By Jordan Long
The Boston Celtics are 53-23 and sit 2 games back of the Toronto Raptors for 1st place in the Eastern Conference with 6 games left in the regular season. With all this success, Head Coach Brad Stevens is a candidate for NBA Coach of the Year.
Stevens should have consideration for the award. They were dealt an early blow to their championship hopes when small forward Gordon Hayward went down on opening night. They started 0-2 and looked like it could be a long year for them. The Celtics have gone an impressive 53-21 since the injury. The defense is the reason as they give up 100.1 points per game, 3rd in the NBA.
According to ESPN, Stevens said, “Could care less. There are 29 other great coaches, and just to be a head coach in this league is enough. It’s super hard. There’s no way that I would ever consider myself to be in that race.”
Stevens is right. He knows there are other coaches who may win it. Those include Toronto’s Head Coach Dwane Casey and Indiana Pacers’ Coach Nate McMillan. The Raptors were a playoff team under Casey a year ago with a record of 51-31. They were the #3 seed in the postseason. This year they are 55-21 and closing in on the #1 seed in the East.
The Pacers a year ago were 42-40. They were in the playoffs as the #7 seed. Flip to this season and they are playing much better basketball under McMilian with a record of 46-31. There is still work to do but the Pacers are improved.
Stevens may take home the award. He has the Celtics playing at a championship level. What may hurt his chances of winning it is the Celtics were the top team in the East last year at 53-29. They went all the way to the Eastern Conference Final before falling to Cleveland in 5 games.
Stevens shouldn’t worry about Coach of the Year. Sure it would be a great honor, but it is only the regular season. Stevens’ goal is to win an NBA Championship with the Celtics. The Celtics have the team to make that a reality.
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