The Poll: Is Wyc burning Brad- Should CBS be torched at season's end?

Should Brad be fired as Celtics HC?

  • Yes, no ifs and or buts

  • Yes, but only if they miss the post-season

  • Yes , and I'd fire Danny too

  • No

  • Other Yes-specify

  • Other No-specify

  • Other


Results are only viewable after voting.

bankshot1

Member
SoSH Member
Feb 12, 2003
24,651
where I was last at
Lets quantify where SoSH stands on CBS' future

Seems self explanatory

Vote is public

I'm a no , while I wish he were a little more fiery and demonstrative, and a little quicker to use a TO, I think Brad's a better than average NBA coach, who has been whacked with some bad breaks beyond his control. I think it would be a mistake barring some meltdown over the next 20 games, to fire him. I think facing either Philly or Brooklyn in the 1st round is a fast out. So that's part of my thinking as well. If they can play as a 4,5,6 get a win, it would be tough to make a solid case to fire him.
 

Kliq

Member
SoSH Member
Mar 31, 2013
22,668
There is a lurker named HelloReggieCleveland that has to absolutely be an HRB burner account.
 

the moops

Member
SoSH Member
Jan 19, 2016
4,700
Saint Paul, MN
Less than a year ago they felt good enough in Stevens to sign him to an extension. Can't imagine one semi disappointing season, especially one during a global pandemic with myriad players missing extended time, is going to change their mind in the off-season
 

Scoops Bolling

Member
SoSH Member
Jun 19, 2007
5,873
Brad has shown himself to be a very good coach, one capable of developing young talent and maximizing the talents of veterans. There's been a lot of outside factors this year, from guys getting COVID to all the other COVID weirdness of the year, large roster turnover, etc, that plays a role in how the team has performed this year. Firing Brad right now is the type of move a desperate and disorganized franchise would make, not a team that has been as successful as this one with him at the helm. If the team comes out next year and there are still the same issues, then you start talking about making a change. But right now? Asinine.
 

Cesar Crespo

79
SoSH Member
Dec 22, 2002
21,588
Less than a year ago they felt good enough in Stevens to sign him to an extension. Can't imagine one semi disappointing season, especially one during a global pandemic with myriad players missing extended time, is going to change their mind in the off-season
It's if they should. They definitely aren't going to.
 

Cesar Crespo

79
SoSH Member
Dec 22, 2002
21,588
Were O'brien and/or PItino fired? I don't remember.

Been a long time since a Celtics coach was actually fired for performance.
 

sonofgodcf

Guest
Jul 17, 2005
1,646
The toilet.
Voted no and don't get the sentiment to fire Stevens at all. What does everyone really expect from this team? If it's championship or bust I think that's an unreasonable position - this team just isn't there yet. I think Brad's done a great job with player development while remaining competitive and over-achieving. Three trips to the ECF in the last four years is outstanding. This year seems to be cursed by Covid, but a healthy team may again do some damage in the playoffs.

To me, team chemistry looks great as well (as much as it can in a tough season, to be sure). They all seem supportive and happy for each other's success. The two J's look like leaders on the floor, and I don't see any of the selfishness that was present with Kyrie. Realistically though, the talent level in this league is just amazing right now - the playoffs are going to be a lot of fun.
 

scottyno

late Bloomer
SoSH Member
Dec 7, 2008
11,304
Were O'brien and/or PItino fired? I don't remember.

Been a long time since a Celtics coach was actually fired for performance.
Technically both resigned, though I'm guessing Pitino was going to be fired soon anyway, O'briens came out of nowhere.
 

Cesar Crespo

79
SoSH Member
Dec 22, 2002
21,588
Technically both resigned, though I'm guessing Pitino was going to be fired soon anyway, O'briens came out of nowhere.
And ML Carr stepped aside for Pitino, iirc.

So the last coach actually fired by the Celtics was in 1995. Chris Ford.
 

