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.
“My expectations are simple right now. Simple to say, but hard to do. Embrace the process of growth. And that is every single day we need to get better, and we need to be able to build. There are other organizations that have a lot of veteran players and coaches that have been there a really long time where they can just hit the ground running. We’ve got to, each day, build so that we can catch up to hit the ground once we play against them. “
CSNNE: 1-on-1 with Brad Stevens
It’s not as catchy as Ubuntu… and I’m not sure we’re going to sell a lot of “Embrace The Process of Growth” T-shirts… but it’s the proper sentiment right now and yet another reminder that this is going to be a process for this team.
And once again, I’m impressed with Brad Stevens hitting the right tone with his answers. There’s no rush to pre-judge his team or any particular player. His goal is to get to know everyone, get to know the game, and get to work. This “process of growth” genuinely excites him (we talked about that in my own 1-on-1 with Stevens at the Orlando Summer League), probably because it’s a process of growth for him too.
One of the things he talks about in this interview is getting used to the NBA game…
“The one thing that will really be important are the eight exhibition games for me….Get a feel for the 48-minute game. Get a feel for the rotations. There’s so much that’s unique about the college game, but when you break it all down, at the end of the day, basketball is basketball. It’s about who executes the way they want to play in a given game.”
I like Brad Stevens. We need to keep in mind that he’s got as much to learn about being in the NBA as Kelly Olynyk does, and that this process of growth isn’t going to be a party. But like anything that takes time, it will make the end result worth it.
There will be growing pains, but we long-time fans know all about those, and we’ve seen the ups and downs and know there’s a light at the end of the tunnel. For some newer fans, whether you are young, new to the game, or new to rooting for the C’s… this is where your roots as a Celtics fan take hold. Seasons like this are where you learn to love the culture and the colors more than the flash of glitzy mega-trades. There will be a lot to hate about this season, but plenty to love about this coach and these players. Just embrace the process of growth.
Related links: CSNNE: Stevens very disappointed in Sullinger charges
The rest of the links:
CSNNE: Garnett confirms no trade anywhere without Pierce | Celtics Talk TV: Ainge’s drafting ability | Rivers notes: Rondo working harder than ever | Doc disappointed in way Ainge described departure | ESPN Boston: Rivers rehashed departure chatter | Doc on Rondo: “Never worked harder”
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