Is it time to talk about Coach Brad?

HomeRunBaker

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Jan 15, 2004
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Can you explain why an up and coming assistant would be a good fit for this team? I don't imagine that Jaylen/Jayson/Marcus/Kemba want to be coached by someone who's never done it before. If the issue is with Stevens "not connecting", then I'd imagine they want a coach who actually played in the mold of Steve Nash or Ty Lue or even Doc, someone who'd command their respect. Two years ago we could've made that switch, but I can't see our stars that are hitting max contracts wanting someone who'll learn on the job without that player cred.

Personally, I don't see how we do better than Stevens with a new coach unless we hire someone like D'Antoni (and that brings its own challenges). The problem with this team isn't chemistry or coaching so much as it's health and talent.
I don’t expect that Smart or Kemba will be a part of this core long term. The latter as soon as we can move his contract and the former as our primary trade bait once Romeo is ready to assume his role which may be real soon. It is going to be a young core unless we move one of JT or JB and a younger coach who they have likely already crossed paths with up the camp/workout ranks is the best fit for them to connect to imo.
 

OurF'ingCity

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There are a ton of high quality assistants who will be getting head jobs in the coming years. Brian Keefe, Pat Delany, Wes Unself Jr, Charles Lee, and my top guy from the Nuggets, Jordi Hernandez. All younger guys who could connect well with our young core (especially Jordi).
What specifically makes you think any of the above would be able to "connect" with JT and JB any better than Brad? Not being snarky, honestly curious.
 

HomeRunBaker

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What specifically makes you think any of the above would be able to "connect" with JT and JB any better than Brad? Not being snarky, honestly curious.
That would be Wyc and Danny/newGM to decide which would be the best fit. I used this list as a guide of some young up and comers who could bring an energy and fresh voice/ideas that seem to be lacking with a special notation on Jordi who they likely ran across in camps or on the AAU circuit and has a strong reputation on relating to young players.
 
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Kenny F'ing Powers

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Probably some guy I never heard of. I don't really care if they replace him or not but he is replaceable and so is Ainge.

Neither one is BB.
Our memories are short.

Coach Brad Stevens is a boss.

Stevens contract extension.

You could make a case that, even in a Belichick world, that Stevens is the most valuable coach in Boston at the moment. This news is beyond incredible, I hope that he's getting $20/mil/year.
How has this thread not blown up already? This is tremendous news, and should quell some concerns about him jumping back to college. I hope Stevens is here another 30 years.
It absolutely part of the FA recruiting process. FAs want stability in their coach and front office and this is a sign that Brad and Danny will be here for the long haul.
This is fantastic news. I would not want a different combination running my organization.
Fantastic, absolutely awesome. Behind Red, Danny is the best GM and Stevens is the best coach that this franchise has ever had. While we would all obviously prefer more instant gratification, but I know this franchise is in great hands with these two at the wheel. If you told me we wouldnt attract a significant free agent over the next 3 years, but I'd get contract extensions for Danny and Stevens, I'd take the contract extensions in a heartbeat. Thats how strongly I feel about these guys.
A great day for the Boston Celtics - and the future.
That's only a handful of quotes. We also had a poll where people basically said they wouldnt trade him unless it was for a top 5 superstar(!?)

I know this was five years ago, and he certainly could have "lost the team" by then. But I think were a little spoiled with Stevens. Is he Pop? No. But hes a good coach. And I certainly dont think hes as fungible as you make it sound. If we had a Lebron, Durant, or Kawhi? Fine. But we dont. We need a good coach, and I think Stevens is one.

"Players tuning out a good coach" is a player issue, not the other way around.
 

Cesar Crespo

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Dec 22, 2002
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Our memories are short.

Coach Brad Stevens is a boss.

Stevens contract extension.













That's only a handful of quotes. We also had a poll where people basically said they wouldnt trade him unless it was for a top 5 superstar(!?)

I know this was five years ago, and he certainly could have "lost the team" by then. But I think were a little spoiled with Stevens. Is he Pop? No. But hes a good coach. And I certainly dont think hes as fungible as you make it sound. If we had a Lebron, Durant, or Kawhi? Fine. But we dont. We need a good coach, and I think Stevens is one.

"Players tuning out a good coach" is a player issue, not the other way around.
I've always thought Stevens was incredibly overrated in the cellar, alongside Ainge, Marcus Smart and Daniel Theis. I'm pretty sure you won't find posts from me comparing him to BB or saying I wouldn't trade him for a superstar. I'd trade him for a 1st round pick.

I don't think any of them are bad. I just think they are made out to be more important than they really are. This team's success depends on Tatum and Brown.
 

Cesar Crespo

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Dec 22, 2002
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For this team to miss the play in game completely, they'd have to finish the year like 4-16 or 5-15. If they actually did that, there would be far more people in favor of firing Stevens and Ainge.

