THE BRAD BOUNCE

E ver since the big trade, much of the narrative regarding Kyrie Irving has involved questioning just how good he is, how good he can be, and whether or not he fills the obligatory label of 'Superstar Good Enough To Win You A Championship'. While the easiest path to a title has historically been to ride a singular generational talent, the 2004 Detroit Pistons will forever be the hero for those of us who argue that a well-put-together team with the right coach can beat anyone. That Pistons team was not exactly full of random Joes; Rasheed Wallace, Chauncey Billups, and Ben Wallace will all get considerable Hall of Fame consideration. Rip Hamilton was a scoring machine, and Tayshaun Prince was ahead of his time as a prototypical 3 and D man. That squad would be a terror in today’s NBA. What the Celtics are building right now is not dissimilar to that Pistons team, not so much in personnel, but in putting a ton of well-helmed talent on the floor, in pieces that fit their philosophy. Like those 2004 Pistons, the Celtics are also a first place team that drafted at the top of the lottery, but instead of taking Darko Milicic, they’ve turned the last two #3 picks into athletic, promising wings in Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, and have a half-decent chance at another top five pick next year. As the roster has churned, they have gradually been upgrading their talent, and their record has inclined proportionately. Kyrie is one of those talent upgrades.

Brad Stevens does not care what labels you choose to ascribe to Kyrie Irving. He cares about winning, and he knows unequivocally, that Kyrie can help him win a championship. It’s been proven. There is a list of players with multiple 40-point games in the NBA Finals; Kyrie is on it. His 2016 Game 7 dagger, on the road mind you, with a minute left, to cap the greatest comeback in Finals history, is on the short list of most impressive NBA shots ever. He’s already been to the mountaintop. Did he need LeBron James to get there? Absolutely. He also needed Kevin Love, Tristan Thompson, and the rest of the crew. You need multiple great players to get anywhere in this league. Just because Kyrie had the incredible opportunity to win with LeBron does not mean he’s incapable of winning without him. Pair him with other great players, and the collective whole will be great. Gordon Hayward is a great player; there are legitimate reasons why teams competed to pay him $150 Million this summer. Al Horford is also a great player, albeit a subtle one whose nuance is lost on many. Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum, and Marcus Smart have all shown glimpses of greatness, and each will have their opportunity to show more. Outside of last year’s All-Star game, this is the most talented team Stevens has ever coached. So forget about putting a label on Kyrie Irving, that discussion is irrelevant. What matters is how Stevens leverages him.

Consider another guard who entered an offseason at age 25; an All-Star, already well-regarded around the league, known as an offensive dynamo with defensive limitations and a checkered injury history. When his iso-heavy coach was dismissed in favor of one who championed a modern motion offense, he blossomed into a two-time MVP. Comparing anyone to Steph Curry can be problematic, but there are real similarities in where Kyrie finds himself now and where Steph was prior to Steve Kerr’s arrival. Having the right coach counts. There have already been several thoughtful pieces on the specific ways Kyrie will fit into Brad’s offense. It’s not hard to imagine, as his skillset is incredibly comparable to Isaiah’s, so many of the actions will be similar. There will be plenty of new wrinkles though, as Stevens has an additional facilitator in Gordon Hayward, and my guess is they will have more sets where Smart initiates the offense as well. For Kyrie, any offense where LeBron doesn’t pound the ball at the top of the key for the first 10 seconds of every possession will be a dramatic step up. Rather than speculate on exactly how he will be used, I’m content to simply marvel at the confidence level I have that Brad will undoubtedly use him to his maximum potential. It’s what Brad does. Isaiah Thomas would be the first one to tell you that he probably doesn’t become a second team All-NBA guard without Stevens. Jae Crowder went from trade throw-in to quality starter. Evan Turner and Kelly Olynyk, the 6th and 8th men respectively on the 2015 Celtics, are signed to a combined $110 Million due to Brad finding a way to let them shine. People forget how productive Jared Sullinger was in his three years under Stevens, probably because he is now playing in China. Even in Brad’s first year, amidst a 25-win campaign, he spun Jordan Crawford into an Eastern Conference Player of the Week. It’s this tantalizing track record of getting full use of his arsenal that has everyone so eager to see how Brad deploys Kyrie. Factor in Hayward, who went from biggest free agent signing in franchise history to afterthought in a matter of days, and it’s an enticing blend of scoring and playmaking. Sure, there will be a number of things to iron out with ELEVEN new guys, mainly learning everyone’s names, but the biggest mistake you could make would be to scoff at the idea that Brad will find a way to make this engine hum. When Vegas revealed their 56.5 over/under and 12-1 Kyrie MVP odds, it wasn’t some attempt at a hot take, it was an indication that they have been paying attention.

@hartleybarrow