For the next Pop, dynasty in making

The heir apparent to Gregg Popovich is just getting started. He has a system that works, a boss who believes in him, and most importantly a roster loaded with star players who he will be his for years to come.

Just like Popovich 20 years ago, Brad Stevens understands all he really has to do is not screw up the dynasty before it starts.

With that in mind, there might be a tendency to look at the Boston Celtics’ opportunity Sunday night as a preemptive bonus — the icing before the cake. With two big-name starters out for the year and a playoff rotation reliant on inexperienced kids, they weren’t supposed to win this year anyway.

And if they cannot beat the greatest player of his generation in a Game 7, well, surely Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown and the next Popovich have plenty of better chances coming, right?

Probably. But before Stevens takes Boston’s forthcoming era of dominance for granted, he might want to talk to Scott Brooks, or Brian Hill, or Bill Fitch, or even Mike D’Antoni.

Sometimes, the team of the future never quite arrives.

And sometimes, your first shot turns out to be the best one you ever get.

That might sound crazy in regard to this year’s Celtics, who by all accounts are running well ahead of schedule. Of the four teams in the conference finals, they were the unlikeliest entry, not only because Tatum, their best player, is a rookie, but also because Gordon Hayward and Kyrie Irving have missed the entire postseason. Their peak, unlike that

MIKE FINGER