BOSTON – Doc Rivers was gone to the Clippers. Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce were in Brooklyn. The Celtics were rebuilding, not from the ground floor but from somewhere beneath the sub-basement.
The next Celtics coach would need the patience of Job and Dr. Seuss combined. President of basketball operations Danny Ainge had his choice: Butler’s Brad Stevens, a 36-year-old with zero NBA experience.
“Danny had studied Brad for a long period of time,” said Steve Pagliuca, a Celtics co-owner and Managing Partner. “We had no idea we would need a coach, but Danny studied them and Brad was No. 1, 2 and 3. Brad was the guy Danny wanted.”
After a July meeting with Celtics brass at the home of Stevens’ mother — “It was right out of Hoosiers: a little perfect Indiana town. I think Ward and June Cleaver lived next door,” Pagliuca said – Stevens got a 6-year-deal.
“Getting a chance, being offered the opportunity to coach this team, that kind of excitement and flattery certainly hits you at first, but you really have to do your research: ‘Is it the kind of people and organization you want to be around?’” Stevens said.
He gave the Celtics a “yes,” and gave no thought to following Rivers.
“If you were concerned or worried about outside expectations, I could see where that would be something,” Stevens said. “I never looked at it as trying to fill shoes.”
The results have pleased those who matter. The Celtics (15-31), who visit the Knicks on Tuesday, are struggling as expected. With 17 draft picks (including nine first-rounders) in the next five years, the Celtics gauge matters not by wins and losses. It’s the progress they see with Stevens, now 37, and his calm, ultra-positive style.
Stevens took Butler to consecutive NCAA title games (losing to Duke and UConn) while compiling a 166-49 record, the most wins ever for a Division I coach in his first six years. Ainge studied it all.
“I loved his demeanor. I loved how his teams were always prepared and played with a high intensity level. I loved how calm he was,” said Ainge, who liked what he called Stevens’ “coaching forward” style. “Instead of yelling and screaming at every mistake a player makes, you’re coaching the next play. You can correct their mistakes a lot of times at the next film session. A lot of times, it’s knowing when to correct mistakes at the moment. Coaching forward, instead of coaching backward. I liked that and his poise and intelligence.”
The players like all that, too.
“It’s his mindset of moving forward and just focusing on us improving every day,” Brandon Bass said.
“He’s a competitor and he knows the game,” said ex-Net Kris Humphries. “I expect him to have a lot of success in the NBA.”
It won’t be this season, which has been often trying, most times losing. Rajon Rondo (knee surgery) has been back for just five games. There have been trades.
“I knew going in there was going to be the potential for [trade] movement, and that we’re in a process that we may have to measure growth differently at different times of the year and not just necessarily winning and losing,” Stevens said.
“The most challenging aspect is the number of possessions in a game. That means you’ve got to be that much better 50 more times [than in college].”
Another challenge? Not always keeping his paycheck. His lawyer wife, Tracy, is his agent.
“Brad said he is the only coach who gives 100 percent of his salary to his agent,” Pagliuca said.