No. 1 not Stevens’ top priority
WALTHAM — Brad Stevens tried to moderate the good fortune the San Antonio Spurs bestowed upon the Celtics on Monday night.
The Celts moved a halfgame in front of the defending NBA champion Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference after the Spurs routed the Cavlaliers, 103-74, and the team hasn’t been No. 1 this late in the campaign since the NBA title run in 2007-08. The 48 wins to this point are the most in Stevens’ four seasons as coach.
“It doesn’t mean a whole lot right now,” Stevens said at practice yesterday. “The whole idea is to make progress and get better every day and try and stay in the moment. You do that whether you are in last place or trying to build up or whether you are in position for fighting for (playoff) seeding. Ultimately, we have been able to grow and get a little bit better but I still think we can play a lot better and that’s where my focus is.”
The C’s can go a full game up on Cleveland with a win against the Milwaukee Bucks tonight at the Garden. The Cavaliers, losers of two straight, resume play tomorrow night in Chicago against the Bulls.
“We are in a good position right now and we just have to continue to take care of business,” guard Isiah Thomas said. “When I’ve been around nobody has said anything about it because we are chasing something bigger than that. It is cool to have but we know there is still time left in the season and anything could happen.”
Close to the vest
Stevens didn’t have much to say concerning news reports that top assistant Micah Shrewsberry is in line to be the next coach at UMass.
Shrewsberry met for a second time with Minutemen athletic director Ryan Bamford on Monday but was not officially tendered the position. Bamford is rumored to have interviewed University of Miami associate coach Chris Caputo the same day.
“He’s one of my best friends, but I’ll keep those conversations between us,” Stevens said of Shrewsberry. “I have never commented publicly on the pursuit of other jobs whatever the case may be but I want all of our staff to ultimately use this as a great opportunity to progress their careers.”
Bradley’s battling
Avery Bradley is still battling the bug that kept him out of Friday’s game against the Phoenix Suns. He recovered enough to play 31 minutes and score eight points in Sunday’s 112-108 victory against the Miami Heat at the Garden, but he’s not at 100 percent.
“I still feel a little drained and I tried to use today to go really hard and tried to break a sweat and get back to my regular self,” Bradley said.
Jonas Jerebko is questionable for tonight with a sore left knee.