Game a showcase of young talent
LONDON — The NBA currently is in the midst of one of its greatest youth movements in recent memory, and there might be no better showcase than today’s game between the Celtics and Philadelphia at the O2 Arena.
From the Celtics’ Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown to the young stars on the other side — Rookie of the Year favorite Ben Simmons, Joel Embiid and Markelle Fultz, whose status is unclear — the game will offer an intriguing look at where the NBA is headed.
“There’s just a lot of young talent in the league, period, but we’re very young, Philadelphia is very young, and there’s a lot of good players doing it at 19, 20 and 21 years old,” C’s coach Brad Stevens said yesterday. “It’s pretty amazing as you watch them, and our guys from an outside perspective, you can tell month-by-month that they’re different.”
Stevens stresses the “month-by-month” improvement of all these players for a simple reason — the improvement can be so quick for talented players in their early stages. It helps that the young stars on both teams are playing with such talented veterans.
“Generally when you get experience from those guys, it’s going to be better and better,” Stevens said. “Simmons looks more comfortable every time he plays, his ability to put pressure on the defense scoring the ball continues to get better and better. And obviously Embiid didn’t play against us the second time, played against us the first, and has just had games that make you shake your head.
“One of the best things (Philadelphia) did was surround those guys with really good veteran players when you look at what (J.J.) Redick is doing, and when you look at Amir (Johnson’s) positive impact. You look at (Robert) Covington now growing more into his role. (Jerryd) Bayless and how he’s playing. Like in our situation, those older guys help alleviate some of the pressure off the younger guys’ situation, and let them just be them.”
Football break
Several Celtics attended last night’s Premier League soccer match between Chelsea and Arsenal, and for Brown, the appearance was like a trip to Valhalla.
Brown has been a soccer fan, and more specifically a Premier League fan, since childhood.
“This is like a dream come true,” said Brown, who actually had such a dream.
“Soccer is up there with basketball. I love soccer very much. I had a dream when I was 7-years old that I played in the Premier League for like a (Manchester United). I dreamed that I was running onto the soccer field and they were all screaming and cheering my name. Hopefully that comes true, but I doubt it.”
Though Brown never truly adopted one Premier League team, he said, “I liked players. A lot of my friends liked Arsenal, so I developed into being an Arsenal fan. It’s going to be really dope to go see Arsenal vs. Chelsea. It’s a historic matchup. It’s a (Football League Cup) game and some of the starters aren’t playing, but it should be fun.”
Special league
Stevens spent part of his post-practice time yesterday trying to explain to the European media just how talented the NBA has become.
“All 30 teams have tremendous players. Every night you play against someone who makes your jaw drop,” he said. “That’s special about the league.” . . .
The Celtics had a team dinner Tuesday night at an old London restaurant, The Ivey, known as the haunt of celebrities and paparazzi.
“It’s good to spend time together. It was good to go to dinner together last night,” Stevens said. “Good to get a chance to play in London and be abroad, not knowing where you’re going to eat, unlike the other 29 NBA cities you know exactly where you’re going to eat, and the running trails from a coaching perspective. But most importantly, there’s the opportunity to represent the game globally.”