Washburn: Coaching Staff Felt Helpless to Solve Locker Room Issues

[return2glory]

I'm afraid that fixing this mess may require more than just hiring an assistant coach that the players respect. And this is regardless of Irving staying or going.

First step is getting Kyrie off the team. Starts there. That’s the biggest issue. You can get 10 assistants coaches that were ex NBA players and it doesn’t change much with Kyrie here.

He is a terrible teammate. He didn’t win anything with Lebron. He finally one a ring with an arguably top 5 player in NBA. That wasn’t enough for him. He wanted to leave to prove he can win on his own. He feel flat on his face, ruined team chemistry, got exposed for being a fraud and saying wait for the playoffs. Then when playoffs came, he got outplayed by the Bucks back up PG.

[Captain_Caveman]

Anyone wondering why Jaylen got pulled from the starting lineup after 20 games has some pretty selective memory. He was flailing. Team improved instantly and it gave him space to get his head together and eventually rally a bit. While underutilized like the rest, Tatum was also not displaced from in terms of minutes, touches, or starts from Hayward.

It's idiot season. A bunch of people who don't know the game well enough to understand that we ran into a better team get to say what they want.

[batabatuta]

As good as a coach CBS is, i think he has to go only because he lost the trust of his players and it is unlikely he will get that back, especially for as long as Hayward is there, regardless if Kyrie stays or leaves. There definitely is jealousy and envy in this team right now. That or he stays but you let go most of your young players. It's like a romantic relationship where you thought you are the apple of your coach's eyes but then some all star chick comes along and he cheats on you in your face and you can't do anything about it. It's gotten that bad. Personally, i hope Smart, Horfie, Tatum and Brown stay and we find new or draft a defensive big stud, bench shooters and 2 playmaker pointguards.

[truth18]

I love Walter but he never looked like he made a huge impact to me personally, maybe he had a greater impact than it seemed but I doubt it, lol.

[Triple7]

I'm afraid that fixing this mess may require more than just hiring an assistant coach that the players respect. And this is regardless of Irving staying or going.

First step is getting Kyrie off the team. Starts there. That’s the biggest issue. You can get 10 assists coaches that we Ex NBA players and it doesn’t change much with Kyrie here.

He is a terrible teammate. He didn’t win anything with Lebron. He finally one a ring with an arguably top 5 player in NBA. That wasn’t enough for him. He wanted to leave to prove he can win on his own. He feel flat on his face, ruined team chemistry, got exposed for being a fraud and saying wait for the playoffs. Then when playoffs came, he got outplayed by the Bucks back up PG.

We need to relax it with Kyrie. We get it, he’s not as good as advertised. Most of us here don’t want him back next season either. The problem is we could be stuck with him for the next five years. Lets just wait and see what happens.

[ParticleMan]

we sometimes forget that brad is a really young coach. and he even looks younger than he is. he has never had to deal with superstar personalities at any coaching level. it was all new for him. he didn't handle it well, but he is also a smart guy who will learn from this. sometimes you have to be a dick so people don't trample over you.

i agree getting kyrie off this team is the first step. jaylen and jayson genuinely seem to like each other. hayward was a monkey wrench but i think guys generally like him, even if brad trusts him a a bit too much. smart is a half-crazy mini-artest but you need a guy like that. even morris, i think the guys really rallied around morris last year, but this year kyrie drove a wedge by pimping morris over the "kids". imho the guy most affected by all this was rozier. he seems like a guy who feeds a lot off confidence, and with kyrie basically treating him like a journeyman who is only there to give him a few minutes rest, his confidence really wavered. these guys know what they can do, what they're capable of, but kyrie basically came in hijacked the team emotionally, and brad had no idea how to get it back.

i appreciate marcus smart sticking up for kyrie. even if he doesn't believe it deep down it's the right thing to do, always come to the aid of your teammates, even if they've f-ed up. other guys see this and i'm sure they appreciate it. that's how to keep a team together.

[FlatearthZorro]

Bring in someone from the celtics tree like Perkins

Perk is a damn god idea and understands defenses pretty well, as well as could square up with players if need be. He'd be Brad's assistant and bouner, 2 in 1.

[Afam]

I am dropping by to quickly post my thoughts. Celtics are not getting rid of kyrie. Don't let some fans and the media fool you into believing that the celtics are going to let kyrie walk. Not happening.

The Celtics didn't accumulate all the assets they did for years, used some of it in acquiring a star player in kyrie only to let him walk over so called leadership issues/comments etc. That is being short sighted, reactionary, and not a good way to run an effective business.

On July 1 if both sides are not already talking, the celtics will present kyrie with contract proposals/options, they will sell him on the long term vision of the celtics which includes acquiring a star player next to him.

