Brad Stevens’ State of the Celtics

It was a comparatively quiet commerce deadline for the Boston Celtics, however they did handle so as to add some depth to the entrance courtroom within the type of Mike Muscala.

Boston traded Justin Jackson and two second-round picks to the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder in trade for the large man, a participant they’d been conserving their eye on for some time.

“As you undergo the league, you simply preserve tidbits in your thoughts of the way you assume guys would match,” Celtics President of Basketball Operations Brad Stevens stated. “I imply, when folks describe Mike that I knew nicely, whether or not in teaching or whether or not it’s enjoying with him or no matter, they at all times talked about the best way he approached his work, the best way he was as a teammate, the best way he competed to win, and that’s what’s an important factor. Anyone that performed with him would let you know, they love enjoying with him, which is like…an alarm goes off in your head. That’s an individual you wish to have round. And so, I feel that he was a man that we’ve been speaking to OKC for a bit of bit about.”

Muscala appeared in 43 video games for the Thunder this season, enjoying 14.5 minutes per contest. The Celtics are assured in his capacity to affect profitable on each ends of the courtroom.

“We thought he was a man that may match with actually any mixture of our bigs,” Stevens defined. “And, within the final couple of years, we’ve been good once we’ve performed massive. He’s versatile sufficient to do some various things defensively, however he’s additionally clearly tremendous expert and makes the precise play. The ball doesn’t stick in his fingers very lengthy.”

The large man rotation in Boston consists of Al Horford, Robert Williams, Luke Kornet, and Blake Griffin, and now, Muscala. When wholesome, he’ll probably fall down the depth chart, however he provides them a high quality fallback choice for when gamers aren’t accessible.

Horford and Williams have each missed time this season and can virtually actually proceed to take action all through the rest of the season. Having Muscala on the bench will enable the Celtics to present these two some aid with out sacrificing an excessive amount of over the ultimate 26 video games.

“Rob’s solely performed in 20 video games or no matter this 12 months, so you bought to be alert to that,” Stevens stated. “We’re going to not play Al on the second night time of back-to-backs. That’s going to be the best way it’s going to be the entire 12 months. And so you bought a pair extra of these. After which, we put lots on our different guys. And, like I stated earlier, there [are] going to be nights the place Mike Muscala goes to be requested to play an enormous position due to the best way that he can affect that specific sport or that specific matchup, and there are going to be different nights for the place someone else is. That’s the great half about this. We simply needed as a lot versatility as doable.”

Muscala might have been introduced into the fold as further insurance coverage for the Celtics’ bigs, however he’s additionally able to enjoying alongside them.

“The concept once more of ‘can we get yet one more man with measurement that may stretch the ground’ that may play with any of our guys,” continued Stevens. “It’s exhausting to seek out guys that may play with Rob, can play with Al, can play with our different bigs.”

Muscala has been a knock-down shooter from distance all through the course of his profession, making him a helpful offensive choice to pair with Williams, Horford, and some other mixture of Boston’s guys.

That being stated, Stevens additionally harassed the significance of getting a participant who gained’t have to get common enjoying time. With Muscala, his utilization will rely upon the scenario, and the Celtics want gamers who’re okay with that form of position.

“The opposite factor that’s type of the exhausting half about this group is, if we had been going to make a transfer to usher in an individual that was going to play a ton of minutes, you virtually should subtract someone else that performs a ton of minutes,” Stevens said. “Our group has a great way about itself. I feel we’ve acquired good depth. I feel we’ve acquired 13 gamers that may play and affect one another in a very great way. However we even have a bunch of fellows that don’t have to do it each night time. And in order that capacity to play, however not have to want to play is an enormous deal. And I feel that’s what we have to have as a group. It’s not about a person. That is a couple of aim. I feel Mike understands that, and our different gamers perceive. I feel our guys on our group this 12 months have proven that.”

Stevens singled out Blake Griffin, who poured in 15 factors in Boston’s win over the Philadelphia 76ers on Monday night time, as a fantastic instance of this mentality.

“Typically he doesn’t play for a few video games. Then [he] simply comes again to work after which has an enormous sport the opposite night time,” Stevens stated. “The one motive we stayed near the sport the opposite night time is as a result of Blake hit a couple of threes and gave us an opportunity.”

The Celtics nonetheless have one roster spot accessible to fill, and there must be loads of choices accessible to them on the buyout market. Danny Inexperienced, Will Barton, and Justin Vacation are a couple of names that come to thoughts.

