Stephen A. Smith questions Brad Stevens about recent Celtics fights

The Boston Celtics have suffered a lot from recent fights, which left them 15-15 at the start.

In Monday’s first take, ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith said he was beginning to question Celtics coach Brad Stevens.

“Listen, I like Brad Stevens,” said Smith. “I think he has an exceptional mind for basketball. I think when he arrived, he proved to be one of the young innovative coaches in basketball. It is a class act, a personified class. I genuinely like him and I really like him as a coach. I think anyone who knows anything about basketball has to respect it ”.

Still, Smith says, having players like Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown should prevent a team from a 0.500 record.

“When you have a star like Jayson Tatum – and make no mistake, ladies and gentlemen, this little brother is a star and guess what: Jaylen Brown too – the end result is that you should be better than a 0.500 team,” Smith said.

.@stephenasmith is starting to question Brad Stevens.

“You have Jayson Tatum and Jalen Brown. This is the sport of basketball, you shouldn’t be a 0.500 team with two studs like that.” pic.twitter.com/ISkFQliQA8

– First take (@FirstTake) February 22, 2021

Smith believes Stevens’ problem is not his knowledge of the game, but his motivational skills.

“I’m talking about that leader of men who can pull something out of you that you may not even know is inside of you,” said Smith. “Excellent coaches have found a way to do this over the years. It’s something about you as a coach, where you put the X’s and O’s aside because everyone knows what the other is doing that is capable of pulling something out of you and saying ‘Okay, I’m going to maximize the potential, even the potential you didn’t know you had. ‘

“This is the element I haven’t seen from Brad Stevens. I think the Celtics have reached a point where they are now called upon to find out if Brad Stevens has something more in him to get that something more out of his players. ”

Danny Ainge recently told Toucher and Rich that Boston fights “have nothing” to do with Stevens.

“My coach is more prepared and humble than anyone,” said Ainge. “He respects Washington and Detroit more than anyone in that entire locker room. It has to do with the players. I think it’s just a matter of team maturity. “

Still, Smith thinks the noise will only increase if losses continue to increase.

“I think you will hear a lot of noise if these things continue in Boston with these guys fighting,” said Smith. “You will hear a lot of people talking about why we are so delusional with Brad Stevens. They will ask that question, fair or unfair.

“You have Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. This is the sport of basketball, you shouldn’t be a 0.500 team with two studs like that. “