GneissFrog | Vancouver Grizzlies

1228 | 7 hours ago

Cam Thomas, you are … not a Celtic

SikkoDieri | Celtics

196 | 7 hours ago

Ahaha also the first name that came to my mind, especially the last sentence screams not Cam Thomas

83rdstreet

15 | 3 hours ago

Same. And got this on my Reddit fyp just after watching a 6man video on YouTube about Cam. 😭

Giuseppe_exitplan | Magic

66 | 6 hours ago

Brandin Podziemski, you are … not a Celtic.

Mg29reaper | Celtics

1 | 4 minutes ago

I feel like podz would fit in. Hes driven and he does the little things. He has a bit of an ego but like its workable.

Me_975 | Celtics

24 | 6 hours ago

Its ok, legends attract

karma_dumpster | Australia

12 | 3 hours ago

Jordan Poole: “why he don’t want me man”

Dymatizeee | Knicks

5 | 3 hours ago

“What he say fck me for”

deets23_ | Celtics

3 | an hour ago

Omg I’ve had to explain to my friend how Cam Thomas does NOT fit Celtics culture

efshoemaker | Celtics

756 | 6 hours ago

The other half to this is that when Brad finds these kinds of players he actually invests in them and gives them a chance to earn something.

Last year Jordan Walsh was glued to the end of the bench. The team got a rare three days off in a row and Walsh asked to go up to Maine to get some playing time in the g league on his off day. Stevens didn’t just green light it, he sent two player development coaches up with him to give him pointers/things to work on and take notes.

A year later and Walsh is having a breakout season, getting starts and playing lockdown defense against all stars.

MegaMagikarpXL

283 | 5 hours ago

Yeah, this is Management 101. Hire good people that fit your organization’s culture, give them the support they need to succeed, and get out of their way.

dev_vvvvv | Celtics

54 | 3 hours ago

Why doesn’t every team do this? Are they stupid?

SeveralDeer3833 | Celtics

61 | 2 hours ago

Yes. As in many sought after positions, the skills required to get a job are different from the skills required to do a job.

--Alix-- | Mavericks

0 | 36 minutes ago

Unrelated but I just want Luka to have a FO that doesn’t get intelligence diffed by toddlers, is that too much to ask

Like they don’t even have to be Celtics or Thunder, just let them be at least average, the one good team he had and my boy went to the finals ;-;

SeveralDeer3833 | Celtics

1 | 20 minutes ago

The amount of damage nepotism does to franchises is preposterous. Like genuinely there are morons like us that could do a better job than the bottom third Front Offices in the league

MegaMagikarpXL

20 | 2 hours ago

There are a nonzero number of professional sports teams that are equity sinks for billionaires that don’t care if the team does anything, they care how much money it makes and how much they can borrow against it.

DesertBrandon | Cavaliers

1 | 13 minutes ago

Yes. This type of behavior are why they are a contending team. Most (tanking or mid) teams don’t go the extra mile to make good player personnel decisions, training, coaching or FO, etc.

EnderTheTrender | Thunder

-1 | 3 hours ago

Must be, I don’t get it.

DominoNo- | Celtics

-4 | 2 hours ago

Not a single team expects their non-top 15 pick to get any meaningful minutes. Why would they invest in them?

The Celtics had a tanking year and invested in development instead of sabotaging themselves.

Swarthykins | Celtics

139 | 4 hours ago

I’ve said for years, “Championship teams empower role players.” It was always noticeable with the Spurs dynasty, then the Heatles as well. You’re going to need them to step up at some point in the playoffs, and they need to be ready.

yoyoman831 | Spurs

50 | 4 hours ago

Warriors as well, their motto was literally “strength in numbers”, and all the top contenders currently are teams with depth.

Bron and Jokić can only bring a team so far in a 7 game series, at the end the surrounding casts has to come through. Another case in point, Wilt.

Legitimate_Cow_4166

6 | an hour ago

Warriors have leaned away from the motto the last few years. Now you’ll hear Steve Kerr using divisive language like “adults in the room” or “piano players vs piano movers”.

Warriors culture is pretty trash now.

whyenn | Celtics

3 | an hour ago

It’s true: Wilt’s teams were usually (5 out of 8 times) the underdog vs. Russell’s team n the playoffs.

But in 2 out of 8 postseason matchups Wilt’s team was favored to win and yet still lost. Both the 1968 76ers and the 1969 Lakers were contemporaneously perceived as the better overall teams and favored to win over the Celtics.

Blaming all 7 of his 8 losses primarily on his “supporting cast” is a disservice to Jerry West and the many HOF teammates Wilt had those years.

King_Of_Pants | BOS

45 | 4 hours ago

It’s the reason Boston has had so much success in recent history.

The stars are going to be stars, but the organisation from top to bottom is built around getting the other guys to be their best.

The front office puts a lot of effort into those supporting players.

The coaches make an extra effort with those supporting players.

