Why Brad Stevens’ Executive of the Year award has the Celtics eyeing another title run

Stevens then had to find a way to replace these players, and he made some underrated moves. He traded Holiday for Anfernee Simons, who he flipped at the deadline for Nikola Vucevic. He signed Luka Garza after the Minnesota Timberwolves declined their team option on him. Finally, the drafting of Hugo Gonzalez gave Boston another 3&D forward for depth.

Role players developing into stars

Neemias Queta Payton Pritchard

© Geoff Burke-Imagn Images

A bunch of under-the-radar players Stevens acquired in the past have also really blossomed. A few of them include Payton Pritchard, Baylor Scheierman and Neemias Queta, who have all become significant contributors this season.

Pritchard started his blossoming last season when he won Sixth Man of the Year, but this year, he stepped up in Jayson Tatum’s absence. And now, in the playoffs, he’s averaging 15 points and five assists off the bench, with a 32-point explosion in Game 4

Scheierman and Queta haven’t been as big of producers as Pritchard, but they definitely have improved. Scheierman put up a 30-point performance against a playoff team in the last game of the season, showing he could be a true star. Queta has become a true starting center as well, doubling his PPG, RPG, and BPG from last season.

Last time Stevens won, Celtics won NBA Finals

Jun 17, 2024; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) holds up the Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy after the Celtics beat the Dallas Mavericks in game five of the 2024 NBA Finals at the TD Garden.

© Brian Fluharty-Imagn Images

Stevens last won the award in 2024, and that season, the Celtics went on to win the NBA Finals. So, Boston could believe in the fact that when Stevens wins the award, it means he’s assembled a championship team.

While they are coming off a loss to the Philadelphia 76ers to make the series 3-2, the Celtics can still win. And with the team Stevens has assembled, they should be confident in their abilities to do so.

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