The Celtics are still struggling to find their rhythm this season, having now lost eight of their last 12 games to slip back to .500 (10-10). However, with the regular season at its one-quarter mark, president of basketball operations Danny Ainge isn’t worried, telling Steve Bulpett of The Boston Herald that he’s in no rush to make any trades to try to upgrade his roster.
“You know me. I’m always open to doing something,” Ainge said. “But that doesn’t mean I think we have to go and get something done right now. And it’s not that simple anyway. … Patience wins out more often than not — more than panic. It has to. I know panic is a bad way to react, so I will remain patient and allow our players to find their form. With some teams, it takes time, and some teams get it quicker. But I like a lot of things I see in our team this season, and I’m not going to be impatient.”
The Celtics entered the season with lofty expectations. After coming within one game of the NBA Finals in the spring, the team was getting injured stars Kyrie Irving and Gordon Hayward back, and no longer had to deal with LeBron James in the Eastern Conference. The C’s were the preseason frontrunners to come out of the East, and despite their early struggles, they remain a serious threat. After all, as Ainge suggests, there should be plenty of room for internal improvement in Boston.
“Look, I’m always looking to improve our team,” Ainge said. “But every one of our players is capable of playing better than they’ve played.”
Hayward, Jaylen Brown, and Marcus Smart are among the Celtics who are underachieving so far. Hayward, coming off a major ankle injury, has career lows in FG% (.400) and 3PT% (.286), and Brown’s shooting numbers are way down too (..398 FG%, .253 3PT%). Smart, meanwhile, is averaging a career-worst 6.4 PPG after signing a new four-year contract in the summer. All told, Boston currently ranks 27th in offensive rating.
Although we shouldn’t expect any moves from the Celtics anytime soon, Ainge will have no shortage of assets to dangle if and when he eventually explores the trade market. The club projects to have up to four first-round picks in the 2019 draft.
im starting to think that boston maybe too good, talent wise. too many good players and not enough minutes to go around.
CelticsBlog says today what has been said here. Until Anthony Davis refuses his extension, and Kyrie opts out, the Celtics can’t trade for Davis, But if that happens the Celtics have the most assets to do it. I would think Al Horford would need to be includud to make it work.
Nah screw patience. It’s unacceptable I feel the blame should fall on Stevens. He has the horses now to compete for a title and is underachieving. The threat coming into the season was Toronto, but the Bucks, Sixers, Pacers hell even Pistons have improved. I’m sure a trade will happen, but honestly if they don’t go some sort of run, Ainge needs to consider a coaching change.
Wow 20 games into the season and this guy is calling for a coaching change after Stevens was receiving such lofty praise preseason.
Get off your “any move is better than being patient” horse because that’s honestly all that this team needs.
lol. You might inhale the gas the media pumps but I’m about championships and its been 11 since the Celts won one and 9 since their last finals appearance. God forbid the team have a start like some of the others who jumped out guns blazing but im guessing the picks coming in enamor you more.
Wow didn’t realize there had been 11 titles in the last 10 years. Easy to talk tough but you weren’t a part of any of those “championships” and this team and they’re fantastic coach will be fine without you
Their*
Coaching change? Wtf. How about wait a bit. If you buy into that. I got a rock I want to sell you
Too true! I agree with tatumszn2018, Stevens isn’t doing any good, just like the team. Saying be patient is all good, but Boston has won only 1 ring in 32 years!!! I would need 2 hands to count the teams that have won multiple rings in this period… so fans have been extremely patient, is about time the team starts to deliver, right? If they cannot then needs to change.
Coaching change? Easy killah!
since the big three anny’s been rebuilding and pillaging other gm’s. he turned marcus thorton into IT4 and then kyrie. right now the celtics are well balanced with youth and vets – maybe he tries to find a blue chip via trade?
Trust the Ainge-master. I’m Not Celtics’ fan but Ainge’s on his way to being known just as good GM, as player.
Not many can say that!
With players coming back from injury and needing minutes, Stevens job is a lot tougher than many people realize. Too much talent is a tough situation for a coach. He has to keep the players engaged and somewhat happy so they produce when given their minutes. But people need to relax. If I remember right, weren’t the LeBron-led Heat team 9-10 in their first season together?
And if you guys wanna dump Stevens, the line will be out the door with teams wanting him. Think about that. Dare I say that Boston fans are a little spoiled these days? Lol. I’m a Knicks fan of 35 years. Your guys complaining sounds pretty weak to me.
I’m reading 1 Celtics fan complaining about Stevens. 1 Celtics fan and 1 dude that just likes to make friends on this site. Not fans plural.