Celtics had an easy road? Brad Stevens MADE it easy.
Brad Stevens dominated the NBA this season even more than the team he assembled.
That’s not to take away from what was a tornado of a playoff run by the Boston Celtics, a path of destruction leaving obviously inferior teams in their wake. But the primary nitpick of this team and their championship has been the path. It was easy. Too easy for some.
But here’s the thing: it wasn’t just easy because the Celtics faced some lower-half seeds that upset higher competition. It wasn’t just because their opponents at times lacked critical players due to injury. It was because Stevens assembled a roster that was simply superior to every other in the league.
Feed them a fully healthy Heat, Cavaliers, Pacers, Mavericks. Feed them the Nuggets, Timberwolves, Thunder, Bucks, Clippers. They’ll beat them all.
Screw your easy road. Stevens made it easy.
Former Celtics President of Basketball Ops Danny Ainge also deserves his due for truly setting this ultimate path of destruction in motion, when he traded away 2008 champions Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett in 2013. In that trade with the Nets, he landed the draft picks that eventually became Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum. In one of the great draft masterstrokes in NBA history, Ainge traded down from first to third and accumulated another pick, and still landed Tatum, who became easily the best player in the 2017 draft class.
But Ainge lacked boldness in his latter years at the helm of the operation. It stagnated the Celtics’ progress toward true championship contention. The team didn’t hit that next level until he stepped down, and Stevens, then-head coach, moved upstairs into Ainge’s former post.
Boston Celtics President of Basketball Operations Brad Stevens looks on before Game 7 of the 2023 Eastern Conference semifinals between the Celtics and Philadelphia 76ers at TD Garden. (Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports)
Barely two weeks after his surprise promotion, Stevens made his first of many bold, shrewd moves to improve and modify the roster, when he traded away Kemba Walker to bring Al Horford back to Boston. But that was just the appetizer.
The 2022 trade deadline was a watershed moment of sorts for Stevens, after Boston had gotten a little too accustomed to Ainge sitting on his hands at that time of year. Stevens shipped Romeo Langford, Josh Richardson, and two first-round picks to the Spurs for Derrick White, who now wants to stay here long-term.
It was the 2022-23 season and off-season, after two straight years of disappointing ends, when Stevens finally made the moves that took the Celtics to the next level. The hardest, but most necessary, decision, was to move on from point guard Marcus Smart. Stevens essentially swapped Smart for Kristaps Porziņģis, as part of a larger three-team trade with the Wizards and Grizzlies.
To replace Smart on the depth chart, Stevens made yet another critical change, acquiring Jrue Holiday from the Portland Trail Blazers for Malcolm Brogdon, Robert Williams, and picks. Holiday is not only a better all-around player than Smart, but brought an unselfishness to the mix that Smart simply lacked, relatively speaking.
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – OCTOBER 2: Brad Stevens of the Boston Celtics addresses the media during Boston Celtics Media Day at The Auerbach Center on October 2, 2023 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Malhotra/Getty Images)
As the longest-tenured Celtic at the time, Smart’s inflated sense of his own importance to the team got in the way of Tatum and Brown’s growth into the true leaders and identity of the team. Removing that intangible obstacle ultimately made the Celtics a better team, and in the case of the 2023-24 season, clearly the best team in the NBA.
We’ll see if their dominance carries over to the 2024-25 campaign, especially after Tatum and Holiday play in the Olympics and they enter training camp with a lot of summertime basketball under their belts. The Nuggets, who flamed out in the second round after winning the championship in 2023, should be a cautionary tale of sorts.
But everyone Stevens assembled this past year is back, and most of them should be in it for the next few seasons. The table is set for the Celtics to run it for extended time. And a lot of credit for that is due to their virtuoso president of basketball ops. Who apparently Brad Stevens: "We will enjoy tonight. But...that draft workout tomorrow...that should be fun."
MORE: Jeff Van Gundy moving on after one year with Celtics
Stevens could still have some work to do, even for next season. Can he rely on Porzingis and Horford to lead his frontcourt, or does he need some real insurance, there? Extensions are also due for Tatum and possibly White. The C’s could possibly use more bench help, especially in the event of likely injuries.