And then the players themselves make the extra effort. A guard can come to Boston and Jayson Tatum is setting screens for him and Jaylen Brown’s making backdoor cuts.

mioraka | Raptors

23 | 3 hours ago

Even with star development, I feel like the organizational support is what takes them to the next level.

Look at Brown and Ingram, one of them went to the Celtics and became 5 time all star and a champion, probably going to be NBA first team.

The other one went to the Lakers, switched multiple teams and only had 2 all star selections.

Like……is the talent gap really THAT BIG between the two?

I’m not saying they are on the same level or anything, but both of them are players with clear strength and weaknesses. You can probably argue Brown achieved his absolute full potential, and the Celtics were able to squeeze every ounce of talent out of him and turn that into on-court success.

While Ingram just hasn’t had the same opportunity or support.

PaulsGrafh | Celtics

12 | 3 hours ago

Honestly, this is kind of why I support the new draft proposal. Rather than incentivizing tanking, I want to see teams actually invest in players’ growth. These are the 350-400 best basketball players in the world. The talent gap can’t be so huge that teams have to resort to hoping they can build around a generational talent every year. Sometimes the problem with a team isn’t lack of talent on the court, but a lack of patience in the front office.

Waesrdtfyg0987 | Celtics

2 | 2 hours ago

So you feel a new draft proposal would support that and be a good thing? It just sounds like let’s get someone like Ingram to a program like the Celtics…that just encourages the divide. So a team like the Hornets who are finally turning it around may not even have the opportunity to get someone like Melo. That makes things worse not better.

PaulsGrafh | Celtics

5 | an hour ago

But your last comment is my point. Too many teams hope they can take and just get a guy like Melo to make everything better. And ultimately it didn’t until they organically built a better team.

I think the program is undervalued in today’s NBA. Finding players who fit together should be the goal. And I think relieving teams of the pressure to get a draft pick by flattening the odds changes the strategy from tanking for the next generational player to actually trying to build a better team.

LigerZeroSchneider | Timberwolves

3 | 37 minutes ago

It also removes the owners excuse to not invest in players when the team is bad. If you view someone as a placeholder to be traded for a better fit after the tank is over you probably aren’t investing in people all that much.

PaulsGrafh | Celtics

1 | 29 minutes ago

Exactly. It becomes sort of a feedback loop where you don’t invest in players, then wonder why all your players aren’t performing well, then cut bait and replace them with other players you won’t invest in.

Waesrdtfyg0987 | Celtics

1 | 12 minutes ago

Every team wants to do better. The Hornets weren’t just hoping and praying, they went through multiple coaches and multiple front offices. Brad Stevens and the top couple like him aren’t just sitting out there unemployed.

And what should happen while they are trying to figure it out? Just give them less talent and make it more difficult on them?

Everyone wants to win a chip they aren’t all choosing not to. It’s not up to someone else to tell them how to do it.

Mg29reaper | Celtics

1 | 8 minutes ago

The hornets are good now because they dont have Jordan making the decisions.

PaulsGrafh | Celtics

1 | 6 minutes ago

But that just underlines a problem with the NBA culture. Yes, every team wants to do better. But they want to do better NOW. And they don’t put in the work to actually do better.

And frankly, yes, if you have a shit team and aren’t trying to improve until you bag the golden goose, then you should continue to fail. A top 3 draft pick should not be the thing that saves you. Because like LeBron, the player can and should jump ship for a better program after you’ve wasted 4 years of their natural talent.

Ven0m889 | 76ers

11 | 3 hours ago

That Kawhi Raptors team also had some serious role players who executed everything.

Mg29reaper | Celtics

1 | 8 minutes ago

Its like the deepest team ever. There bench has like 8 current all stars or elite role players

mioraka | Raptors

25 | 4 hours ago

There are only 3 or so organizations in this league who can consistently turn second round/undrafted guys into rotational players, sometimes even championship starters.

And that is the Spurs, Celtics, and OKC.

We have years and years of evidence that they are just consistently better at player development, and with Second Apron in place for the CBA, this is going to just matter more and more.

randotd152

19 | 3 hours ago

It’s really just Spurs and Celtics if you’re talking about consistency. The Thunder have done great the last few years but they are really new to that game - let’s see if it’s a long term trend or not.

Their late firsts and second round picks from inception through 2021 all failed to develop, and those KD/Westbrook teams ultimately fell flat due to lack of depth.

mioraka | Raptors

6 | 3 hours ago

Yeah, I think Presti is so good at early picks it looks like cheating.

But turning 20-30th picks into high-end starters/all stars, turning second round/undrafted/early career journeymen into rotational players…….the Spurs and Celtics have been at this game for so long, we can probably list like 10+ players at this point, they’ve just been so damn consistent.

Off the top of my head, Danny Green, derrick White, Luke Kornet, Payton Prichard, DeJonte Murray, Matisse Thybulle, Robert Williams, Grant Williams.

The non lottery pick hit rate is so absurdly high for them.

And this is ignoring previous generations like Parker/Ginobili, and new generation of players like Champagne and all these guys on the current Celtics roster.

