Brad Stevens Thread – Finding The Way

[Parliament10]

He failed tremendously on the Derrick White trade.

White's failed to bounce back in his 3PT shooting that is for sure. This team definitely needs to find how to improve its offense out of the backcourt without giving up their defense.

No doubt White shot 3's lousy vs the Nets but it was still a rather small sample of shots given the 4 game sweep and even great 3 point shooters shoot lousy in similar stretches on that shot volume from time to time.

Game 1 vs the Bucks, White was 2 for 3 from 3 and 4 for 4 from the line and he did this with Tatum/JB/Smart being off and only Tatum really faced much tougher defense from the Bucks than White. Bucks overloaded on Tatum and left Pritchard open more than I thought they would but other than that, appeared to concentrate on everyone else about the same.

White is a career 34% 3 point shooter and given its harder to shoot in the playoffs, I would only expect him in the long run to shoot around 32-33% from 3 in the playoffs. Not very good but really the only thing he does below average for the type of player he happens to be. If he was like a 40% 3 point shooter on a consistent basis in playoffs/regular season, the guy would be one of the best combo guards in the NBA. But I doubt White is ever that 40% 3 point shooter which is fine. I agree with you the Celtics need another option from the backcourt that can defend and shoot 3's.

In theory, the Celtics could have him and his name is Aaron Nesmith. No one can convince me, Nesmith isn't physically capable of hitting open NBA 3's given his free throw average and the 3 point shooting display he put on before the draft. His shot may have been a little slow entering the NBA but Bucks actually give a reasonable amount of time for opponents to fire up 3's if they aren't baseline 3's at least.
Nesmith may have lost a bit of confidence from playing less this year but he shot 37% from 3 as a rookie and over 50% from the college 3 his last year in college. It is difficult to shoot 3's or shoot period in limited minutes/opportunities since players often face more pressure in those situations.

Nesmith needs a legit opportunity in this series in a couple of games. He may not do anything with it but what he theoretically was drafted to bring to the table is a perfect fit against this Bucks team.

For all of Nesmith's struggles shooting the 3 this year in a small sample of opportunities, he is actually shooting 2's very well. And he is capable of crashing the offensive glass even against Giannis/Lopez and putting the ball back in the hoop with some unorthodox move. Pritchard isn't going to do that without it being a shock.

I think that White will settle in – if given the chance – going into Next Season.
IMO, he's a Good replacement for our former (all-purpose) 6th-Man, Smart.

I don't really see us trading White so soon. But, that also depends upon team needs.
In any event, we still have the $17.1M Fournier TPE (Expires 08/17/2022).

[ConstableGeneva]

Thankful for Ainge's drafting that brought us majority of our current rotation yada yada but can't help but wonder whether Stevens needed to trade for White or even sign Richardson in the first place had we drafted and kept Bane.

Read on Twitter

[ConstableGeneva]

My EotY.

Brad Stevens trade gamble on Al Horford, Derrick White proves to be difference in Celtics Game 4 win over Bucks | Brian Robb

When Brad Stevens took over for Danny Ainge who surprisingly stepped away from Boston’s front office last offseason, there were no easy choices to be made. Kemba Walker was an albatross contract that was going to cost serious capital to move. A case could be made that punting on the present for a better chance at contending in the future in a year or two would have been a defendable choice.

Yet, Stevens and the rest of Boston’s front office personnel (all of whom remained in place when Ainge stepped down) saw opportunity in the present around the players that Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown had become. Finding the right fits around that duo became top need and deploying future capital in order to land said players became a priority from day one, a credit to the sense of urgency this group felt for the present.

The Celtics still have a long way to go to take down the defending champs in what is now a best-of-seven series but Boston probably isn’t in this spot to begin with if not for Horford and White. Stevens and the rest of Boston’s braintrust had to swallow hard to give up enough assets to land the duo but the Celtics look like more of a contender than ever because of them.

