With a re-tooled roster and seemingly improved team chemistry heading into 2019, this is an important year for Brad Stevens.
The Celtics head coach is tasked with getting the bad taste from last season out of his team's mouth and maximizing the potentials of newcomer Kemba Walker, young guns Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, and veteran Gordon Hayward. With Kyrie Irving gone, Stevens can't afford for chemistry to become an issue all over again.
On the latest episode of NBC Sports NBA insider Tom Haberstroh's "The Habershow" podcast, he and NBC Sports Boston's Celtics insider Chris Forsberg discussed what's at stake this season for Stevens.
"I think this is [Brad Stevens'] year. Because he kind of got a free pass last year given the fact that, you know, Kyrie [Irving] dominated the headlines," Haberstroh said. "Can he maximize Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, and Gordon Hayward? Can he use the Kemba Walker, you know, [the] selfless superstar? I think if [the Celtics] have a down year again, it's going to fall on Brad Stevens."
Forsberg believes the biggest challenge for Stevens will be figuring out how to piece together the most effective lineups night in and night out.
"That's Brad's challenge," said Forsberg. "How does he make all these puzzle pieces work together? How does he not experience the dropoff that people probably think is going to happen when you go from Al Horford to Enes Kanter? And, you know, can he get this group to work right? And I think he will."
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Forsberg and Haberstroh also discuss which of the C's new faces will star for Team USA, the addition of Kemba Walker, whether Tacko Fall will earn a spot on the roster, and more.
Listen below:
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