http://espn.go.com/boston/nba/story/_/id/9448871/brad-stevens-hired-boston-celtics-head-coach
As a fan of college basketball in general, this makes me sad.
As a fan of college basketball in general, this makes me sad.
Especially in a "player development" year.Great hire for Boston. Wow.
Insert Tad Boyle to Butler panic rumors
ESPN Stats & Info @ESPNStatsInfo 10m When he was hired by Celtics, Rick Pitino had .734 D-I win pct and 2 NCAA title game apps. Brad Stevens: .772 win pct, 2 title game apps.
You can always find parallels and it's certainly easy to compare the two. I think there's a big difference leaving the holy grail of cbb for the NBA versus someone from essentially a mid-major(he made it bigger) to the NBA(and yes, a historically great team). Stevens wasn't just leaving for any job. Pitino had been around the block -- Boston U, Providence, Knicks, Kentucky. Stevens was the Indiana guy who never left the state.Ah the parallels. Or not.
I think the Celtics are going to be relatively patient. If they didn't, they wouldn't have hired him and instead of gone for a cheaper hire with less of commitment. This isn't the Rockies and Weiss. That said, I could see him back in the college game in 3-4 years like Pitino after realizing how much harder it is.Have a very hard time seeing it work if Rondo stays, and if Rondo leaves it becomes an even bigger rebuild that I don't see the Celtics having the patience for with one unproven in the NBA coach. He'll need to surround himself with very experienced NBA assistants, but the problem is that may raise respect issues in its own right. He'll be back in the college game in 3 seasons. I like Stevens and wish him the best, but I do not see how this works out. I'm not sure it's even possible to build an NBA team of "his guys" no matter if he had unlimited time and not the impatient Celtic fan base.
He's accomplished more and is 15 years younger, so there's a major difference. If Tad can get closer to Stevens NCAA results, I'll be pretty damn happy.Very sad for Butler and Indiana. Its pretty amazing how Stevens and Tad have similar stories (sort of eerie).
Both were local high school basketball stars from northern suburbs, both gave up very well paying careers to coach college basketball, and both know how to coach some damn good basketball.
Hopefully Tad's coaching career will emulate Stevens... winning records, conference championships and NCAA finals appearances... and then stop. CU will win the National Championships and Tad NEVER leaves CU.
And I have sent text to all my Butler family to stay the **** away from Tad he is not interested.
They wanted a younger coach they got one.Damn he is only 36. I wonder if there are going to be ego problems on the team.
I can see this going either way. I really won't be surprised by what happens. Could he pull a Saban... sure. Could he the next Jimmy Johnson (successful at both levels)... yes. History says he won't be successful, but I think his style might translate to the pros.
Just stating my thoughts. If I don't have a strong stand, am I not allowed to voice my opinion?Way to go out on a limb there.
Butler has their work cut out for them but I don't think they are in as much trouble as people think. They've had success prior to Stevens becoming HC, although not to that extent. He's elevated the status of that program. And being in the Big East should be a help not hurt IMO.Will be interesting to see what Butler does with their move to the Big East. I don't know if there would be mutual interest but I'd like to see the NBA-NCAA swap go full circle and Butler get Mike Dunlap. Would be a solid situation for ol' Mike to land on his feet.
Butler has their work cut out for them but I don't think they are in as much trouble as people think. They've had success prior to Stevens becoming HC, although not to that extent. He's elevated the status of that program. And being in the Big East should be a help not hurt IMO.
Pitino is a lazy, yet easy comparison. The only thing they really have in common is that both left their college jobs for the Celtics. Pitino had already been in the NBA and in a big market. Stevens has been spent his whole career at Butler in the state he was raised, with little to no hint of a desire to go to the pros. And as you highlighted their styles are different.I've seen people comparing the move to Rick Pitino or Josh McDaniels... I don't see it that way. Those guys were extremely brash and arrogant. Stevens is a guy who is cool, collected and who is as much a student of advance analytics as the game itself. Perfect for a city (nay, a region) who's embraced sabermetrics in baseball and a stoic, unemotional coach in football. Stevens is one of the guys who's kind of on the cutting edge of analysis for basketball players. In short, he's not just looking at PPG or rebounds. To me, his philosophy seems a lot more suited for the professional game than for college. He's not going to be out recruiting guys who fit the mold, he's going to be paying them... with the huge resources the Celtics have at their disposal, he'll be able to build the team his way.
Not only that, but he'll be able to get the most out of the guys the Celtics have now. The guys they took from Brooklyn have talent, but weren't especially successful last season. Now with Stevens, he can help get the most out of them, help build community like he did at Butler.
This just isn't a guy who's going to yell and scream and lose the faith of his players like Pitino. He's not going to brashly come in talking about his college success. He's going to lead by example, just like he did at Butler. He understands the challenges that he faces when he's dealing with grown men who aren't dependent on him for a scholarship or (to an extent) playing time. He seems like a great hire. The Celtics aren't just giving the keys to any successful coach. They've done their homework. They've landed a guy who fits their philosophy on how business should be done in the NBA and they got their first choice.
I'm looking forward to seeing how this shakes out.