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Brad Stevens ignoring key area led to Boston Celtics’ collapse, says analyst

By Andrew Hughes

Brad Stevens ignoring a key area of the Boston Celtics organizational makeup has led to the team's collapse says MassLive's Brian Robb Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports
Brad Stevens ignoring a key area of the Boston Celtics organizational makeup has led to the team's collapse says MassLive's Brian Robb Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports /
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While Boston Celtics President of Basketball Operations Brad Stevens has done everything possible to build a roster that is eight men deep and ready to fight in the postseason, he ignored another key component of what makes a team successful: its coaching staff.

While the organization was hit with a shocking suspension to Ime Udoka right at the beginning of the season, Stevens failed to equip interim head coach/eventual Udoka replacement Joe Mazzulla with an adequate support staff — failing to find someone to take over Mazzulla’s head assistant role and a replacement for Damon Stoudamire when he was hired to be the head coach of Georgia Tech in March.

“This entire situation is clearly not on Mazzulla but it’s very fair to wonder how much better he would be in the spot if he had a few more experienced names around him on the bench or if the team had a more proven coach entirely,” MassLive’s Brian Robb prefaced before saying, “Stevens not putting those pieces in place at the beginning or middle of the season is a mark against him.”

Finding an experienced assistant should be Boston Celtics’ priority during the offseason

With the Boston Celtics on the brink of elimination in the Eastern Conference Finals, the team’s focus will inevitably shift to the offseason, though it shouldn’t make that shift until their Banner 18 hopes are officially out of reach.

Once it does, though, the most important thing that should be addressed is Mazzulla’s coaching staff. An experienced assistant, like Frank Vogel, Kenny Atkinson, or Monty Williams, would be the perfect first step to what could be a multi-step overhaul plan. After that, deciding on Grant Williams — most likely passing up on the massive offer sheet at least one team figures to throw his way — and figuring out Jaylen Brown’s long-term future need to be focused on.

Nothing should be put above providing Mazzulla with a respected voice and, in a worst-case scenario, a coach capable of taking over on a full-time basis should Mazzulla falter, this coming offseason.

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