Ime Udoka’s coaching decisions are questionable, and Brad Stevens needs to do something to help him fix that
Another thing Udoka’s limited bench has created is the disservice to the developments of Aaron Nesmith and Payton Pritchard. Both of last year’s first-round draft picks contributed heavily, as rookies and performed well in the Summer League. But for some reason, it’s been a struggle to find them meaningful minutes on the court.
Most times, the Boston Celtics need a spark plug guy off the bench to help start things back up for the team (every team has one). Both Nesmith and Pritchard have proved they can fill that role. But it wasn’t until injuries and health and safety protocols as of lately that the two sophomores of the Celtics got a true opportunity.
There’s no way that Stevens is going to allow this product to continue on into the second half of the season. He’s going to have to make a move that’s stronger than adding a few veterans on 10-day contracts – although, there is something to be said about Joe Johnson being on this roster for the rest of the season.
For Stevens, he’s already pulled off a few tricks from his new seat in office. However, he should still have a few more up his sleeve. He still has all the Celtics’ first-round picks to play with.
He also still has two TPE’s that he created along with a few other trade-friendly contracts in his arsenal as well.