James Young: Brad Stevens 'On Me About Defense'

http://www.csnne.com/boston-celtics/cs-young-stevens-me-about-defense



C's Young: Stevens 'on me about defense'
August 21, 2014, 5:45 pm






WALTHAM, Mass. — Everything seems so new to James Young.

The 19-year-old rookie, drafted by the Celtics with the No. 17 pick in the June draft, is learning all he can about his new surroundings.

He has spent time at Fenway Park watching the Red Sox, getting a taste of how much this town loves their pro teams.

Since being cleared for full contact after sustaining a mild concussion in a June car accident, Young has been at the Celtics practice facility working to strengthen both his body and his game for this upcoming season.

And yes, a little face-to-face time with coach Brad Stevens - you know, the man who'll determine just how much if at all Young will play - can't hurt, either.

One of the youngest players in this year's draft, Young should benefit to some degree from being coached by Stevens, whose coaching career has been at the college level minus last season as the Celtics' head coach.

Just like John Calipari challenged Young to continue improving in his lone season at Kentucky, the 6-foot-7 guard/forward is finding it's not all that different with the Celtics and Stevens.

"Coach Stevens has really been on me about defense," Young told CSNNE. "That's how coach Cal was, too."

Because of Young's 7-foot wing span, his potential as a solid defender is clear which can only increase the chances of him seeing time on the floor sooner rather than later.

Shortly after the Celtics drafted him at No. 17, Calipari spoke about his former player to CSNNE.

"He's got a ways to go," Calipari said of Young. "He's 19. "[He's] as fast as anyone in the draft, as long and athletic as anyone in the draft and can really shoot… The people in Boston are going to love him."

Like another former Kentucky player [Rajon Rondo] on Boston's roster, Young has been at his best when the games mattered most.

"Bigger stage, bigger lights, it doesn't matter," Young said.

Calipari added that Young is a quiet player, but "he's got an edge to him on the court. "When it's time to bring it, he brings it."




bob
MY NOTE:  I don't watch much college sports, but based upon everything I'm hearing from board members the biggest single knock on James Young, so far, is his lack of devotion to defense.  That is a BIG problem.  He needs to become a true believer or he will not play.  Brad is, of course, on top of things.  I am SO glad Danny hired a coach who talks about "Defensive DNA" non-stop. I've heard people describing James Young's career trajectory as being comparable to Avery Bradley's.  AB came into the league as a defensive specialist and has worked hard on his shooting, a teachable skill.  You can't just say "Young is 6'7" with a 7'0" wingspan and so he should be a very good defender".  That statement leaves out just SO much it makes me question if the numbnuts who say it even understand what it means to play defense in basketball.



.

He's still "Young" enough to have defensive DNA eventually interwoven into his basketball genetic makeup.

I think that defense comes more from motivation than actual talent.



KJ

Every so often, a player comes along whose defensive reputation has not been particularly distinguished but who completely turns it around and becomes noted for his defense.  It happened in the case of Tom Sanders.  It happened in the case of Cedric Maxwell.  It happened in the case of Kendrick Perkins.  I wouldn't be shocked if it happened in the case of a player with as many of the requisite physical attributes as Young.

Sam

Maxwell's transformation into a terrific defender during the run to title #14 was summed up by Bill Fitch who said that if he had asked Maxwell to guard Dr J the year before two things would have happened: Red would have fired Fitch or Maxwell would have asked to be traded.

A big part of defense rests on a desire to play it.

Sloopjohnb wrote:Maxwell's transformation into a terrific defender during the run to title #14 was summed up by Bill Fitch who said that if he had asked Maxwell to guard Dr J the year before two things would have happened: Red would have fired Fitch or Maxwell would have asked to be traded.

A big part of defense rests on a desire to play it.

sloop,


I think you nailed it here. It's not about athleticism, although it doesn't hurt to be athletic, but Larry Bird was 2x All-Defensive 2nd team and he was not athletic. It's not about having long arms or even fast feet, although those certainly don't hurt either. It's about ganas. It's about desire. It's about taking pride in shutting the other guy down.

Avery Bradley has defensive DNA. He was a top defender at Texas the year he was there and came into the NBA with that as his calling card. He saw it as his ticket to minutes. James Young might be a great scorer but he needs to want to sacrifice some of his offensive energy to shut the other guy down if he wants to get minutes. The good news is that he has all the physical tools needed to do it, he just needs the ganas.


bob


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I'd love it if a couple of old Celtics would stop by and talk with the team about what it takes to become a champion.  It used to happen with some frequency, but I haven't heard much about it lately, although Doc was certainly enamored of Celtics teams and players from the past.

Maybe John Havlicek or Robert Parish or Dave Cowens or Tommy Heinsohn could preach the Gospel of "defense first" and light a real spark under guys like Young.  I don't know if I'd advise it in the case of Smart, because I'm afraid he'd run right out and slam through a succession of brick walls.

