything defense, Ime has played a switch everything defense. Yes, their defense this season is better - but their defensive personnel (Richardson, Horford, slimmed down Grant Williams) is better. I'm not seeing any difference in defensive strategy.
I honestly don't think the head coach needs to be some wunderkind at coming up with ATO plays. I think the head coach needs to have someone on his or her staff that can draw up ATO plays, and the head coach needs to have the wisdom to choose which one, if they are presented with some options. I have no idea if Ime has someone like that on his staff, or if they do, and the players just don't listen. I don't feel like the Celtics, despite Brad's reputation for being a wunderkind ATO guy, were particularly good ATO last season, either. So, maybe it's the players - but at some point, if it's the players, the coach needs to be able to get them to execute the ATO play - or you need a new coach.
I'm perfectly fine with a narrative of "This team just isn't good enough" - because I think that is a pretty fair assessment. I'm really not fine with "The players need time to learn Ime's system" - because I don't see what that system is. That narrative also dooms the Celtics to more mediocrity, IMHO, because it doesn't solve the underlying problem - which is not enough talent.