Light-Tower-Power

ask me about My Pillow
SoSH Member
Jun 14, 2013
15,947
Nashua, NH
I’m definitely concerned and I think the team is underachieving, even with all the COVID and injury issues. I’m still a no for now. Let’s see if Danny can get him a better roster next year and we’ll go from there.
 

luckiestman

Son of the Harpy
SoSH Member
Jul 15, 2005
32,618
Firing in a covid year after coming off bubble conf finals seems dumb considering the injuries, illnesses, and trade that impacted roster continuity.
 

Cesar Crespo

79
SoSH Member
Dec 22, 2002
21,588
Firing in a covid year after coming off bubble conf finals seems dumb considering the injuries, illnesses, and trade that impacted roster continuity.
There's really no excuse for this team not to make the playoffs, especially where they stand now. I won't hold it against them if they are a 7 seed and lose the play in game. If they can't even get to a play in game, that would be the C's beer and chicken.

They are up 5 1/2 up on Toronto with 20 games left.
 

lexrageorge

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 31, 2007
18,096
Unless Tatum calls up Danny and says "There's no way I can play for Coach Brad next season", I'd give Stevens one more year with a retooled roster.
 

Bunt Single

New Member
Aug 11, 2010
120
I came in here planning to vote "no," but then I saw the caveat (attached to one option) about missing the playoffs. ... And got to thinking.
If this team fails to reach the playoffs with this talent, something do-able has to be done. And what's "do-able" in the context of today's NBA points Brad-ward. If as an owner I was receiving either information or indications that I wasn't getting buy-in from my most important players, and if those indications were also pointing Brad-ward....

My own feelings are starting to shift on this.
Back to question posed: As owner, I'd want a (private) strong signal of support from my players if I hoped to keep Brad. Barring that ....
 

TripleOT

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 4, 2007
7,758
Because of this season’s results, he should not be fired. However, there are many teams that get the most out of their players. Stevens’ team isn’t one of them right now.

Brad needs how to get the most out his two young star wings, while developing young players like Romeo, TL, PP, Grant, and Nesmith, while getting what he can out of flawed veterans like Kemba, Thompson, and Semi. He also has to get Fournier to be a 18+ ppg scorer as a sixth man, and keep him happy enough to re-up this summer.
 

OurF'ingCity

Member
SoSH Member
Apr 22, 2016
8,469
New York City
It's gonna be a no from me, dawg.

I agree with others here who suggest that next year will be much more telling. At that point we should (hopefully) be basically done with Covid, the players will have had a full, regular offseason, and ideally Danny will have upgraded the roster at least somewhat. If the Cs are back to their conference-contender norm, then 2020-21 will look like an outlier. But if the Cs again are in the bottom half of the playoff bracket or worse, that will represent a clear regression despite the fact that Tatum and Brown are older, and will mean there are serious questions about whether the team already hit its peak under the Stevens/Ainge regime and it might be time to think about moving on from one or both of them.
 

Cellar-Door

Member
SoSH Member
Aug 1, 2006
34,460
To me it's a clear no. I guess I'd consider it if they went like 4-16 rest of the way, but I don't think that's even a tail likelihood unless there is some ridiculous event like half the team missing 10-15 games with COVID, and I'm not firing my coach for that.
 

DJnVa

Dorito Dawg
SoSH Member
Dec 16, 2010
53,840
Unless Tatum calls up Danny and says "There's no way I can play for Coach Brad next season", I'd give Stevens one more year with a retooled roster.
How retooled can it realistically get? I've seen posts about trading Kemba, but do we *really* think that will happen?
 

lovegtm

Member
SoSH Member
Apr 30, 2013
11,997
How retooled can it realistically get? I've seen posts about trading Kemba, but do we *really* think that will happen?
Given the price it cost to move Horford, and the fact that Kemba is still reasonably healthy, it's not at all far-fetched.
 

bigq

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 15, 2005
11,084
Nope. This season has been strange and I’m okay with the .500 record given all of the lost time and the talent they have lost in the past couple of off seasons. Brown and Tatum have been very good and I’m excited about the development of TL and looking forward to more playing time for Fournier and Romeo (and as a result less from Grant Williams and Semi). I don’t expect them to go far in the playoffs this season and I’m okay with that as well. I’m hoping Danny can move Kemba and find a meaningful addition in the off-season. What Brad has done this season as a coach has been fine and barring injuries the team will likely finish the season stronger than they started it.
 

