Fansided

5 reasons the Boston Celtics can win the NBA Championship

By Paul Centopani

Nov 3, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Boston Celtics guard Isaiah Thomas (4) drives to the basket on Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) during the second quarter at Quicken Loans Arena. The Cavs won 128-122. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 3, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Boston Celtics guard Isaiah Thomas (4) drives to the basket on Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) during the second quarter at Quicken Loans Arena. The Cavs won 128-122. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports /
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BOSTON, MA – MARCH 12: Head coach Brad Stevens of the Boston Celtics is seen during the game against the Chicago Bulls on March 12, 2017 at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA – MARCH 12: Head coach Brad Stevens of the Boston Celtics is seen during the game against the Chicago Bulls on March 12, 2017 at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images) /

4. Brad Stevens is a top-tier coach

Stevens made his leap to the NBA ranks after taking a relatively unknown mid-major and leading them to back-to-back NCAA title games. When he took over the Celtics in 2013, he inherited a team without much in the way of sure-fire star power or promise of blossoming into a contender.

With him at the helm, the C’s quickly turned from plucky ensemble cast to legitimate threat to usurp the Eastern throne. He’s become famous for genius play calling following a timeout and getting the very most out of his players.

In other systems or under the wing of a lesser coach, most of Boston’s major contributors would either be miscast, coming off the bench, or on the fringe of a rotation. The aforementioned Isaiah Thomas was pushed out of two cities before becoming a cult hero under Stevens’ tutelage and an inspiration to average-sized humans everywhere.

Jae Crowder was nothing more than a spare part in the Rajon Rondo trade to Dallas in 2014. Now, he’s a premier 3-and-D wing and one of the biggest bargains in the league.

Avery Bradley and Marcus Smart both got drafted with questions surrounding their shooting and whether or not they had true positions. While Smart still can’t really shoot, they combine to form the most menacing defensive backcourt in the NBA, offering up game-changing plays and intangible dynamics that go beyond box score stats.

The Celtics’ biggest weak spot is undoubtedly in the frontcourt, opposite Al Horford. However, Stevens has cobbled together a useful big man composite out of Amir Johnson’s grizzled veteran know-how, and turning Kelly Olynyk (terrible facial hair included) into a real, live, NBA stretch-5.

In the playoff structure with more time for game planning, better coaching has a bigger effect. Over a 7-game series, the margin for error becomes razor-thin and every advantage counts.