Brad Stevens made an unexpected decision to change roles one year ago, leaving his head coaching job and becoming the Celtics’ president of basketball operations. Boston then hired Ime Udoka as Stevens’ replacement.
While the decision to lean on a first-time executive and a first-time head coach were viewed as audacious, they ultimately led to the club’s first NBA Finals berth since 2010, Brian Windhorst of ESPN explores.
“It was a different situation that a lot of people may not think is appealing, but I think it’s only a benefit to have a guy that’s coached for seven, eight years in the building with the same guys down the hall,” Udoka said of Stevens.
“We talk about every situation [Stevens has] been through and kind of lend his support as far as that. But also step back and let me do my thing. In a unique situation, it’s helped out this year for sure.”
Here are some other notes from the Atlantic:
- Former Celtics president Danny Ainge compared this year’s team to the 2007/08 team that won an NBA title, Jay King of The Athletic writes. Ainge sees shades of Kevin Garnett in Al Horford and likes the club’s outlook, complimenting its size and defensive intensity. “It’s a little bit like the team is structured now,” Ainge said.
- In an Insider-only story for ESPN, Brian Windhorst examines how the Celtics are hoping to pass the Lakers by winning another championship. The Celtics and Lakers have both won 17 titles, so Boston could pass Los Angeles by defeating Golden State in the Finals this year.
- Ian O’Connor of the New York Post details why the Nets will regret letting Ime Udoka go. Udoka served as an assistant with Brooklyn last season, but Boston offered him a head coaching job, so it’s difficult to blame Brooklyn. The team could’ve fired Steve Nash and replaced him with Udoka, but Nash was just hired the summer before and nearly guided the Nets to a series win over the NBA champion Bucks last year.
So glad Stevens is out as coach. That dude was the most overrated coach I. The history of the game
I thought Doc Rivers was.
Simply not true. Stevens knew how to manage personnel, but didn’t know how to manage personalities. Look what he did with the Celtics from 2016-2018. They had no business being that deep in the playoffs
Stevens was good at Butler by following one rule— whatever else happens, have the toughest group out there. That drove both recruiting and strategy. His youthful professional intellectual appearance was a deception.
The NBA had more complex requirements.
In 2017 Isaiah balling out of his mind and in 2018 they had Smart, Brown, Tatum and Horford, pretty much the same team he has now plus Rozier and Morris
This team has a way better coach than the 2007-2008 team.
Haha, Nets. Got you again.
This time with the coach.
As much as I criticized Danny, winning a championship would justify and validate everything he’s done from 2011 to the present. If they beat the Warriors, Stevens and Udoka will become Teflon Dons.
Ainge has nothing to do with the title. He almost single-handedly destroyed the team. Only when be was ousted and Stevens brought back several of previous players, the team began to form a title caliber team.
The guy drafted half of the players… I’d say that he had something to do with this team.
Refreshing to see the honesty Bright side
I as well was probably too critical on the Celts the last 5 years
** As a society we just place too much importance on winning the whole enchilada. The Celtics resume has been superb the last 5 years, we will recognize it only after they win 3 more games this year. As fans we all need to be a bit more nuanced sometimes and realize there’s more than just the Larry O Brien trophy
Ainge and Stevens weren’t perfect but they were far from the mess that most people accessed them as in here the last couple years
What a team moving forward too…man …
You think you have a committed Kyrie Irving and A healthy Heyward and the rest of this team. Danny Had that. Kyrie’s defection hurt the Celtics. Danny deserves some credit for this team. He stepped down and that helped. If you need a play to win a game no one was better than Brad.
His biggest flaw was being way too stingy with draft picks. Just hoarded them all. Could’ve added guys for title runs with the extra picks but never did. Ainge would’ve never made the Horford trade or the White trade because he always had to win the deal. Couldn’t be one that worked out for both teams.
Why is Ainge talking so much more about Celtics than Stevens? Isnt Ainge running the Jazz??? Lol
Why is NY press so NEGATIVE. Every story is always about the glass half empty.
Maybe they should talk about how Udoka knew the Nets Inside and Out. And that’s why they got beat. Not easy playing a team that knows what you are going to do.
Not even a Nets fan.
But they should of won gm1 against Celtics. Then it’s all different. Not saying they win it.
Nets are fine starting the new yr with whole team. Kyrie is the situation they need to address. If they don’t offer him a max. He might decide not to play up to par. I would move him as soon as possible. Soon as possible……