2019 NBA Mock Draft: Learning from the playoffs
G/F. USC. Kevin Porter Jr.. 14. player. 18.
At some point, we will start to see the grander pathway of the Celtics’ recent stretch of seasons as some sort of statement about Brad Stevens’ ability to coach. Despite the Celtics underperforming relative to expectation this year, Stevens seems to avoid blame compared with his star players. Yet when things were going great in Boston, it was Stevens who received abundant credit for turning lesser pieces into a more cohesive team.
Stevens is saved because the Celtics are so well set up for the future. They may re-sign Kyrie Irving and trade for Anthony Davis this summer, which can make individual moments over the course of one regular season feel minute. Yet Boston was considered a real title contender heading into the year and their path to a championship feels steep now. Stevens’ ability to organize and manage a team was challenged by the amount of talent and personality in the Celtics’ locker room this season.
Two other examples of this trade-off for coaches showed up in this year’s playoffs. Doc Rivers’ motley crew of castoffs and up-and-comers stole a game from the Warriors at Oracle Arena because Rivers instilled in them a relentless hustle and installed a destructive pick-and-roll offense that is tough to contain. Across the country, 76ers coach Brett Brown is struggling to corral a star-studded starting lineup after years of excellent player development.
One thing we know Stevens can do, potentially even better than Rivers and definitely better than Brown, is maximize the individual talents of his players. Guys like Avery Bradley and Evan Turner have left Boston and struggled after great years under Stevens.
Therefore, the Celtics could see Porter as a reclamation project after a year at USC that damaged his reputation as a person more than a player.