Boston Celtics: Stephen A. Smith questions if Brad Stevens is right for Cs

The underwhelming 2020-21 season continues for the Boston Celtics, as they now find themselves two games below .500 at 23-25 and are in the midst of a two-game losing streak.

To say one expected this team to be behind the likes of the Charlotte Hornets and New York Knicks in the conference standings by this point in the schedule would be a complete farce.

Disappointing barely scratches the surface of what the feeling has been for Cs fans all season long and now, with 24 games left on the docket, the players and coaching staff are looking to pinpoint ways in which they can try and turn their season around as we approach playoff time.

Interestingly enough, while the team is searching for answers to their lackluster production thus far, analysts are seemingly looking to pinpoint the initial roots of their problems.

While we at the Houdini believe there are plenty of faults to go around for why Boston has not managed to live up to their preseason expectations of being a legitimate championship contender, ESPN commentator Stephen A. Smith believes a large chunk of the blame rests on the shoulders of Brad Stevens and, should things not improve, he believes the head coach’s job could be in jeopardy.

Stephen A. Smith believes Brad Stevens’ job with the Boston Celtics could be in trouble

When the lackluster situation in Boston was brought up on his show, First Take, Thursday, Smith explained why he believes Stevens’ job could be at stake, citing the fact that the team’s overall performance is highly underwhelming considering the players he has at his disposal:

"“I’m not advocating that the man not be a head coach, that he’s not a worthy head coach in the NBA, that he wouldn’t do a good job on a lot of different teams, because he has done a good job on Boston. But based on the personnel you have, the fact that they’re not going anywhere. It’s perceived — I interviewed Jayson Tatum on ‘SportsCenter,’ and Tatum put it on himself and the players. He said ‘It’s our job, it’s our job.’ But, the bottom line is, if you’re the coach what are you there for if you can’t peel that out of them? And, I don’t see that in Brad Stevens and I think, if things continue to go this way, Danny Ainge is going to need to move in a different direction.”"

Since entering the league back in 2013, Brad Stevens has established himself as one of the best coaches in the entire NBA.

Boasting a resume that consists of six postseason trips, three Eastern Conference Finals appearances, an All-Star Game appearance, and an overall regular-season record of 341-271 it should come as no surprise to see the 44-year-old’s name mentioned when discussing the upper echelon of the association’s top basketball minds.

Should things not pan out with the Boston Celtics, and the two parties opt to part ways come year’s end, there’s no doubt that teams with coaching vacancies will be lining up to try and sign the eighth-year headman.

Be it in the NBA or at the collegiate level, there will certainly be job opportunities presenting themselves should Brad Stevens hit the open market.

However, we at HH personally hope it doesn’t come to this.