HAVING STARRING ROLE OF NO CONCERN TO STEVENS
The Celtics have three weeks to get past the Toronto Raptors in the Eastern Conference standings and get Brad Stevens a job that really doesn’t interest him from a personal standpoint.
The coach from the team with the best record in each conference through the games of Feb. 5 gets to coach his side of the league in the All-Star Game, and we’re leaving Cleveland out of the equation because Tyronn Lue got the gig last season, and the same staff cannot go in consecutive years. There is, as well, the possibility that Atlanta or some other club could make a push to the No. 2 spot in the East, but most likely it will come down to the C’s or Raptors.
If Stevens had his wish, he’d like the Celtics to earn him the honor — but then be able to decline.
“Obviously you want to be in the best position your team can be in, and if you get to do that, that means you have a good team,” he said. “But as far as me coaching in an All-Star Game, I could care less.”
Might his son Brady have a different response? “Probably,” Stevens said. “And I want to make it clear,” he added. “I want our team to be in the best position possible, and if that’s the result, then I’ll be thrilled, because that means we’re in good shape. But as far as me being on the sidelines or all that, I don’t get into All-Star stuff all that much. I know it’s important for the players, and I want our players that are candidates for that to get a chance to experience it.”
Stevens has previously taken the opportunity of the break for brief family trips, heading to a wedding in Cleveland one year, Phoenix another and going early to Utah before the Celts began their post-All-Star schedule there against the Jazz last year.