The Celtics’ latest string of pathetic losses should firmly put Brad Stevens on the hot seat

The Celtics’ latest string of pathetic losses should firmly put Brad Stevens on the hot seat

WEEI By Alex Reimer


It takes just four words to mount an effective defense of Brad Stevens whenever members of the talk radio peanut gallery start caterwauling about his job performance: Who would be better?

In fairness, that’s a tough question to answer. The Celtics have reached the Eastern Conference Finals in three of the last four seasons, and their first two trips were nothing short of miraculous. On both occasions, Stevens coached up an overachieving bunch to showdowns against LeBron James and the Cavaliers. Up until Game 6 of the 2018 Eastern Conference Finals, the Celtics had defied expectations with Stevens at the helm.

Then they dropped their last two games to Cleveland, including Game 7 at home. Yes, it’s hard to categorize that performance as a choke job, since the Celtics were led by a 20-year-old Jayson Tatum and 21 year-old Jaylen Brown. On one hand, it was seemingly inevitable that James would just win the series himself (he scored 81 points in Games 6 and 7).


But on the other hand, the Celtics were up 3-2. Outside of James, the Cavaliers were also bereft of talent.

At halftime of Game 7, the Celtics were losing by double digits. Since then, they’ve done nothing but fall short.

There are an array of explanations for their last two playoff exits: Kyrie Irving undermined the team. Gordon Hayward was hurt. Kemba Walker wasn’t at 100 percent. But both times, the sum of their parts were greater than the whole.


The Celtics were a better team last season than the No. 5 seed Miami Heat. They should’ve won that series.

Boston’s limp finish in the Bubble was a harbinger of what was to come. With three games left, we can confidently say the 35-33 Celtics are the most disappointing team in the NBA. After Sunday’s brutal loss to the Heat, they’ve relinquished control of their own playoff fate, and now face an uphill climb out of the play-in game.

They allowed 79 points in the first half. It was the third time in five contests they had allowed an opponent to cross the 70-point threshold in the opening two quarters.


“I need to do a better job of making sure those first halves don't get away from us,” Stevens said afterwards.


Time and time again, the Celtics are not ready to play. We can talk all we want about their lack of success against the NBA’s top teams, but the fact is, they would be in much better shape if they just won the games they were supposed to. They’ve lost to the Pistons (twice), Kings (twice), Wizards, Cavaliers, Bulls (twice), and Thunder. During their most crucial stretch of the season, they’ve gone 3-5, losing contests to Thunder, Bulls and undermanned Hornets.


They needed an incredible 61-point effort from Tatum to get past the Spurs in overtime.

It is apparent that changes need to come this offseason. Veteran NBA reporter Jeff Goodman told Ken & Curtis moving out the coach is a possibility.

“At some point, you have to look in the mirror if you're Danny Ainge and say, 'We can't go in with the same group next year. We have to do something different,’” Goodman said. “The easier move to make obviously is the coach.”


Though Stevens was reportedly given a five-year extension last August, Goodman says the Celtics could still look to move on.

Realistically, it’s hard to foresee the Celtics firing Stevens this summer. Danny Ainge deserves plenty of criticism for the roster’s lack of depth, and let’s not forget the players. Ultimately, they’re responsible for their lackluster effort.

But it’s clear Stevens isn’t helping matters. The clipboard magic is gone, and the clock is now ticking.

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