[Fencer reregistered]

It's hard to think of another basketball team so committed to a particular style of player. In our case that's: serious defensive talent, a lot of switchability, decent or better fit with a .5 offensive scheme, not a diva.

[Darthlukey]

It's hard to think of another basketball team so committed to a particular style of player. In our case that's: serious defensive talent, a lot of switchability, decent or better fit with a .5 offensive scheme, not a diva.

To be fair, any team who has had kyrie should be automatically wary of divas lol

[Mr_Mojo_Risin]

It's hard to think of another basketball team so committed to a particular style of player. In our case that's: serious defensive talent, a lot of switchability, decent or better fit with a .5 offensive scheme, not a diva.

I believe this was the ad they put out:

[ConstableGeneva]

It's hard to think of another basketball team so committed to a particular style of player. In our case that's: serious defensive talent, a lot of switchability, decent or better fit with a .5 offensive scheme, not a diva.

I believe this was the ad they put out:

A certain arrogant, asswipe of a poster placed a similar ad 3 years and a day ago on RGM (after Bucks dismissed us in 5)...



Should've just kept Horford and used cap space elsewhere instead of chasing after Kemba. It took a while and a few detours but Ainge/Stevens got most of his wishlist down, including a "top 5 player". The only one missing is the elite bench scorer.

[Mr_Mojo_Risin]

It's hard to think of another basketball team so committed to a particular style of player. In our case that's: serious defensive talent, a lot of switchability, decent or better fit with a .5 offensive scheme, not a diva.

I believe this was the ad they put out:

A certain arrogant, asswipe of a poster placed a similar ad 3 years and a day ago on RGM (after Bucks dismissed us in 5)...



Should've just kept Horford and used cap space elsewhere instead of chasing after Kemba. It took a while and a few detours but Ainge/Stevens got most of his wishlist down, including a "top 5 player". The only one missing is the elite bench scorer.

Yeah glad that poster is not around, never agreed with them like I do with you and you’re right, super arrogant.

In this case however they were spot on, even if a little wishful of a 6’6” PG.

[ConstableGeneva]

I believe this was the ad they put out:

A certain arrogant, asswipe of a poster placed a similar ad 3 years and a day ago on RGM (after Bucks dismissed us in 5)...



Should've just kept Horford and used cap space elsewhere instead of chasing after Kemba. It took a while and a few detours but Ainge/Stevens got most of his wishlist down, including a "top 5 player". The only one missing is the elite bench scorer.

Yeah glad that poster is not around, never agreed with them like I do with you and you’re right, super arrogant.

In this case however they were spot on, even if a little wishful of a 6’6” PG.

When Cs acquired him at the deadline, I honestly thought he was at least 6'5" (must be the hair). Only recently learned that he's closer to 6'3" hehe, maybe just slightly taller than Smart with a shorter wingspan. Great hands on D, moves feet well, and plays bigger than his actual size. Can still see over the defense whenever he has the ball.

(Pritchard is more the sharpshooter SG for me with this current roster).

[Darthlukey]

It's hard to think of another basketball team so committed to a particular style of player. In our case that's: serious defensive talent, a lot of switchability, decent or better fit with a .5 offensive scheme, not a diva.

I believe this was the ad they put out:

Excuse my ignorance, what is a .5 offensive scheme?

[ConstableGeneva]

It's hard to think of another basketball team so committed to a particular style of player. In our case that's: serious defensive talent, a lot of switchability, decent or better fit with a .5 offensive scheme, not a diva.

I believe this was the ad they put out:

Excuse my ignorance, what is a .5 offensive scheme?

IINM, making a decision upon receipt of the ball within a fraction of a second -- pass, shoot, dribble. Not letting ball stick with one player for most of the game.

[ConstableGeneva]

Read on Twitter

I don't know what this means. We kinda bought Horf and White lol.