Getting 10-15m impact from 2-3m players is how you survive in the age of the Second Apron.

Mg29reaper | Celtics

1 | 6 minutes ago

I know its early but even hugo looks like a defensive stud. Hes like a top 10ish rookie that we got with 28th pick

PaulsGrafh | Celtics

6 | 3 hours ago

I literally just responded to another comment of yours but I want to reiterate this point - more teams need to aspire to be like these three. I truly believe the fundamental problem the culture of the NBA (and America in general) that we need quick easy results rather than long, deliberate planning. I really hope the new draft proposal gets approved to disincentivize teams from just shooting for the moon every year or so.

mioraka | Raptors

6 | 2 hours ago

I watched the Spurs a lot, and not much Celtics, but I think the key is literally just patience and process.

A lot of the Spurs we know and love today spent their first season or two on the bench waiver towels averaging 2 points a game shooting sub 40%.

You can probably make an early career highlight wheel of Murray, White, Kyle Anderson and Patty Mills towel waiving.

In probably 25 other teams, this would’ve meant the team has given up on you.

But somehow all of these guys became extremely solid NBA players. This is not coincidence, it’s a tried and true process that just fucking works.

PaulsGrafh | Celtics

3 | an hour ago

Yep. And I think teams give up WAY too quickly on players when they jut need time to develop. Like many people, it’s circumstances or your environment that makes you who you are. And I think way too often teams just give up when the player isn’t showing immediate results even when they have all the tools to achieve the results.

Mg29reaper | Celtics

1 | 6 minutes ago

Kings gave up on a future top in the league center

PaulsGrafh | Celtics

1 | 20 minutes ago

To add to what you said, I think people learned the wrong lessons from “Trust the Process.” The “process” shouldn’t be intentionally failing until you look into a player who can bail you out of your deficiencies. It should be investing in a group of people who can accomplish great things together.

DankMemesNQuickNuts | Charlotte Bobcats

16 | 3 hours ago

Firm believer that this same culture Brad cultivated is a large part of the reason we have turned it around in Charlotte too.

The amount of stuff Lee brought in from what he learned from Joe and how much Jeff Peterson has clearly learned from watching guys like Brad be a GM has completely changed the franchise. We have adopted a lot of these same mantras and are looking for the exact same things in our draft picks now. Liam McNeeley and Tidjane Salaün have spent a lot of time with the Swarm developing this year, getting a ton of playing time, practice reps, etc. Tidjane especially has looked a lot better this season as a result of that, and Liam looks a lot more confident whenever he gets NBA minutes now too

mioraka | Raptors

11 | 3 hours ago

I’ve seen videos of Lee in the locker room, he’s a maniac just in a different way, bro was running in screaming and shit after a win lmfao.

It’s clear the Hornets guys just love him.

I love this trend of NBA coaches going young, people like fucking Doc River who tell the players to “look at my resume” needs to be phased out of this league.

efshoemaker | Celtics

7 | 3 hours ago

The g league integration has been such a huge advantage the last few years.

Under Brad the Celtics have made an emphasis of rotating coaches between the nba/g league staff and using the same terminology/philosophy on both teams. And it’s paid off huge in guys like Hauser and Kornet and now Queta/Scheierman/Walsh/Harper Jr.

thehotcoffey

8 | 2 hours ago

Where do you read/hear these kind of awesome stories? This is so much better than 99% of the typical NBA stories I read on Reddit/Anywhere.

efshoemaker | Celtics

8 | 2 hours ago

Noa Dalzell is the best beat reporter to come through Boston since the glory days of Jackie Macmullen and Bob Ryan.

https://www.celticsblog.com/2024/12/8/24316573/jordan-walsh-maine-celtics-g-league-baylor-scheierman-tyler-lashbrook-greensboro-swarm

deets23_ | Celtics

3 | an hour ago

Noa writes a lot of articles about the human side of the players too. Like recently a big story that’s come out is the Catan lore, and she’s been updating whenever more comes up lmao . But also she’s wrote a story about how much the Celtics emphasize family and players have their kids around, or one year she had multiple stories based off interviews she had with some of the players’ moms for Mother’s Day

Foreveryung2026

3 | 3 hours ago

Damn ok Brad Stevens is pretty goated for that.

MLS_Analyst | Celtics

616 | 7 hours ago

“Your ambition doesn’t necessarily exceed your self-awareness” is a bar.

PhotochadA2358

146 | 5 hours ago

This is an amazing quote. It seems like there are so many players in the nba who’ve always been the best player on the court their whole life, and now they have to figure out how to fit in, and contribute in an environment where that’s no longer the case.

Tgumpsta | Kings

212 | 5 hours ago

Alex Caruso put it best:

“A big reason guys get stuck in the G-League is because they don’t realize the position they’re trying out for. It’s like going to a job interview thinking you’re going to be the CFO of the company, and they’re looking for someone to clean the bathrooms.”

