Boston Celtics: 3 bold predictions for 2019-20 NBA season
By Adam Taylor
2. Brad Stevens wins Coach of the Year
Brad Stevens was robbed of this award at the end of the 2017-18 season, narrowly missing out to Dwayne Casey following his exploits with the Toronto Raptors. It left a sour taste in the mouth for Celtics fans everywhere.
This is the same coach who led a team missing its two best players to the Eastern Conference Finals while having to rely on a rookie and bunch of sophomores. The same coach who turned Isaiah Thomas from a journeyman bench scorer into an All-Star that will forever live in Celtics folk law.
Stevens is a coach who thrives on being the underdog. His teams are well-drilled, scrappy and combative. Throughout his tenure, the Celtics have only missed out on the playoffs once back in his inaugural NBA season of 2013-14. Since then, they have been on an upward trend with last season being the exception to the rule.
This year’s roster feels like it has been built in Brad’s image, a young and personable team who are eager to learn and improve. There will be no easy games for opposing teams this year, not by any means.
Having continually stated throughout the summer that this year is a clean slate, Stevens is trying to banish the ghosts of the past while placing the blank canvas firmly on the floor of the TD Garden.
As constructed, the Celtics roster is expected to be capable of progressing to the second round of the playoffs at best. Should Stevens perform his usual miracle of over achievement again and guide them back into the conference finals, he should find himself anointed as Coach of the Year.