During that already trying season, Ainge continued to dismantle this ill-fitting collection, paring the excess with the only return being future options and current dead weight. The Celtics only All-Star, point guard Rajon Rondo, missed the first half and used the last half of the season to ease back into the game while still hampered by limited mobility, strength, and stamina. Boston suffered the by now almost expected series of injuries, their only true center and an aging small forward undergoing season-ending surgery; while their developing power forwards were plagued by a series of nagging maladies that had to hamper their growth. Still, Coach Stevens kept his charges playing hard; even, sadly, stealing a couple of late-season victories that cost them a drop in draft position.
Ainge hit this off season still shedding mismatched parts but is unable to pull off the BIG trade. He is able to make a couple of minor moves adding youthful potential and creating a more balanced roster. With 15 guaranteed salaries for the 15 roster spots and with at least three deep coverage at each position, Danny seems to have dealt his coach a pat, if far from superlative, hand going into the season. One has to think that a stable and more balanced roster will allow Stevens to spend more time instituting a system and developing players rather than being consumed by player introductions (and goodbye’s) and compensating for the lack of a point guard and center.
Brad has multiple players to vie for playing time, if not to be the actual starter, at every position. That gives a coach some serious leverage to implement his ideas, his system, his emphasis on defense, his belief in the motion offense, and the strength of his humble confidence (or is it his confident humility). This season, rather than scrambling, Stevens will be teaching, refining, and grooming while still motivating, calculating, and superbly managing personalities. I expect that in this team we will, for the first time, see the Brad Stevens stamp. The Celtics will not be superbly successful but I do think they will overachieve, and we will love them for it.
Only 35 days until training camp.[Discuss on CG Forums!]
I loved last year's team. They played hard every game. I loved watching the young kids grow with every game. I expect leaps from several of them this year. I expect to enjoy watching them play again this season. And, I believe that, as with last year, Brad Stevens will have them over achieving and in every game, even though they won't win them all.
ReplyDeleteI loved seeing Kris Humphries praise for Stevens having made him a better player. He's a teaching coach and can even help the vets improve. Even Gerald Wallace, who isn't near what he once was, can play well under Brad Stevens. I'm looking forward to seeing what he does with this motley crew this season.