Brad Stevens says Celtics are "not as good as advertised"

BOSTON – Brad Stevens, coach of the Boston Celtics, has presented a sharp criticism of his team in three exhibition games, saying he could not be "more impressed" with the Boston play.

Stevens explained in detail Boston's dull efforts after the 102-95 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers at TD Garden. And while his players downplayed the notion of panic, they could not help but admit that the Celtics did not exactly look like the finalist contender for the final to which they were largely tied. .

"We are not as good as those announced at the moment," said Stevens. "So at least we know it."

Cleveland bombarded a Kyrie Irving-less Boston team with a score of 32 points in the first quarter and led by no fewer than 21 in Tuesday's game – the inaugural LeBron James Cavaliers No Least.

Boston is now 1-2 on the exhibition season and will close its four-game pre-season game with a rematch in Cleveland on Saturday night.

The Celtics players admitted that Stevens' assessment was fair, but they tried to minimize the notion of panic.

"These are just words. It's too early, "said Jaylen Brown. "I mean, do not overreact, it's a fair assessment of Brad, but at the same time, let's not leave the ship, let's just start the course.

"With expectations comes the reality, we have to live up to the expectations we have received, but in the first three games we have not done it, but we are still trying to find solutions. our chemistry with this first unit – there is a lot of talent in this first unit and no one wants to step on their feet, but at the same time we do not help ourselves to execute, I think we will understand it. not that we're going to get out of it, I think we just have to take a deep breath, smile and keep improving every game. "

Veteran Marcus Morris also downplayed the concerns and suggested that the team be on the same page.

"I do not see [reason for concern]; It's the pre-season, "Morris said. "We have a lot to hope for this year so that I can understand [Stevens’] concerns. At the same time, the pre-season is used to learn and things like that. I think we are going back to the right page. "

What exactly is this Celtics team? Offensively, Boston has often seemed disconcerted and shoot 24.8% beyond the 3-point arc did not help (Boston missed the 12 points to 3 it took in the first half of Tuesday's game and 5 out of 31 beyond the arc).

Defensively, Boston fell victim to a botched technique that contributed to 30.7 personal fouls per game. This allows opponents to live in the bonus and shoot 37.7 free throws per game (Boston only tries 23.3 free throws per game).

Marcus Smart thinks it's just a matter of effort.

"We have been calm, we have to play harder," said Smart. "[Stevens] just felt the last two games we did not hold and he was fed up with us.

"We have to get back to ourselves, we do not do things defensively, we were lazy guys were turning to guys instead of keeping their own guy, and we want someone to do the work for us and that guy It's just not us, and rightly so Brad was not happy and he let it know. "

Stevens noted that Boston's small ball alignments were struggling and that the team would evaluate its composition and rotations in light of these issues. He dismissed the idea that attempting to reinstate the injured players could be causing the difficulties of the first unit.

"I do not think it's an excuse to do it right," said Stevens.

The sixth year coach wants his team to work together to solve their problems and not to rely on talent.

"No luck, we dominate talent alone, no team does that," said Stevens. "You have to play together, you have to play in the right direction.If you have very good players and they do it all, then you can have a special year."

Morris did not want to rely on the suggestion that this team could simply switch when the regular season began on Oct. 16 with a visit to the Philadelphia 76ers, but admitted that it was quite natural for them to players to make their way into the new year.

"I know it happens to me, because I say to myself" Psh, it's the pre-season. It does not count. "But as I said, we are looking for something special, so we will use every match as the cornerstone of the improvement.

"We are the favorites in the east. We must show that. We must be competitive, we must show solidarity, we must be dynamic. … guys are watching. I do not care if it's pre-season or not, everyone looks at us and expects us to play well. As a unit, we must do it. "