ManicCompression

Member
SoSH Member
May 14, 2015
1,352
We're probably going to play the Hawks in the first round 4-5 game and then make it to the second round before getting beat by the Sixers or the Nets (barring injury). I don't think that will be a fireable offense despite the rocky regular season.

I think all three of Wyc, Danny, and Brad work together well because they think long-term and don't react to momentary trends or challenges. That bites them in the ass occasionally (like Brad trusting his team to play rather than call a timeout), but over the long haul it makes them a competitive team year in, year out and a championship team with the right breaks (growth from Tatum/Brown/TL and younguns).
 

lexrageorge

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 31, 2007
18,096
How retooled can it realistically get? I've seen posts about trading Kemba, but do we *really* think that will happen?
The Celtics stayed under the luxury tax this season, so they will be able to reset the repeater penalties. There will be trades to be had given the expected player movement this offseason. If Ainge rolls it back with the same roster, he should be fired.
 

terrynever

Well-Known Member
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Aug 25, 2005
21,717
pawtucket
If Daryl Morey could unload Horford’s contract, Danny can find a deal that works for Kemba. And Danny needs to get a tough big man enforcer like the Celts always seemed to have. You can push this team around too easily.

Stevens isn’t the problem here.
 
Last edited:

Cellar-Door

Member
SoSH Member
Aug 1, 2006
34,460
How retooled can it realistically get? I've seen posts about trading Kemba, but do we *really* think that will happen?
If they want to move Kemba they can, but even without a Kemba trade they can retool quite a bit, they already started (it's just been delayed by H&S).
They can re-sign Fournier, they can S&T Fournier, they can trade Smart, they can trade TT, they can add a player with the MLE. They can add a player in the draft, they could trade the pick for a player.
There is a lot of flexibility this summer.
 

lovegtm

Member
SoSH Member
Apr 30, 2013
11,997
The Celtics stayed under the luxury tax this season, so they will be able to reset the repeater penalties. There will be trades to be had given the expected player movement this offseason. If Ainge rolls it back with the same roster, he should be fired.
This.
 

Jimbodandy

Member
SoSH Member
Jan 31, 2006
11,403
around the way
I voted "No", for reasons I've dumped in the other thread. I don't see upgrades out there, and this current shitbird year is what it is.

Sure if they end up the 11 seed and miss the play-in, but that's functionally impossible. The whole team would have to get covid, and even then how's that Danny or Brad's fault.

That said, I think that some increased scrutiny from ownership is called for and expected in the offseason and early next year. They can't just roll this roster back out there, and they can't just run ISO and dribble handoff.

I'm 100% convinced that an actual, traditional offseason changes a lot of this shit here. But there's way too many jags.
 

oumbi

Member
SoSH Member
Jun 15, 2006
4,167
So many threads and folks thinking the removal of Ainge, CBS, or both will help the Celtics. What I rarely see is a lengthy and informed post on who it is that will replace them, do a better job, and how they will improve the Celtics.

So I ask those voted "eject Ainge/CBS" to please explain whom should be brought in, why they would be better, and how they would improve the team. (Fantasy trades not allowed unless Ainge/CBS also get the benefit of those trades.)

Oh, and I voted to keep both of them.
 

CaptainLaddie

dj paul pfieffer
SoSH Member
Sep 6, 2004
36,684
where the darn libs live
Absolutely not.

They just gave him an extension.

Brad is a very good coach, and the question would become: who would you replace him with that would be better?

This team needs a few veterans to get the J's heads right.
 

the Trotman cometh

New Member
Jul 18, 2019
12
I voted no in large part because the available known quantities to replace him are not very enticing. It’s not that i haven’t been frustrated at time with his performance, it’s that firing a head coach with a track record of solid results in favor of an unknown is a non-starter. There are better coaches (Pop/Spo/Kerr) but that doesn’t mean Brad isn’t among the better coaches.
 

benhogan

Granite Truther
SoSH Member
Nov 2, 2007
20,112
Santa Monica
84% of the Board voted NO. This place is much more rational than is given credit by some around here.

