Celts hire Butler's Brad Stevens as Coach!

[steve(thelil)]

This is probably a non-story to many, but to Butler fans it is a shock. It's great young (and even younger looking) head coach Brad Stevens has turned down offers from MAJOR college programs to stay at Butler over the last couple of years, following their amazing success (2 straight years in the NCAA finals.

I became a huge Butler fan even before the finals appearances, in large part because my long time buddy Jeff (jeff54 on JC, I have to get him here) is an alum. I'm happy for Brad, but freaked out for Butler and because I just can't imagine rooting against Brad, even as a Celt. Luckily I'm now used to rooting against the Knicks (historically my favorite team before Isiah and Dolan).

Wow. Oy. Wow.

[uli]

I don't give much of a rats about Butler or Stevens.

But I have been a Celts fan for the last couple of years. They will have to earn my rooting for them next year. As of now I am thinking of replacing them with the Pelicans.

I am happy to hear that the Knicks apparently resigned JR. It will be hard for my Knicks to duplicate the success of last year but with Amare back, and others healthy there is hope.

[Gil Gamesh]

This is probably a non-story to many, but to Butler fans it is a shock. It's great young (and even younger looking) head coach Brad Stevens has turned down offers from MAJOR college programs to stay at Butler over the last couple of years, following their amazing success (2 straight years in the NCAA finals.

I became a huge Butler fan even before the finals appearances, in large part because my long time buddy Jeff (jeff54 on JC, I have to get him here) is an alum. I'm happy for Brad, but freaked out for Butler and because I just can't imagine rooting against Brad, even as a Celt. Luckily I'm now used to rooting against the Knicks (historically my favorite team before Isiah and Dolan).

Wow. Oy. Wow.

It will be interesting to see how Stevens does with the pro's. When I first saw this I was stunned, I never figured on him leaving Butler for a pro team, but the more I think about I think it makes sense. He's a stats and analytic coach which may translate well to the pro's. His biggest weakness, at least according to many hard core Butler fans was his recruiting, which he won't have to do anymore. He's not an over emotional guy which should work well when dealing players who are grown ups. As for Butler, word is the job will go to LaVall Jordan who played and coached at Butler and currently is the assistant at Michigan. I feel bad for Mathew Graves who was a long time assistant and clearly next in line at Butler, who just left a couple of months ago to take the head coaching job at South Alabama.
Thanks for the heads up about the web site Lil.
J.

[steve(thelil)]

I don't give much of a rats about Burler or Stevens.

But I have been a Celts fan for the last couple of years. They will have to earn my rooting for them next year. As of now I am thinking of replacing them with the Pelicans.

I am happy to hear that the Knicks apparently resigned JR. It will be hard for my Knicks to duplicate the success of last year but with Amare back, and others healthy there is hope.

With Amare and JR as key players, they will need a lot of hope.

[Gentle Giant]

I'm guessing Brad Lohaus was unavailable.

Articles I've read today are all about whether or not Rondo will give the coach respect, but I think the writing's on the wall and Rondo is the next on the trading block. Stevens will be the guy the young Celtics will listen to and learn from for a few years, then he'll split for the NCAA dream job of his choice. Banner #18 looks to be a good 7-10 years off.

[hornplayer]

This is probably a non-story to many, but to Butler fans it is a shock. It's great young (and even younger looking) head coach Brad Stevens has turned down offers from MAJOR college programs to stay at Butler over the last couple of years, following their amazing success (2 straight years in the NCAA finals.

I became a huge Butler fan even before the finals appearances, in large part because my long time buddy Jeff (jeff54 on JC, I have to get him here) is an alum. I'm happy for Brad, but freaked out for Butler and because I just can't imagine rooting against Brad, even as a Celt. Luckily I'm now used to rooting against the Knicks (historically my favorite team before Isiah and Dolan).

Wow. Oy. Wow.

Wow, is right. Plenty of successful college coaches have fallen on their keesters when they tried to transition to the Pros. Remains to be seen how well he does with the Celtics. They're a very insular club.

[steve(thelil)]

This is probably a non-story to many, but to Butler fans it is a shock. It's great young (and even younger looking) head coach Brad Stevens has turned down offers from MAJOR college programs to stay at Butler over the last couple of years, following their amazing success (2 straight years in the NCAA finals.

I became a huge Butler fan even before the finals appearances, in large part because my long time buddy Jeff (jeff54 on JC, I have to get him here) is an alum. I'm happy for Brad, but freaked out for Butler and because I just can't imagine rooting against Brad, even as a Celt. Luckily I'm now used to rooting against the Knicks (historically my favorite team before Isiah and Dolan).

Wow. Oy. Wow.

Wow, is right. Plenty of successful college coaches have fallen on their keesters when they tried to transition to the Pros. Remains to be seen how well he does with the Celtics. They're a very insular club.