That being stated, the tough half about filling these spots is discovering gamers who’re keen to just accept the diminished position they might probably play in Boston.

“It’s a tough needle to string, proper?” Stevens stated. I” don’t blame anyone that wouldn’t wish to fill that position. I feel we’re actually deep proper now. And we have already got a bunch of fellows which are giving up for one trigger. If there was one thing that strikes the needle even in another way, then we now have to think about it clearly, however I feel that that’s most likely the most probably factor. And so, you’ll have a look at it, and also you’ll determine, ‘is there someone that matches that want and is admittedly excited to be right here?’ Or is it, you are feeling such as you’ve acquired that every one stuffed and perhaps spend money on a youthful participant. We’re going to evaluate all that over the subsequent few days and attempt to determine it out.”

The buyout market may present the Celtics an opportunity so as to add some further depth behind Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown on the wing, particularly with the latest damage to Brown.

Brown collided with Tatum on Wednesday night time and suffere a facial fracture within the course of – an damage that may probably sideline him for a number of weeks. Nonetheless, it appears as if Brown has averted the necessity for surgical procedure.

We’re going to see how he feels over the subsequent few days. He’s already been fitted for a masks,” Stevens stated. “He’s nonetheless feeling it. [He] doesn’t really feel nice. So, we’ll see how he feels when he begins shifting round, after which we’ll get collectively early within the week and type of determine what’s subsequent. But it surely doesn’t seem like it’s going to be too lengthy, which is an efficient factor.”

Earlier reporting indicated that Brown can be out via the All-Star break and the damage can be reevaluated at that time. If Brown doesn’t want surgical procedure, it may speed up his timetable for a return, particularly if he wears a masks on the courtroom.

In the meantime, the Celtics are additionally nonetheless ready on the return of Marcus Sensible, who has missed eight straight video games with an ankle damage.

“Marcus is feeling lots higher,” stated Stevens. “He’s been out on the courtroom. I haven’t talked to Phil Coles (Govt Director of Efficiency) at the moment about what precisely the subsequent step is, however he’s acquired a bit of little bit of ache. It’s that very same ankle that he sprained final 12 months after which reaggravated within the fall.”

With Sensible out, the Celtics have needed to depend on their guard depth with Derrick White, Malcolm Brogdon, and Payton Pritchard stepping up. Stevens particularly talked about Pritchard as a helpful commodity, noting his capacity to step up when his identify known as.

“Payton is admittedly good,” Stevens stated when requested why the Celtics didn’t try and commerce Pritchard for further wing depth. “And inevitably, final 12 months, we performed a number of, or no less than a few playoff video games with out Sensible. You don’t know what’s going to occur. And Payton’s a superb participant. He’s confirmed he can play within the playoffs. And it’s not a simple scenario for him, however like I stated earlier, we are able to play him at level, bump others as much as the wings, and people have been good lineups as a result of they’re good gamers.”

Whereas accidents have plagued the Celtics this 12 months, Tatum has been an iron man. In reality, Boston has tried to make him sit out video games this 12 months, however the famous person doesn’t wish to miss video games. Tatum was questionable heading into Boston’s Friday night time sport towards the Charlotte Hornets, however after warming up pre-game, he ended up enjoying.

“He’s going to wish to play,” Stevens stated with fun. “He simply doesn’t like to take a seat. I can let you know already, we’re going make him sit a kind of video games. We’ll most likely make him sit Wednesday simply due to the toll that he’s already taken. However he’ll struggle us on that, too.”

After the Celtics’ playoff run final 12 months, Tatum admitted to being exhausted. Boston desires to get him some relaxation throughout the common season, however Stevens additionally talked about the significance of getting some 40-minute video games in, too.

“I feel the truth is, we have to steadiness it proper, however we additionally have to be sure that he will get sufficient high-minute video games, too,” Stevens defined. “So, it’s a steadiness. I feel the thought of getting an evening or two for taking part in a bit of bit much less is all good, however you additionally want a couple of, particularly heading into the playoffs, a couple of 40-, 42-minute video games to prepare for these video games.”

And in a league the place gamers and groups are criticized for load administration, Stevens believes gamers like Tatum must be celebrated for his or her need to play each night time.

“He desires to play, and I’m actually pleased,” Stevens stated. “I feel he actually must be celebrated for that as a result of he’s a kind of. I don’t know if it’s throwback or no matter, however he doesn’t like to take a seat.”