COVID year and "bridge season". I'm not blaming CBS for a .500 record, & a 4th place finish is still possible
 

BigSoxFan

Member
SoSH Member
May 31, 2007
47,088
My answer is pretty simple.

No. But if 2021-2022 is similar to 2020-2021, then I start seriously considering it for the first time ever.
 

lovegtm

Member
SoSH Member
Apr 30, 2013
11,997
If the team shows a lot of life the rest of the way, Fournier fits, Brown and Tatum get back to normal, and they can at least be competitive against a good team in the playoffs, I'd revamp in the offseason and run it back.

If things fall apart and they just appear to quit, I'd make a change.

Having teams not quit on you is a large part of what makes an NBA coach "good"--having that happen 2 times in 3 years would be roughly equivalent to designing an offense based around Tacko jacking 3s.
 

RG33

Certain Class of Poster
SoSH Member
Nov 28, 2005
7,199
CA
How do you fire the Head Coach that took you to the 5th ECF in 7 years ?
 

Auger34

used to be tbb
SoSH Member
Apr 23, 2010
9,272
I voted no (and I think there’s a 0% chance he should or would get fired after a crazy year like this)

Brad’s a good coach but I think he’s been pretty overrated by both the team and the media. He has some clear flaws and I think it’s very fair to wonder if he’s going to be able to push a team over the top and win a championship.

However, all of that being said, there’s no way to figure out those things with this incredibly fucked up season. I think you reassess next year when things are more normal
 

mikeot

Member
SoSH Member
Dec 22, 2006
8,147
I’m definitely concerned and I think the team is underachieving, even with all the COVID and injury issues. I’m still a no for now. Let’s see if Danny can get him a better roster next year and we’ll go from there.
Nope. This season has been strange and I’m okay with the .500 record given all of the lost time and the talent they have lost in the past couple of off seasons. Brown and Tatum have been very good and I’m excited about the development of TL and looking forward to more playing time for Fournier and Romeo (and as a result less from Grant Williams and Semi). I don’t expect them to go far in the playoffs this season and I’m okay with that as well. I’m hoping Danny can move Kemba and find a meaningful addition in the off-season. What Brad has done this season as a coach has been fine and barring injuries the team will likely finish the season stronger than they started it.
Absolutely not.

They just gave him an extension.

Brad is a very good coach, and the question would become: who would you replace him with that would be better?

This team needs a few veterans to get the J's heads right.
How do you fire the Head Coach that took you to the 5th ECF in 7 years ?
Just imagine the catharsis here if Brad does get fired, gets scooped up by another NBA team, then succeeds as well as or better than with the C's. That's the likely scenario if your wishes come to pass, fellas.
 
Last edited:

RG33

Certain Class of Poster
SoSH Member
Nov 28, 2005
7,199
CA
Just imagine the catharsis here if Brad does get fired, gets scooped up by another NBA team, then succeeds as well or better than with the C's. That's the likely scenario if your wishes come to pass, fellas.
I’m not advocating for his firing, for the record. I was saying the Celts are going to the ECF again this year and mocking those that want him gone.
 

mikeot

Member
SoSH Member
Dec 22, 2006
8,147
I’m not advocating for his firing, for the record. I was saying the Celts are going to the ECF again this year and mocking those that want him gone.
Gotcha. Your quote, along with the others, was in support of my contention
 

Cesar Crespo

79
SoSH Member
Dec 22, 2002
21,588
For this team not to make a play in game would require them to go something like 4-16 or 5-15 the rest of the way. If people really think this team missing the playoffs isn't a fireable offense, they aren't looking at the standings.


So many threads and folks thinking the removal of Ainge, CBS, or both will help the Celtics. What I rarely see is a lengthy and informed post on who it is that will replace them, do a better job, and how they will improve the Celtics.