I've followed Butler and Stevens very closely for several years. He seemed very different from most college coaches in personality and he is clearly a genius at basketball and dealing with humans and stress. Which isn't to say he'll succeed where others fail, but I think he's being put in a position to succeed, since he's been brought in at the beginning of what the Celts management knows is a rebuilding process. And as they've signed him for 6 years (very unusual, especially for a rookie coach), which seems to mean they will be patient with the team's process (or at least they now expect to be....we'll see) . The roster has been blown up and the major players (except Rondo) are either fairly new or brand new with the club. Which is why I don't think any generalizations about the culture of recent Celtic teams necessarily apply.

[Blue Train]

This is probably a non-story to many, but to Butler fans it is a shock. It's great young (and even younger looking) head coach Brad Stevens has turned down offers from MAJOR college programs to stay at Butler over the last couple of years, following their amazing success (2 straight years in the NCAA finals.

I became a huge Butler fan even before the finals appearances, in large part because my long time buddy Jeff (jeff54 on JC, I have to get him here) is an alum. I'm happy for Brad, but freaked out for Butler and because I just can't imagine rooting against Brad, even as a Celt. Luckily I'm now used to rooting against the Knicks (historically my favorite team before Isiah and Dolan).

Wow. Oy. Wow.

I think it's a shock to anyone who watches college BB. Considering just how many major college programs he has turned down including UCLA just this year (of course, Butler also just gave him a long term contract extension....but no one holds anyone to those)....I think most figured the only way he was leaving Butler was for Indiana.

Doc Rivers wasn't considered a great coach until he got the original Big 3.

P.S. I would have to check but I think he basically signed to a contract that UCLA was offering him.

I have no problem if the Celtics stink for several years.

[uli]

in other news, the Lakers still have D'Antoni.

dwight Howard decided to move to thelil's Rocket's good decision. imho.

Iguadala to warriors. Like that as a warrior fan.

i am probably drop the Celts and jump on the Pelican bandwaggon.

[walto]

This is probably a non-story to many, but to Butler fans it is a shock. It's great young (and even younger looking) head coach Brad Stevens has turned down offers from MAJOR college programs to stay at Butler over the last couple of years, following their amazing success (2 straight years in the NCAA finals.

I became a huge Butler fan even before the finals appearances, in large part because my long time buddy Jeff (jeff54 on JC, I have to get him here) is an alum. I'm happy for Brad, but freaked out for Butler and because I just can't imagine rooting against Brad, even as a Celt. Luckily I'm now used to rooting against the Knicks (historically my favorite team before Isiah and Dolan).

Wow. Oy. Wow.

I think it's a shock to anyone who watches college BB. Considering just how many major college programs he has turned down including UCLA just this year (of course, Butler also just gave him a long term contract extension....but no one holds anyone to those)....I think most figured the only way he was leaving Butler was for Indiana.

Doc Rivers wasn't considered a great coach until he got the original Big 3.

P.S. I would have to check but I think he basically signed to a contract that UCLA was offering him.

I have no problem if the Celtics stink for several years.

For anybody who's interested, there's a kind of meandering Gottlieb muse about this here:

http://www.cbssports.com/general/blog/d ... or-stevens

[Blue Train]

For anybody who's interested, there's a kind of meandering Gottlieb muse about this here:

http://www.cbssports.com/general/blog/d ... or-stevens

Meandering doesn't begin to describe it. I can tell you right now the UCLA contingent of the family hopes he fails about the time the expected in their minds Steve Alford "disaster" is put out of it's misery.

[Blue Train]

Heard an interview by Howard saying that going to Houston was all about the best chance of winning a championship....and it's so important he's walking away from $30 million.


The only problem with this is even though the Lakers could pay him $30.4 million more....after taxes he makes more money with Houston since Texas has no state income tax...and California would be 13.3% for him each year. Also, now that he's in the Southwest Division that's 4 less road games he pays the the state the game is in because of Dallas and San Antonio being in the same division. He also now plays Miami and Orlando one game a year. No state tax.

He ends up making aprox $2.7 million more.

[Blue Train]

"The Knicks said Smith's injuries, which were treated at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City by team orthopedist Dr. Answorth Allen, were chronic and gradually worsened."


The Knicks strike again. $27.4 million over 4-years for someone who had a swollen knee during the playoffs, which needed to be drained.

Did they even bother to do a physical (especially on his knee) before signing JR Smith?....who is now going to be out 3-4 months...after repairing his patella tendon and a meniscus tear. A simple MRI would have shown both.

[uli]

Nice summerdunk

https://vine.co/v/hZ9YmEWaPwO

[Blue Train]

Ossie Schectman died. If you're like me and had no idea who he was....he scored the very first basket in the NBA....as a Knick.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9-wFi_zTOfI