StoicRetention | Bulls

64 | 5 hours ago

I was thinking, this is along the same lines as TWO TIME Champion Alex Caruso’s all timer quote

Swarthykins | Celtics

12 | 4 hours ago

I definitely remember this, but totally thought it was Jeremy Lin who said it for some reason.

irishboy9191 | Celtics

13 | 4 hours ago

He probably has a similar quote

Futternut

1 | 23 minutes ago

This guy plays exactly like this quote

FrostyParsley3530 | Raptors

61 | 5 hours ago

Cooper flagg said something pre draft that I liked - “if you’re the best player in the gym, you need to find a new gym”.

dae5oty

19 | 4 hours ago

He might have to drive several hours for that then

randotd152

17 | 3 hours ago

He literally moved from Maine to Florida just to get some competition in high school. He lead his High School team to the state championship in Maine as a Freshman.

Big_fern189

6 | 3 hours ago

My school used to play sports against them, its fucking crazy that he came out of that school.

Adsex

1 | 27 minutes ago

How long will Wemby stick to Earth ? :(

HartleyReplogle | Celtics

1 | 13 minutes ago

Wemby: C’est quoi ça, une salle de sport pour fourmis?

mommathecat | Raptors

29 | 5 hours ago

“What Alex Caruso said, but cooler.”

CreatiScope | Celtics

15 | 5 hours ago

Nah, love Brad, but Caruso’s line is better imo

PaulsGrafh | Celtics

6 | 2 hours ago

Then “What Alex Caruso said, but more concise.”

mommathecat | Raptors

1 | an hour ago

I agree but I was just trying to keep up with the Brad glazing.

therealbrooks | Celtics

5 | 5 hours ago

Brother has 2018 flashbacks while saying this

Udon21 | Celtics

6 | 4 hours ago

lol… Marcus Morris Sr and Terry Rozier coming to mind (love them both regardless)

VLHACS | Celtics

5 | 5 hours ago

Basically: “Stay hungry, stay humble”

MddlingAges | Knicks

357 | 7 hours ago

Ok guys, remember this for your next job interview. Uncle Brad out here giving us pointers for free.

bubbasnub | Magic

195 | 7 hours ago

I’m going to answer every question with “illegal screens” while making intense eye contact

-Gnostic28 | Lakers

45 | 6 hours ago

Fun fact, this idea has yet to be unsuccessful

Vegetable-Tooth8463 | Hornets

10 | 7 hours ago

LMAO

808Kuro | Nuggets

244 | 7 hours ago

A lot of yall could use this advice when it comes to your everyday careers. Some early career advice that’s really helped me is “Take your work seriously, not yourself”.

CheapScientist06 | Celtics

143 | 7 hours ago

“You can hate your job but take pride in the work you do”. Some words of wisdom from my dad

TegTowelie | Lakers

22 | 6 hours ago

I follow this in my own motto. I love what i do, but not where i do it at.

CheapScientist06 | Celtics

11 | 5 hours ago

Yeah I totally get that. I love my job and my field and it’s super interesting to talk about.

I left my old company because I couldn’t handle the way I was treated anymore. The company I work for now is incredible which is weird to say but I’m treated like an adult which is nice

TegTowelie | Lakers

9 | 5 hours ago

Congrats on finding career peace my friend, look forward to the same for myself 🙌

CheapScientist06 | Celtics

3 | 5 hours ago

Thanks! I hope you find a place for yourself too. We all deserve it

randotd152

2 | 3 hours ago

Take pride in what you do and work 5% harder than the guy next to you. That’s basically the entire key to a lucrative corporate career.

Dymatizeee | Knicks

2 | 3 hours ago

Nah theres more to that. Sometimes hard work != promotion. If your manager/boss hates you good luck

randotd152

1 | 41 minutes ago

Managers generally do not hate productive employees who work hard. Quite the opposite.

Yes there are bad managers and bad companies, and if you’re in that situation, you should find another place to work. But a bad situation is not the one to base work habits on.

Dymatizeee | Knicks

1 | 31 minutes ago

Nah im just saying just because you work hard doesn’t mean you’ll have a lucrative career

VampireOnHoyt | Spurs

1 | 4 hours ago

“He can tell me what to do but he can’t tell me what to feel” –Fountains of Wayne (RIP Adam)

cricket9818 | Knicks

26 | 7 hours ago

Anyone can use this advice in regards to pretty much anything. Self awareness and growth are integral in becoming a better human being everyday

stonehallow | NBA

15 | 6 hours ago

“Take your work seriously, not yourself”

i know a few old heads who still don’t get this, and probably never will. i have the misfortune of being in a group chat with some of these knuckleheads (be friendly with everyone is my motto) and the persecution complex and complaints never ever stop with them…it’s always feeling disrespected, feeling like they’re overlooked, being salty about others doing well etc.

imafixwoofs | OKC

2 | 6 hours ago

How do you get through to someone who has that mindset?

stonehallow | NBA

16 | 5 hours ago

i don’t. call me a snake but i just listen and maintain a good relationship with them while not participating in the toxicity as far as possible so they think i’m part of their group. and i treat them as cautionary signs of what not to become whenever i start feeling a bit sorry for myself.

ldclark92 | Pacers

13 | 5 hours ago

I don’t think this makes you a snake. I think you just understand what it takes to be part of a community/team. I believe far too many people have lost this ability. A lot of people think if you can’t agree with someone then you simply have to remove that person or yourself from that environment. Obviously, there’s levels to this, so the exception here is if you’re in danger or something more extreme is happening. However, staying engaged and connected is important.