So I ask those voted "eject Ainge/CBS" to please explain whom should be brought in, why they would be better, and how they would improve the team. (Fantasy trades not allowed unless Ainge/CBS also get the benefit of those trades.)

Oh, and I voted to keep both of them.
Why do we have to know who will be brought in? No one knew Stevens would be brought in after Rivers. No one knew who Theo Epstein was. There doesn't need to be a known replacement.
 

HomeRunBaker

bet squelcher
SoSH Member
Jan 15, 2004
30,096
For this team not to make a play in game would require them to go something like 4-16 or 5-15 the rest of the way. If people really think this team missing the playoffs isn't a fireable offense, they aren't looking at the standings.




Why do we have to know who will be brought in? No one knew Stevens would be brought in after Rivers. No one knew who Theo Epstein was. There doesn't need to be a known replacement.
I included some names along with my top choice in Jordi Fernandez in another thread.
 

Jimbodandy

Member
SoSH Member
Jan 31, 2006
11,403
around the way
For this team not to make a play in game would require them to go something like 4-16 or 5-15 the rest of the way. If people really think this team missing the playoffs isn't a fireable offense, they aren't looking at the standings.

...
I'm pretty sure that this is a semantics issue. Pretty much nobody thinks that they're doing to go 5-15, so I read "miss the playoffs" as "fail to survive the play-in tournament". In and of itself, even that wouldn't be disqualifying for me.

Sure, if they go 5-15 and finish with the 11 seed, I'll grab a pitchfork too.
 

Cesar Crespo

79
SoSH Member
Dec 22, 2002
21,588
I'd bet my house if the C's actually miss the playoffs and finish 30-42... and then you did this poll....

Everyone would pick to fire him. People are totally glossing over the fact how hard it would be for this team to miss the playoffs.

They should both be 100% fired if that happens. It would be brutal.
 

Jimbodandy

Member
SoSH Member
Jan 31, 2006
11,403
around the way
I'd bet my house if the C's actually miss the playoffs and finish 30-42... and then you did this poll....

Everyone would pick to fire him. People are totally glossing over the fact how hard it would be for this team to miss the playoffs.

They should both be 100% fired if that happens. It would be brutal.
Yeah if they finish that badly, we're well into chicken and beer territory. Nobody would bat an eyelash if WykSteve pull a Corleone.
 

Cesar Crespo

79
SoSH Member
Dec 22, 2002
21,588
I'm pretty sure that this is a semantics issue. Pretty much nobody thinks that they're doing to go 5-15, so I read "miss the playoffs" as "fail to survive the play-in tournament". In and of itself, even that wouldn't be disqualifying for me.

Sure, if they go 5-15 and finish with the 11 seed, I'll grab a pitchfork too.
That's literally what it would take to miss the playoffs. This poll would play out way differently if the C's actually missed the play in game.

It's not whether you think they are going to miss the playoffs, it's based on if they miss the playoffs. If they do, they need to be fired. That's chicken and beer.
 

lexrageorge

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 31, 2007
18,096
I think for years fans have been conditioned to think of the 7th seed as meaning barely squeaking in.

While I wouldn't expect there to be any moves if the Celtics lose the playin, I do expect that the heat will get turned up inside Causeway, and there will be lot less tolerance for a 20-20 start to next season.
 

Jimbodandy

Member
SoSH Member
Jan 31, 2006
11,403
around the way
That's literally what it would take to miss the playoffs. This poll would play out way differently if the C's actually missed the play in game.

It's not whether you think they are going to miss the playoffs, it's based on if they miss the playoffs. If they do, they need to be fired. That's chicken and beer.
I think that we're in agreement here seriously.

What I'm saying is that there is another reasonable interpretation of "miss the playoffs" that involves ending up as the 7 or 8 seed and sliding weakly out of the play-in games into early golf. In that scenario, I think reasonable people may differ in whether a house cleaning is in order. Nobody has an issue with mass executions following a 4-16 finish. But some might consider crapping the bed in the play-in games "missing the playoffs" too. That's all I'm saying.