[Hal14]

Read on Twitter

I don't know what this means. We kinda bought Horf and White lol.

i guess it just means that compared to the other top teams in the league, we have a higher % of our better players who we drafted

[Fencer reregistered]

It's hard to think of another basketball team so committed to a particular style of player. In our case that's: serious defensive talent, a lot of switchability, decent or better fit with a .5 offensive scheme, not a diva.

I believe this was the ad they put out:

Excuse my ignorance, what is a .5 offensive scheme?

It's the principle that you should make a decision, and therefore in most cases start an action, within .5 seconds after getting the ball. That can be shoot, drive or pass. It can even be starting a dribble dance that will lead to an isolation shot. But it should NOT just be survey the halfcourt and figure out what to do.

First taught to a few of our guys by Popovich et al. on Team USA. It didn't take then. Udoka, a fervent disciple, has had better luck getting our guys to play that way as the season progressed.

[ConstableGeneva]

Stevens finished sixth in Executive of the Year voting. Guy from Memphis won.

[hugepatsfan]

Man, I posted it in another thread, but it's so jarring I need to post it here as well... among our top 9 players, here are their points per game in games with us this past season:

Tatum - 26.9
Brown - 23.6
Smart - 12.1
White - 11.0
Horford - 10.2
R Williams - 10.0
Theis - 7.9
G Williams - 7.8
Pritchard - 6.2

That drop off from #2 to #3 is incredibly alarming. That is not a recipe for success.

Brad Stevens "finding the way"... he needs to find a way to address that this offseason. Someone needs to be added as a capable 3rd scorer. That type of discrepancy is between #2 and #3 is unacceptable. Something needs to be done there.

[ConstableGeneva]

Man, I posted it in another thread, but it's so jarring I need to post it here as well... among our top 9 players, here are their points per game in games with us this past season:

Tatum - 26.9
Brown - 23.6
Smart - 12.1
White - 11.0
Horford - 10.2
R Williams - 10.0
Theis - 7.9
G Williams - 7.8
Pritchard - 6.2

That drop off from #2 to #3 is incredibly alarming. That is not a recipe for success.

Brad Stevens "finding the way"... he needs to find a way to address that this offseason. Someone needs to be added as a capable 3rd scorer. That type of discrepancy is between #2 and #3 is unacceptable. Something needs to be done there.

28.3
18.6
Then everyone else at 13.7 or less. Won championship.

30.5
19.0
15.0
Everyone else below 10. Won championship.

27.7
27.6
Everyone else below 11. Won championship.

Is the issue really lack of 3rd guy/supporting cast or that the other team's top guy is an all-timer and ours is not (yet)?

[hugepatsfan]

Man, I posted it in another thread, but it's so jarring I need to post it here as well... among our top 9 players, here are their points per game in games with us this past season:

Tatum - 26.9
Brown - 23.6
Smart - 12.1
White - 11.0
Horford - 10.2
R Williams - 10.0
Theis - 7.9
G Williams - 7.8
Pritchard - 6.2

That drop off from #2 to #3 is incredibly alarming. That is not a recipe for success.

Brad Stevens "finding the way"... he needs to find a way to address that this offseason. Someone needs to be added as a capable 3rd scorer. That type of discrepancy is between #2 and #3 is unacceptable. Something needs to be done there.

28.3
18.6
Then everyone else at 13.7 or less. Won championship.

30.5
19.0
15.0
Everyone else below 10. Won championship.

27.7
27.6
Everyone else below 11. Won championship.

Is the issue really lack of 3rd guy/supporting cast or that the other team's top guy is an all-timer and ours is not (yet)?

It's not just the raw PPG, it's the skills sets behind them. For instance, the year TOR won Lowry only had 14 PPG. The next year though he had 19 once Kawhi left. It's not just about what they average, but there are going to be games where you need someone else who can go get a bucket. We only have two guys that are consistently capable of any type of volume scoring. We need another guy who can scale up his scoring output. We don't have anyone else who can create a shot for themselves with any sort of consistency.

I don't know what those two person examples are, but but my guess is that they're better than Tatum and Brown. We don't have Lebron and Anthony Davis. Tatum/Brown aren't that good. That model won't work for us.