You may think you’re not getting through, but I bet your willingness to connect and be involved rubs off on them. And even if the change is happening in small increments, it’s still change. And someday you’ll be taking their place (if not literally, socially) and having known the generation before will be of value. Even if you’ll change the way things work.

papi617 | Celtics

1 | 4 hours ago

It’s tough. Cause a lot of the time they have to find it themselves and they usually do it too late cause theyve already isolated with their behavior.

At some point when you start talking to a wall, you are the one who looks stupid.

marcdasharc4 | Celtics

7 | 6 hours ago

Told my boss on day 1 when they arrived after requesting one on ones with their staff that I take what I do far far far more seriously than I take myself. They laughed and just said “good, we’re going to get along great, then.”

Best boss I’ve ever had or am likely to ever have.

PoonGo0n | Spurs

144 | 7 hours ago

Brads got Executive of the Year locked up and Mazzulla is CotY. What a season by Boston, man.

papi617 | Celtics

49 | 4 hours ago

As much as I want Joe to win I think JB Bickerstaff s run without cade to clinch the #1 seed was the nail in the coffin for the chances. They’ll look at Bickerstaff last two seasons for the turnaround over just this season but he’s been good this year.

PoonGo0n | Spurs

18 | 4 hours ago

I mean Tatum was out for most of the season, longer than Cade and the Cs are gonna be 2nd seed.

randotd152

11 | 3 hours ago

As it usually is, either are perfectly deserving options.

The thing that sucks for Mazzulla is he could easily end up getting screwed out of this award for his entire career, just like Brad Stevens did, as the award has largely turned into “unexpected team that exceeded expectations”.

Mazzulla didn’t win it as the shiny new face that took over last minute, he didn’t win it in the championship 65 win season, and he’s not going to win it now in a banner year without his superstar.

Like what is possibly the scenario where Mazzulla wins at this point? 65 wins and a title is the expectation. He pretty much has to get into that historical 70+ win season territory to stand out, and that’s just not a reasonable expectation for anybody.

riskitformother | Celtics

9 | 3 hours ago

But the Celtics have been a wagon recently and Detroit had 14 wins two years ago. Think the optics will put JB over despite the Celtics losing three starters from last year

1OO1OO1S0S | Celtics

2 | 3 hours ago

I mostly want Joe to win because it would piss him off lol

str8rippinfartz | Celtics

2 | an hour ago

JB Bickerstaff is gonna win in Detroit, but Joe has a shot at 2nd

Dymatizeee | Knicks

-6 | 3 hours ago

CotY should be JJ Reddick imo, but he likely won’t win it

Comin4datrune | Mavericks

88 | 7 hours ago

One of the best basketball minds of all time.

imafixwoofs | OKC

-67 | 6 hours ago

Holy hyperbole!

Seeker369

53 | 5 hours ago

Do you know anything about him?

He took a small mid major school to back to back NCAA Finals!
He was one of the winningest coaches in college basketball during this span
He did it between the ages of 30-36.
He then jumped to the nba and inherited a rebuilding roster, acquired and developed young players and took the team to three conference championships.
Then he took over as GM and made amazing move after move to build a championship team, ultimately winning a title with another young, inexperienced coach at the helm.
THEN, he lost his best player as well as the other all star players he had for that title run and everyone assumed it would be a tanking season. Instead, he retooled the roster with young, no name players and the team is the 2 seed and the favorite to come out of the East!
He’s going to undoubtedly be awarded executive of the year and is thee most sought after exec in the game right now.

The guy is a savant basketball mind and to say he’s the top mind in the game is far from an overstatement.

probablymade_thatup | Bucks [MIL] Luke Kornet

9 | 3 hours ago

And his GMing has been so amazing to see. He navigated the Udoka situation well, coming out the other side with a better coach. He obviously has the luxury of two stars in their prime, but he hasn’t tried to “Ainge” and only make big swings. He’s filled out the entire roster with hardworking role players without giving up much in terms of assets, so they control almost all of their own picks going forward (‘28 is a Spurs swap and ‘29 was traded away for Jrue I think). He has just batted singles and doubles with every move as a GM and he’s showing everyone how that still wins.

BuffaloInTheRye

19 | 5 hours ago

Is it though?

anteater_x | Magic

17 | 5 hours ago

Literally no

sup3rdr01d | Celtics

17 | 4 hours ago

No, if anything it’s an understatement. The guy is just a pure winner

CarBallAlex | Celtics

77 | 7 hours ago

This tracks with the way he’s built these rosters. Almost every guy he’s brought in has been someone under the radar or overlooked and looking for another chance. Horford was thought to be too old and washed after his Philly and OKC stints. Nobody outside Spurs fans knew who White was. Brogdon was looking for a second chance after being an afterthought on a lottery Pacers team. Porzingis was an afterthought in Washington and people weren’t really tuned in he could be the 3rd/4th best player on a championship team. Simons wasn’t talked about much or floated as a guy who could make a big impact, Vucevic being given a second chance after rotting on Chicago for years.

