The Boston Celtics extend Brad Stevens’ contract as head coach

In a not-so-shocking but somewhat abruptly-timed piece of NBA bubble news, the Boston Celtics extended the contract of head coach Brad Stevens.

After clinching the #3 seed in the Eastern Conference with a roster that lost high profile veterans last offseason, Brad Stevens has had his contract for being the head coach of the Boston Celtics extended.

Stevens has groomed Jayson Tatum into an All-Star frontman level talent by enabling his outbreaks with the number of plays he runs for his third-year stud and has also developed his future star sidekick Jaylen Brown. He also was forced to navigate injury woes to Kemba Walker and Gordon Hayward that have largely prevented the team from being at full strength most nights.

Perhaps his greatest achievement this season–and likely the catalyst for his success and subsequent extension–has been his ability to get the most out of the center spot. Daniel Theis, Enes Kanter, Grant Williams, and Robert Williams were seen as a center platoon that could potentially lower the ceiling for the 2019-20 season.

Instead, the C’s have been able to field a top-five offense and defense while defeating every top contender in the Eastern Conference–including Toronto, Milwaukee, and Miami. Stevens has the C’s peaking at the right time, winning their last three games against playoff opponents.

Today was the deadline to give coaches new extensions, with the original date obviously being pushed back due to COVID-19. Indiana Pacers coach Nate McMillan received his extension earlier this morning, paving way for the seven-year Celtics coach to extend his tenure as the lead voice of the C’s.

Stevens has taken the team to the conference finals, but to see through to the end of his deal, he may need to break through and reach the NBA Finals.