If he accepts, they will go all out in acquiring Anthony Davis. Only reason he says no if the relationships with his teammates are unrepairable. I expect most of the them to be fixed by letting go of Terry Rozier, Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum etc.

Celtics rejected a trade offer for kyrie irving before the trade deadline. They are not going to let him leave without trying to re-sign him. You build around a star player and not let him leave.

[Afam]

He doesn't always do, and say the right things, but who does. No one. That is what makes us humans.

[SmartWentCrazy]

This is what I’ve been saying for the last 3-4 months. This team didn’t like each other and didn’t get along.

On the last West coach trip I go confirmation that the players were still not getting along. I started a thread about how my friend was in the room with 2 Celtic players and one was pissed at all the Celtic players didn’t show up to an event thrown by one Celtic player.

It’s wasn’t at a club. I still can’t say who the player was that threw the event nor name the Celtic player (only player that showed up other than the one that threw “the event”) was going off on his teammates for not showing up.

There was a lot of friction there. I said to fans here, don’t believe the plane trip about how everything was squashed. But I got **** for it from a lot of people here. Some said I wanted attention. Like seriously. **** attention. I was sharing first hand info and people didn’t believe me or brushed it off.

Fans here said chemistry didn’t matter. They said not liking each other on a team didn’t matter. They were saying wait until the playoffs, talking like Kyrie.

I knew too much too believe in this team. I even skipped watching a playoff game, which I hadn’t done in like 20 years.

I’m glad these reports are coming out again. Everyone knew there were chemistry issues all season but a lot of fans here ignored those signs or believed it didn’t matter.

There was a reason why the team was the most disappointing team this year. There was a reason some fans, including myself were turned off by this team. The team didn’t get a **** about winning or getting along. Why should we? They are the ones getting paid, win or lose.

I remember believing you then and I believe you even more now.

Given his propensity to host events, I’m guessing one was Jaylen. Given his recent public comments, I’m guessing the other was Terry.

[SmartWentCrazy]

Coaching staff definitely needs some changes, gotta fill Shrewsberry's position with someone the players will respect. Enough of this "police yourself" attitude, that clearly doesn't work.

It did seem to work for the first five years. Something happened this season that changed things.

If I had to guess, players look at Hayward the same way that Clippers players looked at Austin Rivers. As soon as Austin was removed, players went back to respecting Doc and he had an amazing year as a coach.

If I had to guess again, removing Hayward would fix most of the disrespect in the locker room. Adding a long time veteran would help even more.

[Triple7]

He doesn't always do, and say the right things, but who does. No one. That is what makes us humans.

I agree. As much as most want him out, that’s not our decision, and we are most likely stuck with him for the next five years. Everybody will learn from this. From kyrie, his teammates, the coaching staff and management. You are right, if kyrie won’t resign, then there are problems or issues that can’t be fixed. Until kyrie is on another team, we should relax on him a little bit. I don’t care about other fan bases, but they are actually right in some ways, that we threw kyrie under the bus ourselves. Imagine one of us even started a thread in GB saying kyrie is the most overrated star in history. I can understand the hatred. Its some what kyries fault anyways, with all his antics with the media and all, causing chemistry issues because of that. Lets just wait until he actually bolts before we bash him. What would you guys do if we resign him? Stop supporting the team? Lets cool down a bit.

[Edug27]

I love Walter but he never looked like he made a huge impact to me personally, maybe he had a greater impact than it seemed but I doubt it, lol.

Everyone’s just searching for reasons.

At the end of the day, Kyrie has an ego. Tatum didn’t take that next step. Jaylen didn’t take that next step. Hayward’s career playing at an all star level is over. Rozier wants to get paid. Smart still can’t shoot. Morris thinks he’s Klay Thompson.

Brad definitely needs to take a ton of blame here, but at the end of the day, I just think we overhyped the roster.

[Edug27]

Coaching staff definitely needs some changes, gotta fill Shrewsberry's position with someone the players will respect. Enough of this "police yourself" attitude, that clearly doesn't work.

It did seem to work for the first five years. Something happened this season that changed things.

If I had to guess, players look at Hayward the same way that Clippers players looked at Austin Rivers. As soon as Austin was removed, players went back to respecting Doc and he had an amazing year as a coach.

If I had to guess again, removing Hayward would fix most of the disrespect in the locker room. Adding a long time veteran would help even more.

Not sure I understand this though. Hayward has a resume. He was an all star. He was a number one scoring option on a playoff team. Rivers is a privileged coaches son.

If Klay Thompson broke his ankle, he’d be back in the starting line up next season. If McCollum snapped his ankle, he’d be back in the starting lineup to start the season.

