Boston Celtics: 3 defining hallmarks of Ime Udoka’s Cs culture
The Boston Celtics HC is a player-friendly locker-room voice
No one here is saying Brad Stevens had a Bobby Knight-like relationship with his roster in the eight-year tenure as Cs head coach.
But check out the attention to detail Udoka had in mind in crafting his coaching staff:
Celtics' Ime Udoka says he handpicked his coaching staff with particular players in mind
— Josue Pavón (@Joe_Sway) October 6, 2021
Marcus Smart:
"I targeted specifically, Damon Stoudamire to be with Marcus"
Al Horford & Dennis Schroder:
"Ben (Sullivan) coached Al & Dennis in Atlanta" (1/2)
What’s most exciting is that Udoka seems to want Al Horford and Dennis Schroder to stick around beyond this year. Horford has a non-guaranteed fourth-year of his contract (initially signed in 2019 with Philadelphia) for 2022-23 and Schroder was a one-year pickup. The two essentially saw the inverse situation when signing the deals they now hold, where Horford got more than expected and Schroder picked up significantly less.
HH often includes those two in mid-season deals, but the only reality we feel it’s possible for that to happen would be for the Milwaukee Bucks, Brooklyn Nets, or other Eastern Conference title teams leave the Cs in the dust.
If the pieces fit and this ends up being a title team for the ages with an unforgettable identity the city of Boston will always embrace, then yeah, find a way to keep these guys long-term.
Brad Stevens seems like a level 10 (or at worst seven) salary cap shaman.