If the C's went 4-16, Toronto would have to go 10-11, Chicago would have to be 10-13, Indiana 8-14, NY 6-14.
 

Cellar-Door

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In the NBA, this statement is wrong.
not really, it's just that in the NBA elite player trump everything. So if you have top talent who tune out your coach the coach goes. If you have the 2004-05 Hawks you just get a new roster.
Your players tuning out the coach is often the players' fault... it's just that the NBA is a player centric league, where something like the NFL (except QBs) is a coach/GM centric league.
 

HomeRunBaker

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not really, it's just that in the NBA elite player trump everything. So if you have top talent who tune out your coach the coach goes. If you have the 2004-05 Hawks you just get a new roster.
Your players tuning out the coach is often the players' fault... it's just that the NBA is a player centric league, where something like the NFL (except QBs) is a coach/GM centric league.
How is it the players fault if they respond better to a different voice? The coach has to be held accountable if this is the case. Remember when Magic got Westhead fired......was that Magic’s “fault” or was it his way of getting a coach that would, for whatever reason, help propel him to a greater level?
 

RedOctober3829

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Jul 19, 2005
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deep inside Guido territory
Our memories are short.

Coach Brad Stevens is a boss.

Stevens contract extension.













That's only a handful of quotes. We also had a poll where people basically said they wouldnt trade him unless it was for a top 5 superstar(!?)

I know this was five years ago, and he certainly could have "lost the team" by then. But I think were a little spoiled with Stevens. Is he Pop? No. But hes a good coach. And I certainly dont think hes as fungible as you make it sound. If we had a Lebron, Durant, or Kawhi? Fine. But we dont. We need a good coach, and I think Stevens is one.

"Players tuning out a good coach" is a player issue, not the other way around.
My post still stands as my feelings today. Brad is not the issue.
 

Cellar-Door

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How is it the players fault if they respond better to a different voice? The coach has to be held accountable if this is the case. Remember when Magic got Westhead fired......was that Magic’s “fault” or was it his way of getting a coach that would, for whatever reason, help propel him to a greater level?
Bit of both, but mostly... Magic was an egomaniac drug addict and Westhead was a not very good coach who was handed the best team in the league, and was on the brink of firing anyway.

The problem is, everyone is acting like it's straightforward. If players tune out their coach they are not doing their job, at least as much if not more than the coach.

If they are bad players and the coach has been a good coach you dump the players. If they are good players, you dump the coach because good players are more valuable than good coaches.

Sometimes it is clearly on the coach too, like late era Jerry Sloan, he just wasn't interested in making an effort anymore. Sometimes the problem is just a bad match between player and coach, sometimes the player is just a malcontent.

The key is figuring out which it is. However... most times it's neither, it's just a stretch of bad performance. And sometimes it's just a situation where your best players aren't forceful personalities and shaking up the situation with new supporting cast can get the best out of coach and player. Like Ricky Davis, when he tunes out the coach you get rid of him, because that's who he is, he's a not that good player who doesn't like having any coach. If LeBron wants a change you do it, because LeBron is an elite player, and as an added benefit, he isn't going to quit on your team.
 

HomeRunBaker

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Bit of both, but mostly... Magic was an egomaniac drug addict and Westhead was a not very good coach who was handed the best team in the league, and was on the brink of firing anyway.

The problem is, everyone is acting like it's straightforward. If players tune out their coach they are not doing their job, at least as much if not more than the coach.

If they are bad players and the coach has been a good coach you dump the players. If they are good players, you dump the coach because good players are more valuable than good coaches.

Sometimes it is clearly on the coach too, like late era Jerry Sloan, he just wasn't interested in making an effort anymore. Sometimes the problem is just a bad match between player and coach, sometimes the player is just a malcontent.

The key is figuring out which it is. However... most times it's neither, it's just a stretch of bad performance. And sometimes it's just a situation where your best players aren't forceful personalities and shaking up the situation with new supporting cast can get the best out of coach and player. Like Ricky Davis, when he tunes out the coach you get rid of him, because that's who he is, he's a not that good player who doesn't like having any coach. If LeBron wants a change you do it, because LeBron is an elite player, and as an added benefit, he isn't going to quit on your team.
I agree with most of this. I don’t think our top tier players are the ones who would be moved in this case BUT if there is a GM/coach shake up this summer or next I don’t think it is off the table that one of our top two are moved within a year to both change the culture as well as get a great return.

I’ve always felt that a “good” NBA Head Coash carries similar value to an 7th-8th man your roster and over the past couple decades we’ve seen their salaries in similar ranges. There are some coaches I’d grade higher when coaching a contender (Pop obv, Doc, Spoel, etc) but then I’d probably include another dozen or more into various levels of “good” with new coaches coming up and joining that group regularly.