Ex-BC star Jared Dudley joins list of those impressed by Celtics’ transformation

http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/celtics/2017/12/bulpett_ex_bc_star_jared_dudley_joins_list_of_those_impressed_by_celtics





Bulpett: Ex-BC star Jared Dudley joins list of those impressed by Celtics’ transformation








Steve Bulpett Sunday, December 03, 2017

Credit: Mary Schwalm

Phoenix Suns forward Jared Dudley (3), who played college ball at Boston College, looks to pass during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Boston Celtics at TD Garden in Boston. Herald Photo by Mary Schwalm)




Jared Dudley should have been a Celtic by now.


(Just wanted to make sure I got that in before I forgot.)

Anyway, the Boston College product is in his 11th NBA season, and owing to his intellect and experience, he sees the game through a well-focused lens. And what he saw yesterday is something he will likely one day try to replicate when he inevitably becomes a coach.


“Possibly. We’ll see. Possibly,” Dudley said with regard to any post-playing plans to coach, but he’s clearly watching and taking mental notes.


He could have written a book on the Celts from their 116-111 win over his Suns. Let’s just say he’s duly impressed after watching Al Horford and Kyrie Irving be their veteran selves and Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown play beyond their years.


“You can tell the developmental work they do and their pre-draft work with how they scout for their system of being able to play multiple positions — the IQ, the athleticism,” Dudley said. “You can see these 3-4’s that can really guard so you have a chance to beat the Warriors in the West and Cleveland in the East.


“They’ve been gearing up, and because they’ve developed their young guys, they’ve made it a place of destination for free agents. You get Al and Gordon (Hayward), and you have those picks to take or trade. This team is setting itself up for the next 10 years.”


The 8-16 Suns made it close at the end against the now 20-4 Celtics, but there was Tatum making all three of his fourth-quarter shots, including an inside maneuver that had Tyson Chandler wincing and a driving dunk that made it a five-point game with 55 seconds left.


“I love Tatum,” said Dudley. “I love him because you know he’s going to fill into his body. I don’t know if he’s a natural 3 or a natural 4, but it doesn’t matter; he can play both. He shoots the ball very well, and the biggest thing is he has the IQ. He has a high IQ. You can tell, because he doesn’t force things. Most young guys are kind of lost at times and they force things, but not him.


“I think it’s just the Celtic culture,” he added. “It starts with Brad Stevens and Danny Ainge and what they instill, the accountability. You saw it here (yesterday). A couple of guys weren’t playing well, and he (Stevens) doesn’t wait. He’ll let you work through a problem, but if you’re not giving what they want, he’ll pull you out and give someone else a chance. That’s accountability. Everyone has a chance to make an impact on the game.”


The Celtics young guys have their occasional brain flatulence, but their willingness to commit to defense has made them rather unicorn-ish in a league where children try first to establish themselves with the ball.


“That’s why I say it’s the culture,” Dudley said. “When I was in Phoenix the first time with Steve Nash, it was 3’s and pace, and if you couldn’t do that, you weren’t allowed to play. Here, it’s like, hey, if you can’t guard, it’s hard for you to play because of the demand that they instill. And then offensively he gives them freedom. The only thing he asks is don’t let the ball stick. I mean, I bet you Kyrie has a little more leeway, but the ball moves, pops.”

Dudley then took a giant step back to look at the Celtic whole. He’s now on a team that hasn’t even made it into the playoffs the last seven years, but on his tour around the league he’s watched the C’s rebuild in sprinter’s time.


“In this league, it’s tough to have an owner that gives the GM time,” he explained. 


“Once you have that — and you have that here — the next thing is the coach. And even when Brad Stevens came in the league — even when the Celtics weren’t good — his reputation was as a players’ coach, a friendly offense where everyone would be able to have the ball. That’s what you want, even if you’re a role player. I’m a role player, and I want to touch the ball to feel like I’m involved.


“He has the X’s and the O’s, but once I saw that he’ll get after guys, I knew he was special. I knew he had that accountability. A lot of these coaches are good at the X’s and the O’s, but they don’t have that accountability. It’s not in their personality maybe. He’s someone who will yank you out and tell you what you’re doing wrong. Now, he doesn’t do it in a disrespectful manner, but he lets you know. ‘If you ain’t going to guard, sit down.’ I’ve heard him say that to Jaylen Brown before, and look at Jaylen Brown now and how he’s developed.”




bob




.