Confetti falls from the sky after Boston Celtics 106-88 win in opposition to the Dallas Mavericks in Sport 5 of the 2024 NBA Finals at TD Backyard on June 17, 2024 in Boston, Massachusetts. Adam Glanzman/Getty Photographs/AFP
BOSTON — The previous week has been a whirlwind for Brad Stevens for the reason that Celtics reached the aim he’s been chasing since he arrived in Boston in 2013.
He’s gone from coach to president of basketball operations throughout that point, experiencing all of the failures and close to misses it took to lastly earn the franchise’s 18th championship.
It’s additionally why he’s not permitting himself to get caught up within the expectations that already hover across the Celtics to do it once more subsequent season.
“The adulation doesn’t imply a lot in all sincerity. And the scrutiny doesn’t imply a lot both,” Stevens mentioned Tuesday. “Should you dangle a banner everyone goes to speak about how nice you’re. And should you don’t, they’re going to speak about how a lot you stink. … Should you tie your method to that, then you definately’re simply going to journey a curler coaster that’s not definitely worth the journey. So, I believe a very powerful factor is you respect the folks you’re with, you strive your finest to have one of the best season you’ll be able to. And also you simply hold going.”
READ: Celtics look to grow to be first repeat NBA champion since 2018
The excellent news for Stevens is that the Celtics are positioned properly to be very a lot within the combine to defend their title subsequent season. Their high six gamers — Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Jrue Vacation, Derrick White, Kristaps Porzingis and Al Horford — are below contract for subsequent season.
After having secured long-term extensions with Brown, Vacation and Porzingis, the Celtics are anticipated to do the identical with Tatum and White this summer time.
It’s why Stevens isn’t anticipating any main modifications this offseason.
The Celtics maintain the thirtieth and 54th general picks on this week’s draft, however he mentioned any participant they choose can be with an eye fixed towards the longer term, not the current.
READ: NBA: Brown, Tatum reply critics whereas main Celtics to title
“I believe there’s a whole lot of transferring components to holding this roster sustainable past this yr. However particularly to this yr, we’ve received a whole lot of guys again,” Stevens mentioned. “It is going to be onerous for any draft decide to crack our rotation when wholesome. So we’ll take into consideration how we will proceed to put money into younger gamers and their growth and progress, with the truth that if we’re in a position to proceed to maneuver ahead with this group — these guys are going to be on the courtroom.”
Conserving the present core of this group intact will put the Celtics into the second apron of the luxurious tax for a second straight yr, however the largest ramifications of that gained’t have to be addressed till after subsequent season.
Whereas Stevens expects profitable the title to place a goal squarely on their backs subsequent season, he bristles on the notion that the Celtics can be clear-cut favorites.
“I don’t know what the league’s going to seem like in three weeks, so who is aware of?” Stevens mentioned. “However I do know this. Human nature goes to be one other large opponent. All of our opponents — while you win — the opposite 29 groups goal you. It’s a distinct factor to come back again from to then be nice once more.”
What this group has earned although, he mentioned, is the chance to come back again collectively to tackle that problem.
“We’ll at all times consider the right way to make our crew higher,” Stevens mentioned. “However I believe we’d be loopy to not say that character and the muse of this crew is correct. And let’s see if we could be as constant as we will. Develop. Develop. Get higher. Enhance. … I’m not anticipating main modifications, at the very least early on. As a result of I believe this crew deserves that.”
PORZINGIS UPDATE
Stevens mentioned Porzingis continues to be being evaluated for the subsequent steps on the right way to proceed to restore the dislocated tendon in his left ankle that he injured within the NBA Finals.
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“Kristaps continues to be in the course of consulting with some completely different docs and specialists. We anticipate surgical procedure can be quickly. We’ll have extra of a timeline and restoration after the surgical procedure,” Stevens mentioned.