All the young guys too. Pritchard has a chip on his shoulder and was taken late, Walsh was overlooked and a 2nd round pick, Gonzalez played very little in Spain, Hauser, Kornet and Queta developed from G-league level talent to impactful winning players.

With the exception of Jrue Holiday who was an established very good player, Brad Stevens has constantly acquired players who are diamonds in the rough or just overlooked by others for one reason or another. And even Jrue was underrated and has always been a team first guy.

I think the Celtics front office has some voodoo Moneyball analytics where whatever he uses for his “he gets on base” is something other teams just aren’t doing or are viewing it through a different lens.

I truly believe after he coached a team that spiraled because of Kyrie, he was just kind of done with looking for players who are looking out for themselves. With the exception of the Udoka drama and the team sale, this team has had basically 0 locker room issues or even a sniff of it. Guys like Smart, Brogdon and Grant Williams kinda left breadcrumbs they didn’t prefer or respect Mazzulla that first year, and all 3 immediately got shipped out that summer.

That’s why he’ll never bring in someone that doesn’t buy in to what we’ve been doing here and give them a chance to run the train off the tracks. We’ll never go after high maintenance guys like Durant, Draymond, Chris Paul, Kawhi, Zion, Morant, etc. that just infect locker rooms or are a distraction from winning. He’ll never bring in a guy like Ayton who only tries when he’s looking for a contract. I believe this Giannis trade saga is just another chapter of guys we will never acquire.

Schafer89 | Celtics

33 | 6 hours ago

Basically 95% of our moves since brad took over( all i can really think of is the jrue trade) our moves have come out of nowhere. They keep it tight and in house. So if there’s rumours about the celtics, its not coming from the celtics

Mg29reaper | Celtics

12 | 6 hours ago

The Vuc move was kinda predicted. Everyone know the Celtics needed a backup C and with zubac being super pricy to acquire we went with the next best guy.

FrostyParsley3530 | Raptors

1 | 5 hours ago

How’s he been for you guys?

CarBallAlex | Celtics

11 | 5 hours ago

He’s been okay. Was injured for like a month so he hasn’t played that much, but his shooting has been terrible and the way he posts up feels ancient and awkward, everything else has been okay. Once he figures out the spacing of our offense and his shots start going in I think he can be really good for us. Problem is there’s 3 games left and then playoffs, so he doesn’t have much time to figure that out.

dragoncockles | Celtics

5 | 5 hours ago

mostly injured, but definitely good

CreatiScope | Celtics

6 | 5 hours ago

I would say he’s not been good but it’s been expected. I actually would rather Garza get the minutes because they’re playing better with him but I can see a world where Garza gets completely obliterated in the playoffs and becomes unplayable and Queta absolutely needs a backup to rotate with. So, I think it makes sense trying to get Vuc up to speed and suffer through these shit games he’s been having in the hopes that he’ll hold up better in the playoffs. I just hope that Joe would be willing to take Garza off ice in the playoffs if Vuc flatlines.

thatgreik | BOS

24 | 6 hours ago

I really changed my tune on Simons during his Celtics stint - obviously, as a player archetype he is still very ball-dependent and needs shots to be effective on the court, but I was especially impressed with his ability to buy in on defense, search for the open man on offense (even when a good shot opportunity presented itself), and to keep quiet and happy while his usage rate dropped for the better of the team.

What a solid pickup.

CreatiScope | Celtics

12 | 5 hours ago

In fairness, Brad didn’t pick Pritchard lol Danny did. Brad used him well his rookie year before Ime tried to bury him and Brad unburied him by trading away some depth. But, he got buried again by the Brogdon pickup.

Edit: Also, it’s Zarren. He’s a money mastermind and he’s a Celtics fan for life so he’s literally working his dream job and doesn’t want to work for another franchise (as far as we know, maybe he gets a huge offer by someone at some point, in which case I can’t be too mad).

efshoemaker | Celtics

2 | 4 hours ago

before Ime tried to bury him

I’m all for shit talking Ime but that’s not what happened. Pritchard was an every day rotation player for Ime even in the playoffs.

It was Joes first year when Brogdon came in and Pritchard got forced out of the rotation.

Mobile-Entertainer60 | Thunder

1 | 5 hours ago

It’s a virtuous cycle, too. Those fringe guys are motivated to bust their butts because if they do, they’ll get opportunities. It’s not an accident that the Celtics have a bunch of players who have leveled up beyond expectations.

