Brad Stevens is a master of Xs and Os. He can draw up a game-winning play in the most stressful of situations and has a rapport with his players that is unparalleled. He joined the Celtics after a legendary coaching career at Butler University, leading them to several NCAA tournaments, including the championship game in 2010 where they lost 61-59 to Duke. In his first NBA season, the Celtics finished 25-57.
Fast forward three years and the Celtics are now on the cusp of greatness, projected by most to make it to the Eastern Conference Finals. This offseason was huge, with Danny Ainge adding coveted big man Al Horford to complement the likes of Jae Crowder, rookie phenom Jaylen Brown, and the heart and soul of the team, Isaiah Thomas. If you told me in 2013 that we would be where we are now, I would have probably laughed; but we are here, and we have Brad Stevens to thank for that.
Following the Big Three Era under coach Doc Rivers, a run that gave Boston it’s 17th NBA Championship in 2008, the Celtics endured a grueling rebuilding period. However, it seems that once Brad Stevens was added in 2013, that process was accelerated. Of course, you have to credit Danny Ainge, the best GM in basketball, who was able to acquire key players along the way, in addition to a stockpile of valuable draft picks, but what Stevens has accomplished can not be overlooked; the key to his success? His coaching style.
Stevens understands his players like a mother does her child. He knows what gets each individual player motivated, and also what makes them tick. He always puts his team in a position to win and is able to write up impromptu plays like no other. His uniquely calm demeanor is the basis of his approach, understanding that a calm coach means a poised team. He is beloved by Boston fans because of his “next play” mentality, never getting upset by player or referee mistakes, but looking to see how they can improve the next time around. He wants all of his players to remain confident and prides himself on staying focused, knowing that it will be reciprocated to him by his players. Look up any clip of a team coached by Stevens and you’ll see him pacing on the sidelines, arms folded, quietly observing the game. And although his aura may seem quiet and reserved, his mind is racing. Stevens understands the game like no other, and has mastered the in and outs of leading a successful team; it’s proven, just look at his resume.
He’s not a rocket scientist, a math wiz, or a chess champion, but Stevens is a genius in every sense of the word. He has mastered his craft, and the effects of his presence in Boston are finally beginning to show. The Celtics are going to be scary this year, and with Brad Stevens at the helm, we may be looking at a new era of Celtic dominance in the city of Boston.
