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Boston Celtics: Best-Case Scenarios For 2016-17

By Colby Giacubeno

Mar 4, 2015; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Celtics forward Jae Crowder (99), guard Avery Bradley (0) and `Boston Celtics guard Isaiah Thomas (4) celebrate against the Utah Jazz during the first half at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Mark L. Baer-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 4, 2015; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Celtics forward Jae Crowder (99), guard Avery Bradley (0) and `Boston Celtics guard Isaiah Thomas (4) celebrate against the Utah Jazz during the first half at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Mark L. Baer-USA TODAY Sports /
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Apr 28, 2016; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Celtics head coach Brad Stevens watches against the Atlanta Hawks during the first half in game six of the first round of the NBA Playoffs at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Mark L. Baer-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 28, 2016; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Celtics head coach Brad Stevens watches against the Atlanta Hawks during the first half in game six of the first round of the NBA Playoffs at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Mark L. Baer-USA TODAY Sports /

Brad Stevens Wins C.O.Y.

Stevens entered his tenure as the Celtics’ head coach in 2013 with a dismantled roster. With no real superstar, Stevens had to produce with the cards he was dealt, which happened to be a bunch of role players. The Celtics won just 25 games and had one of the worst offenses in the league.

It didn’t take long for Stevens to make wholesale changes and formulate a roster that best suited his philosophies. As a result of those changes, he won 40 games in 2014-15 and made his first NBA postseason. Stevens finished fourth in the voting for the Coach of the Year Award and he quickly won the league’s respect as one of the brightest basketball minds in the game.

He followed that by winning 48 games last season, which was the most wins since the 2010-11 season. Stevens developed Isaiah Thomas into an All-Star point guard and helped showcase his craft scoring ability night in and night out.

Now equipped with an elite big man, Stevens will up his wins this year to the high-50s, low-60s — a record as such will be good enough for him to safely take home the Coach of the Year Award.

Stevens is one of those coaches who constantly thinks about basketball, even in the dead period of late August and early September:

"“I’m just going to be ready for Sept. 27. Ever since the end of July I’ve had a pretty good idea of what we’re going to look like as a team and who’s going to help us in what way. It’s just a matter now of putting the pieces together and hopefully playing well.”"

Next: How Far Can They Go?

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