PaulsGrafh | Celtics

1 | 2 hours ago

I think you hit the nail on the head with the Kyrie point. The “moneyball” aspect that I think he learned is that synergy matters a lot. I feel like his emphasis has been on players who obviously have the talent, but also have the work ethic and flexibility to work with others. And that’s sorely lacking in scouting in today’s NBA.

DVPVPD | Thunder

66 | 7 hours ago

Its amazing how good this guys basketball IQ and understanding is. Only a couple times a generation do we get guys like this that just understand basketball to such a high level

PrestigiousWelder190

46 | 7 hours ago

He’s easily one of the greatest basketball minds of all time. Between butler and the celtics his resume is truly special

DVPVPD | Thunder

34 | 7 hours ago

His Celts coaching run even without the ring showed he could do it at the top level too

CreatiScope | Celtics

14 | 5 hours ago

Should’ve been COTY 2018. It’s insane to me that Casey got it over him.

Dymatizeee | Knicks

5 | 3 hours ago

Just be glad Casey got it cus they fired him

Rofls_Waffles

2 | an hour ago

Yup that award is cursed for some reason.

Ok_Target5058 | Grizzlies

30 | 6 hours ago

I’d argue his understanding of and ability to build organizational culture regardless of industry is actually what sets him apart. (He obviously knows ball too.)

Plenty of guys in FOs know Xs and Os but this presser shows Brad evaluates cultural fit as well as anyone we’ve seen.

MegaMagikarpXL

7 | 5 hours ago

yeah this is definitely more an organizational/project management/executive philosophy than basketball IQ.

Stevens undeniably has the Xs and Os and player evaluation skillset as a GM too, but this would be a great answer if he was giving it as the store manager at Kroger, much less the Boston Celtics.

Vegetable-Tooth8463 | Hornets

5 | 7 hours ago

Feel like he’s the only coach besides Larry Brown to succeed in both college and the NBA.

keyboardDummy

47 | 7 hours ago

Sounds like what Pop used to say. Excellent team culture.

IMAROCKIT | Lakers

20 | 7 hours ago

Meanwhile Pelinka talking mana from heaven

DistrictDifficult456

17 | 7 hours ago

He’s one of the best ever in the modern era at his job

BillowingPillows | Supersonics

16 | 7 hours ago

Fact of the matter is there are way more dudes who could be nba role players than there are spots in the nba. Many guys playing euro ball, guys in the G league, guys who don’t play but are already on nba rosters. The thing that often decides who gets these spots is intangibles, professionalism, maturity, etc.

stonehallow | NBA

12 | 6 hours ago

Reminds me of Caruso saying too many G league players approach the NBA thinking they’re applying for a “CFO” role when teams are looking for a “guy to clean the bathrooms”

pusongsword

9 | 7 hours ago

____ catching strays.

(Fill in your entry there)

namblaotie | BOS

5 | 6 hours ago

Leave an insult on the ground and the owner will come pick it up.

CHEVIEWER1

8 | 6 hours ago

Not a fan of the Celtics BUT got to give the organization credit they are in good hands with GM Stevens and HC Mazzulla…Yes definitely need the cornerstones

Efficient_Art_1144 | Celtics

7 | 4 hours ago

Someone on our sub dug up an article about how Brad scouted and recruited at Butler and it talked about how he didn’t just interview the players and their coaches and parents, but he’d go and talk to teachers, janitors etc through the whole school to get a sense of how the player carried themselves and treated others. And that feels like it’s part of how he looks for players in the nba too

Michipotz | Nuggets

5 | 7 hours ago

Good thing Peyton Watson only thinks about himself and is a freakin ballhog /s

Please don’t leave the Nuggets

No-Signature8815

6 | 6 hours ago

This is actually great life advice tbh

HeadyRoosevelt

7 | 5 hours ago

As a UConn fan, I’m hoping Alex Karaban ends up in an organization with this mindset.

dragoncockles | Celtics

3 | 5 hours ago

that would be dope

supes1 | Celtics

2 | an hour ago

Hurley seems to follow similar philosophies for recruiting, focusing on unselfish players with strong character rather than “rankings.” He’s well known for vetting parents too.

scenenotemo92

3 | 5 hours ago

yes i am ready to be hired as a boston celtic, brad

coocoach | Vancouver Grizzlies

5 | 4 hours ago

I mean that is the luxury of having a trio of a Jayson Tatum, Jaylen brown and Derrick white. You don’t have to swing for the fences, you can get guys who are good character guys and maybe somewhat good basketball players. If you have a less talented team, unfortunately you have to take swings for bad character good basketball players to get better. You think the bucks wanted to try cam Thomas if they didn’t have to?

FeistyAd9287 | Knicks

3 | 4 hours ago

It’s crazy this man can just get up and coach a team into a high playoff seed anytime but he chooses to be the genius behind the scenes.

Akumetsu33 | TOR

2 | 5 hours ago

This mindset is basically why the Jays work so well together and wouldn’t be surprised if the celtics had this in mind when they were drafted.

BeamTeam23 | Kings

2 | 4 hours ago

You bring your lunch pail to work.

