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NBA Lottery 2016: 5 reasons Celtics deserve to win No. 1 pick

By John Buhler

WALTHAM, MA - JULY 5: New Boston Celtics head coach Brad Stevens (R) is introduced to the media as Team President Rich Gotham, Co-Owner Steve Pagliuca, and President of Basketball Operations Danny Ainge look on July 5, 2013 in Waltham, Massachusetts. Stevens was hired away from Butler University where he led the Bulldogs to two back to back national championship game appearances in 2010, and 2011. (Photo by Darren McCollester/Getty Images)
WALTHAM, MA - JULY 5: New Boston Celtics head coach Brad Stevens (R) is introduced to the media as Team President Rich Gotham, Co-Owner Steve Pagliuca, and President of Basketball Operations Danny Ainge look on July 5, 2013 in Waltham, Massachusetts. Stevens was hired away from Butler University where he led the Bulldogs to two back to back national championship game appearances in 2010, and 2011. (Photo by Darren McCollester/Getty Images) /
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Oct 23, 2015; Manchester, NH, USA; Boston Celtics head coach Brad Stevens gestures from the sidelines during the second half against the Philadelphia 76ers at Verizon Wireless Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark L. Baer-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 23, 2015; Manchester, NH, USA; Boston Celtics head coach Brad Stevens gestures from the sidelines during the second half against the Philadelphia 76ers at Verizon Wireless Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark L. Baer-USA TODAY Sports /

2. Brad Stevens is great at coaching young players

While the hirings of Tom Thibodeau to the Minnesota Timberwolves and Dave Joerger to the Sacramento Kings should prove instrumental in getting those two Western Conference doormats off the ground, the best head coach on any team potentially to win the 2016 NBA Draft Lottery is Boston’s Brad Stevens.

Stevens is one of the best at in-game strategy, player development, and loves to coach young players. He did take a Butler Bulldogs team led by Gordon Hayward and Shelvin Mack to back-to-back NCAA National Championship games. Butler can thank Stevens for why they now play in the new Big East.

Over the last two seasons, Stevens took a team of middling role players and took the Celtics to the NBA Playoffs during years in which they were in the midst of an obvious long-term rebuilding project. Stevens does phenomenal work with former collegiate stars and always finds a way to put his players in the best position to succeed.

Should Boston be fortunate enough to get that No. 1 overall draft pick, there is no doubt that Stevens will foster a great culture of hard work and winning within the Celtics organization for either Simmons or Ingram.

Stevens is easily a top 10 coach in the NBA, maybe even a top five coach at this point of his career. If he can get his transcendent star in Boston, he could very well leave Rivers’ time with the Celtics in the dust. That’s how good of a young coach Steven is.

Next: 1. Danny Ainge will make the right decision at No. 1.

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