On opening day this season, everyone was in the starting lineup except Rozier. At that point it’s about playing well and earning your minutes. Only one I can see get upset is Rozier... and his biggest issue should have been not getting traded in the offseason so he can start somewhere.

[cloverleaf]

I don't think Kyrie plus AD gets them what they want anyway, but I will also note I think the last thing you do is bring Kyrie back with one of his buddies as assistant coach.

[CelticsLV]

I know it would probably never happen as he’s basically said he doesn’t want to coach, and he’d probably opt for the Clippers if he ever took an assistant spot being that his home base is in Malibu, but damn KG would be such a perfect person to bring in for multiple reasons.

I would love to see KG take on Williams and Pierce Tatum this summer. The latter of course was already offered and, a year later, accepted.

Just like KG took on Thon Maker? When you guys will stop with this weird obsession of ex-players being great mentors!?

[cloverleaf]

It did seem to work for the first five years. Something happened this season that changed things.

If I had to guess, players look at Hayward the same way that Clippers players looked at Austin Rivers. As soon as Austin was removed, players went back to respecting Doc and he had an amazing year as a coach.

If I had to guess again, removing Hayward would fix most of the disrespect in the locker room. Adding a long time veteran would help even more.

Not sure I understand this though. Hayward has a resume. He was an all star. He was a number one scoring option on a playoff team. Rivers is a privileged coaches son.

If Klay Thompson broke his ankle, he’d be back in the starting line up next season. If McCollum snapped his ankle, he’d be back in the starting lineup to start the season.

On opening day this season, everyone was in the starting lineup except Rozier. At that point it’s about playing well and earning your minutes. Only one I can see get upset is Rozier... and his biggest issue should have been not getting traded in the offseason so he can start somewhere.

And even if Rozier didn't get traded, which was entirely within the C's rights, he shouldn't have become a seething cauldron of resentment. My guess is each of his words after the season about not complaining, while complaining, cost him a million off his next contract. That is no way to show you are the kind of PG that can lead a team.

[cloverleaf]

I know it would probably never happen as he’s basically said he doesn’t want to coach, and he’d probably opt for the Clippers if he ever took an assistant spot being that his home base is in Malibu, but damn KG would be such a perfect person to bring in for multiple reasons.

I would love to see KG take on Williams and Pierce Tatum this summer. The latter of course was already offered and, a year later, accepted.

Just like KG took on Thon Maker? When you guys will stop with this weird obsession of ex-players being great mentors!?

So you don't think that the premise of Washburn's article is correct, that those who young, modern players respect are the league vets who can also be no-nonsense types?

[Edug27]

If I had to guess, players look at Hayward the same way that Clippers players looked at Austin Rivers. As soon as Austin was removed, players went back to respecting Doc and he had an amazing year as a coach.

If I had to guess again, removing Hayward would fix most of the disrespect in the locker room. Adding a long time veteran would help even more.

Not sure I understand this though. Hayward has a resume. He was an all star. He was a number one scoring option on a playoff team. Rivers is a privileged coaches son.

If Klay Thompson broke his ankle, he’d be back in the starting line up next season. If McCollum snapped his ankle, he’d be back in the starting lineup to start the season.

On opening day this season, everyone was in the starting lineup except Rozier. At that point it’s about playing well and earning your minutes. Only one I can see get upset is Rozier... and his biggest issue should have been not getting traded in the offseason so he can start somewhere.

And even if Rozier didn't get traded, which was entirely within the C's rights, he shouldn't have become a seething cauldron of resentment. My guess is each of his words after the season about not complaining, while complaining, cost him a million off his next contract. That is no way to show you are the kind of PG that can lead a team.

At the end of the day he’s human. It’s on Danny to understand when to move a player for the better of the locker room. Most players have an ego and would have reacted as Rozier did. Look at Reggie Jackson. Similar position years ago and asked for a trade. Had a trade not occurred, the locker room most definitely would have been impacted.

Rozier was kept because Danny isn’t fully confident in Kyrie coming back. End of story.

[cloverleaf]

I love Walter but he never looked like he made a huge impact to me personally, maybe he had a greater impact than it seemed but I doubt it, lol.

Maybe more off the court. I wanted more NBA-vet players AND coaches on Stevens's staff from the start. The idea of bringing all his junior proteges from college never seemed right, and Ron Adams peeling out, however good the GSW opportunity, without a similar caliber of replacement was worrisome to me. Likewise Walter going without similar replacement. The Bucks also listed two more coaches this year than the C's did. All along I have also wanted a veteran coach on the staff who has been or has coached from the ranks of top-tier big men.

Williams never got enough attention for his promise as far as I could see, as he was too much left scrounging from the big-man vets for guidance and direction on his game and practice.