[ConstableGeneva]

Man, I posted it in another thread, but it's so jarring I need to post it here as well... among our top 9 players, here are their points per game in games with us this past season:

Tatum - 26.9
Brown - 23.6
Smart - 12.1
White - 11.0
Horford - 10.2
R Williams - 10.0
Theis - 7.9
G Williams - 7.8
Pritchard - 6.2

That drop off from #2 to #3 is incredibly alarming. That is not a recipe for success.

Brad Stevens "finding the way"... he needs to find a way to address that this offseason. Someone needs to be added as a capable 3rd scorer. That type of discrepancy is between #2 and #3 is unacceptable. Something needs to be done there.

28.3
18.6
Then everyone else at 13.7 or less. Won championship.

30.5
19.0
15.0
Everyone else below 10. Won championship.

27.7
27.6
Everyone else below 11. Won championship.

Is the issue really lack of 3rd guy/supporting cast or that the other team's top guy is an all-timer and ours is not (yet)?

It's not just the raw PPG, it's the skills sets behind them. For instance, the year TOR won Lowry only had 14 PPG. The next year though he had 19 once Kawhi left. It's not just about what they average, but there are going to be games where you need someone else who can go get a bucket. We only have two guys that are consistently capable of any type of volume scoring. We need another guy who can scale up his scoring output. We don't have anyone else who can create a shot for themselves with any sort of consistency.

I don't know what those two person examples are, but but my guess is that they're better than Tatum and Brown. We don't have Lebron and Anthony Davis. Tatum/Brown aren't that good. That model won't work for us.

A working proven model for decades is having a generational talent, an all-timer in his prime. Which we don't have.

Examples above are Steph/Klay (they had Dray as 3rd guy) and AD/Bron (Playoff Rondo was their 3rd guy?).

[hugepatsfan]

28.3
18.6
Then everyone else at 13.7 or less. Won championship.

30.5
19.0
15.0
Everyone else below 10. Won championship.

27.7
27.6
Everyone else below 11. Won championship.

Is the issue really lack of 3rd guy/supporting cast or that the other team's top guy is an all-timer and ours is not (yet)?

It's not just the raw PPG, it's the skills sets behind them. For instance, the year TOR won Lowry only had 14 PPG. The next year though he had 19 once Kawhi left. It's not just about what they average, but there are going to be games where you need someone else who can go get a bucket. We only have two guys that are consistently capable of any type of volume scoring. We need another guy who can scale up his scoring output. We don't have anyone else who can create a shot for themselves with any sort of consistency.

I don't know what those two person examples are, but but my guess is that they're better than Tatum and Brown. We don't have Lebron and Anthony Davis. Tatum/Brown aren't that good. That model won't work for us.

A working proven model for decades is having a generational talent, an all-timer in his prime. Which we don't have.

Examples above are Steph/Klay (they had Dray as 3rd guy) and AD/Bron (Playoff Rondo was their 3rd guy?).

The year the Warriors won without Durant, they also had Harrison Barnes fwiw. Once he left them he became a 20 PPG scorer on his own team. Do you think we have anyone on our team who could do that? Heck no. Steph and Clay are also two of the greatest shooters of all time. The Lakers had Lebron and AD. Lebron is maybe the absolute GOAT and AD is better than Brown will ever be as a #2. I just don't view those as the viable comparisons. Those are not the teams to emulate.

The Bucks had Middleton and Jrue backing up Giannis. The Raptors had Lowry who proved the next year he was a still a capable volume scorer and Siakam who proved he jut needed that opportunity. Our title had a big 3. The Spurs always had Manu and Parker backing up TImmy. MIA had the 3 Heatles. CLE had Love and Kyrie behind Lebron.

Look, maybe Tatum/Brown can make the two scorer model work. But I think it'd be one giant, unsubstantiated leap of faith to actually build your team under that assumption. That's just not the model that makes sense to emulate.