Sam

sam wrote:I'd love it if a couple of old Celtics would stop by and talk with the team about what it takes to become a champion.  It used to happen with some frequency, but I haven't heard much about it lately, although Doc was certainly enamored of Celtics teams and players from the past.

Maybe John Havlicek or Robert Parish or Dave Cowens or Tommy Heinsohn could preach the Gospel of "defense first" and light a real spark under guys like Young.  I don't know if I'd advise it in the case of Smart, because I'm afraid he'd run right out and slam through a succession of brick walls.

Sam

sam,

As far as I'm concerned, it should be a regularly scheduled event (in addition to "drop in whenever you'd like").  I'd love for Russ, Satch, KC, Tommy, Cooz and Hondo to just sit on a couple of stools in front of the team and talk about what it takes to be champions and then, after popping their eyes open, tell them what it takes to repeat and 3-peat and 4-peat, etc.  Tell them about the balloon game, and what it felt like to do that, at the end of their careers and everybody had written them off as "too long in the tooth".

And yeah, I'm getting that impression about Marcus Smart too.  Based upon what I saw in summer league (never a good measuring stick) but more importantly what I read about him on the US Select Team that helped tune up the USA Team, I think he would run his 230# of protoplasm poured over a concrete mold right through drywall like it was tissue paper to achieve that.  You can't teach ganas.  You either have the fire in the belly, or you don't.

My first choice after Wiggins and Parker were gone?  Joel Embiid.  Maybe Exum next (how can you not likea 6'6" pass first point guard?) but with them off the board I am becoming increasingly pleased with Danny's choice with each new piece of info doled out to us.  If Vonleh was taller, then I might have more qualms but we don't know if he's going to grow much more and he would need to grow more to become the center we needed.  We KNOW that Smart is NBA-sized ready for his position, and then some.  In retrospect, with Wiggins going to Minny, there was little to no way Flip was going to put much weight on our #6, so that whole Kevin Love thing was just a pipedream.  

I just hope Smart and Bradley don't hurt each other in practice, they'll both go SO hard.  Based upon past experience, I think we know which one would come out on the short end of any physical play between those two.  We liked The Pit Bulls, Bradley and Lee, because of their ferocious defensive attitudes but their offense (especially their ability to run one) was a serious deficiency.  As much as I liked/like Courtney Lee, Marcus Smart is, definitely, an upgrade.  I'll make a prediction, since I know you won't, that we will have the best defensive back court in the league next year.



bob


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Bob,

First, unless you add Sam to that list, I'm canceling my San Francisco trip.  I mean 10 rings in 12 seasons are not chopped liver, so I think he knows a thing or three about how to win championships.  (And it's not fair to say, "Just be Russell's teammate.")  I also believe Cowens would be a great addition.  I wish I could have have picked DJ from the 80s teams as a representative of the "got religion" crowd.  Danny might be too identified with the Celtics' brass now, and Bird and McHale seem to be gainfully employed by other teams.

I really do have high hopes for a resurgence in the Celtics' defense.  I agree that I would bet most on the backcourt, as they combine speed, agility and toughness.  But, if they're greatly improved (especially in stopping opponents' attacks at the perimeter), that should automatically give the front court defense a boost too.

Anyway, I'm just itching for training camp to start just as you are.  With the current roster or a changed roster, I'm ready to be excited either way.

Go Celtics!

Sam

P.S. And I was only kidding about canceling the San Francisco trip.  Bite your tongue, Sam!

Young's defensive or non defensive abilities may be obscure from view. There are 3 guys ahead of him on the depth chart. I doubt we will see any impact at SF from him this year. If there is a mark to make it would be for him to break into the 2 guard rotation.

I think his addition reflects the ongoing process to build depth.

If Thornton does not pan out Young could find a few minutes behind Bradley.

dboss

Bob,

First, unless you add Sam to that list, I'm canceling my San Francisco trip.  I mean 10 rings in 12 seasons are not chopped liver, so I think he knows a thing or three about how to win championships.  (And it's not fair to say, "Just be Russell's teammate.")  I also believe Cowens would be a great addition.  I wish I could have have picked DJ from the 80s teams as a representative of the "got religion" crowd.  Danny might be too identified with the Celtics' brass now, and Bird and McHale seem to be gainfully employed by other teams.

I really do have high hopes for a resurgence in the Celtics' defense.  I agree that I would bet most on the backcourt, as they combine speed, agility and toughness.  But, if they're greatly improved (especially in stopping opponents' attacks at the perimeter), that should automatically give the front court defense a boost too.

Anyway, I'm just itching for training camp to start just as you are.  With the current roster or a changed roster, I'm ready to be excited either way.

Go Celtics!

Sam

P.S. And I was only kidding about canceling the San Francisco trip.  Bite your tongue, Sam!

Smart embarrassed Exxum when they played against each other. I'd take Smart over Exxum any day.