Your Morning Dump… Where Brad Stevens is already a hit with the players

Every morning, we compile the links of the day and dump them here… highlighting the big storyline. Because there’s nothing quite as satisfying as a good morning dump.

“First and foremost, it’s a respect factor,” Jordan Crawford said. “Back-to-back Finals Fours … he knows the game. So it’s really not about the transition to the NBA, it’s just getting comfortable with yourself and knowing your team.”

[…] “If you need something on the court, he’ll help you. If you need to sit down and talk to him, he’ll do that as well,” Pressey said. “I’ve watched film with him already, and the season hasn’t even started. Right now he’s off to a good start, and I can’t ask for anything else.”

Echoed rookie Kelly Olynyk: “[Stevens is] real intelligent, real smart guy, real personable and fun to be around. And he’s a great coach, and there’s not a lot more you can ask for when you’re a player than to have a great coach — in all facets of the game too.”

ESPN Boston: Stevens ready as camp approaches

Yup, Brad Stevens is hitting all the right notes early on, which just continues what maybe mistaken for part 10 of a summer series on why Brad Stevens is so awesome.

Seriously.  Everything that’s been written about the guy has been glowingly positive.  I feel the need to temper some of this enthusiasm to reset expectations for the guy back down to a realistic level… except I can’t find much to help me accomplish this goal.  Hell… even that picture is perfect. This guy’s not only a really good coach with a great reputation who is hitting it off with all the players already… he’s freakin’ adorable too.

Actually, reality will hit us all soon enough  There’s no need to go looking for anything.  Maybe it’s just best to bask in the pre-pre-season glory of happy, young players and the coach who is impressing the hell out of everyone.  We’re all still in a first place tie right now, everyone is happy, and excitement is high.  Let’s just keep it that way for now.

The rest of the links:

USA Today:  Celtics’ 21-st in “watchability”  |  CSNNE:  Celtics Talk TV: What to do at shooting guard