King James Gospel
Fansided

Opinion: Why I’m not afraid of the Celtics

By Kyle Stuver

CLEVELAND, OH - APRIL 15: LeBron James
CLEVELAND, OH - APRIL 15: LeBron James /
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BOSTON, MA – APRIL 26: LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers and Brad Stevens of the Boston Celtics hug after Game Four of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals during the 2015 NBA Playoffs on April 26, 2015 at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2015 NBAE (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA – APRIL 26: LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers and Brad Stevens of the Boston Celtics hug after Game Four of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals during the 2015 NBA Playoffs on April 26, 2015 at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2015 NBAE (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images) /

2. Players > Coaching at the NBA Level

Let’s get this out of the way, for my money, Brad Stevens is currently the best coach in the NBA. Greg Popovich is a close #2, and then I think there is a fall from there. Coaching the Celtics to a #2 seed without Kyrie Irving or Gordon Hayward is an amazing achievement.

You have to sit back and give Stevens a lot of credit for the way he was able to gameplan to completely destroy Ben Simmons in Round 2. Despite most of the free world proclaiming the Australian rookie the next Lebron, he fell off a cliff against Boston (including a 1-point game.)

The next Lebron huh?

I’m not so sure.

Regardless of that, now Coach Brad has to find a way to gameplan for the current, still at the peak of his powers, Lebron James. The problem is, I don’t really know how that is possible. Planning for Simmons was more simplistic because he can’t shoot; if you leave Lebron open, he’ll pull the trigger.

I always cringe a little inside when Bron pulls up from distance, but he’s been better late in his career, and especially in these playoffs.

When was the last time a team made the Finals mainly because of the coach? I can’t think of a single example, but if the Celtics can pull this off, Stevens is why.

He is their MVP, no doubt in my mind. I just doubt that is going to be enough.