SendItFellas

2 | 4 hours ago

Ironically enough, it was this kind of thinking from Danny Ainge that gave Stevens the chance to expand on this philosophy in practice

oneeyedspaceman1

2 | 3 hours ago

I would also point out that this is the organization’s philosophy from the top down. Doesn’t matter what your position within the organization. Scout, coach, video editor, office staff, executive, janitor every one is evaluated by their character and it’s why they had no problem telling Ime see ya 👋.

Other organizations have no problem looking past bad behavior or just waiting for things to blow over. Not the Celtics, act like an idiot and there’s the door. I really respect that. It’s hard enough to put together talented people and win but add to it that the people you are looking for fit an even more narrow criteria and it makes it all the more impressive that this organization can continue to do just that.

george_cant_standyah | Mavericks

2 | 2 hours ago

Stay away from our Cooper.

Sweatytubesock

1 | 6 hours ago

Dominayton, WELCOME TO BEANTOWN!!

rocket_beer | Celtics

1 | 4 hours ago

Jordan Walsh, ladies and gentleman

Dymatizeee | Knicks

1 | 3 hours ago

Basically saying your character and attitude is just as important as your skillset

Dymatizeee | Knicks

1 | 3 hours ago

Ja.. you are not a celtic

afrothundah11

1 | 2 hours ago

Meanwhile the Lakers will just add Westbrook at 50mil+ per year then surprise him that he’ll be a role player.

Single_Rush3413 | Celtics

1 | 2 hours ago

There is a mantra we live by everyday and it never fail: In Brad we trust ☘️

ShiloVillageNPC | Trail Blazers

1 | 15 minutes ago

Meanwhile yesterday I saw the Oregon QB coach say he picks guys based on how quickly they can answer “chocolate or vanilla ice cream?”

Fucking fade me

legless_chair | Lakers

0 | 2 hours ago

Needs more synergy and circling back

all-dressed_768 | Raptors

-4 | 3 hours ago

So the same thing every team wants ok

snowbrad12 | Celtics

2 | 2 hours ago

Clearly not, just look at the league.

TBP42069

-11 | 6 hours ago

Wow groundbreaking

ugotnorizzatall

-12 | 6 hours ago

Willingness to shoot from 35ft when you get clamped up

JaylenBrownAllStar | Celtics

1 | 5 hours ago

They have actually slowed down on the three this year lol. They started this year being like last year but they drive more into the paint and go for the mid range 2 way more than last year

Substantial-Sea-5729 | Thunder

-19 | 5 hours ago

Thunder bench players clear half the celtics starters 😂

JaylenBrownAllStar | Celtics

8 | 5 hours ago

lol gotta be a troll

I know you aren’t talking about brown and Tatum, but who is better than White on your team on the bench?

Hauser would be a starter on multiple teams in the league and maybe your only argument. Queta is just arriving but can’t think of a backup big on your team that is better than current Queta

namblaotie | BOS

6 | 4 hours ago

100% Troll, don’t waste your time. Nothing they say has any value.

HIVAladeeen | Celtics

1 | 4 hours ago

I try to ignore the opinions of most people from Oklahoma. Education isn’t really their strong suit there.

namblaotie | BOS

1 | 4 hours ago

Standardized testing aside, their next door neighbor is Texas, so I try to give them some grace when I can.

Substantial-Sea-5729 | Thunder

-6 | 5 hours ago

Bro Jwilly clears queta easily. Hauser only can shoot 3’s. There’s a reason you guys get beat by us everytime we match up

JaylenBrownAllStar | Celtics

12 | 4 hours ago

Didn’t we win the last game?

Substantial-Sea-5729 | Thunder

-6 | 4 hours ago

Barely - your like 1-6 over the last 7 tho

JaylenBrownAllStar | Celtics

7 | 4 hours ago

3-8 but 5 wins is more than 3 I’ll give you that lol. I think you guys steamroll till the spurs series but the lack of experience for the spurs will backfire on them. I do hope it’s Celtics vs Thunder tho as I would like the best team to have a shot at the title

Substantial-Sea-5729 | Thunder

-2 | 4 hours ago

Spurs don’t concern me. They are the most obvious regular season hype beasts i’ve seen in a while

JaylenBrownAllStar | Celtics

6 | 4 hours ago

Yeah remind me a bit of your first year as the number one seed. They just need the experience and then the true rivalry for you guys will start. But I think it won’t be a sweep

Substantial-Sea-5729 | Thunder

1 | 4 hours ago

Maybe yeah. Hope you guys beat the knicks this year at least and then we can match up. Pretty sure OKC would sweep the knicks with how we match up vs. them but okc celtics could be a series

sup3rdr01d | Celtics

4 | 4 hours ago

Don’t get too big buddy. Anything can happen in the playoffs.

sup3rdr01d | Celtics

3 | 4 hours ago

L

Brad Stevens on the character traits the Celtics look for when acquiring role players late in the draft and in free agency: “competitive character where team matters, you’re growth-oriented, you come to work every day, and your ambition doesn’t necessarily exceed your self-awareness.”