But for one reason, Stevens delivered an absolute masterclass. He got this iteration of the Celtics over the top. And due to his work, they’re built to dominate the league for years to come.
Make the road as hard as you want. Stevens has built himself a tank.
Matt Dolloff is a writer and digital content producer for 98.5 The Sports Hub. Read all of his articles here.
A summary of Boston championships in this millennium
2001 Patriots
Adam Vinatieri is a four-time Super Bowl champion who holds the record most career points in NFL history.
It seems preposterous now, but there was a time where Boston seemed … well … cursed. After the Celtics won the 1986 NBA championship, Boston went nearly 16 years without another title, enduring from heartbreak (the 1986 Red Sox, the 2003 Red Sox) to tragedy (Len Bias, Reggie Lewis).
But then Tom Brady showed up in Foxboro and Adam Vinatieri absolutely nailed a 48-yard field goal as time expired to beat the St. Louis Rams in Super Bowl XXXVI, and American sports haven’t been the same since. If Boston’s dominance at the start of this millennium has been a revolution, Vinatieri’s kick was The Shot Heard `Round The World.
2003 Patriots
HOUSTON, TX – FEBRUARY 1: MVP Tom Brady of the New England Patriots celebrates after defeating the Carolina Panthers 32-29 in Super Bowl XXXVIII at Reliant Stadium on February 1, 2004 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
What you remember, presumably, is another game-winning kick by Vinatieri to give the Patriots, their second Super Bowl title, a 32-29 win over the Carolina Panthers in a wildly entertaining game. What you do not remember, perhaps, is Vinatieri’s two misses prior to his game-winning kick and the end zone interception thrown by Tom Brady, who was named Super Bowl MVP for the second time in his career.
The point? The mistakes weren’t costing Boston championships anymore. Boston now had a football team, at least, that could overcome its blunders, thanks largely to arguably the greatest clutch kicker and, indisputably, the greatest player in the history of the sport.
2004 Red Sox
NEW YORK – OCTOBER 20: The Boston Red Sox celebrate after defeating the New York Yankees 10-3 in game seven of the American League Championship Series on October 20, 2004 at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)
This year, of course, marks the 20th anniversary of the 2004 Red Sox, a team that will be forever held in iconic status. Toting an 86-year title drought and facing a 3-0 series deficit against the rival New York Yankees, the defiant Red Sox won the American League Championship Series by becoming the first team in Major League Baseball history to overcome seemingly impossible odds.
The Red Sox then swept the St. Louis Cardinals in an anticlimactic World Series, giving Boston its first World Series championship since 1918. The defeats to the Yankees were Boston’s only losses in an 11-3 postseason, during which the Red Sox won their final eight games.
2004 Patriots
JACKSONVILLE, FL – FEBRUARY 06: Rodney Harrison #37 of the New England Patriots celebrates after defeating the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl XXXIX at Alltel Stadium on February 6, 2005 in Jacksonville, Florida. The Patriots defeated the Eagles 24-21. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images)
The final score was New England 24, Philadelphia 21, but let’s be honest: the game was never in doubt and it was never really that close. While the Red Sox were going 25-15 over their final 60 regular- and post-season games in 2004, the Patriots were going 17-2 during a 2004 NFL season that similarly gave them claim to the title of Best Team in Franchise History
The 2004 season gave us the Patriots at their very peak – Deion Branch was the Super Bowl MVP – and ended with Rodney Harrison intercepting Philadelphia quarterback Donovan McNabb in the final seconds. Going forward, the winning in Boston would get even more contagious.
2007 Red Sox
BOSTON – OCTOBER 20: J.D. Drew #7 of the Boston Red Sox at bat against the Cleveland Indians during Game Six of the American League Championship Series at Fenway Park on October 20, 2007 in Boston, Massachusetts. The Boston Red Sox won the game 12-2 and tie the series 3-3. (Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images)
If the 2004 Red Sox championship was about extinguishing the team’s past, the 2007 title was about plotting its future. After going 36-15 in their first 51 games, the wire-to-wire Red Sox fell behind the Cleveland Indians by a 3-1 series count in the American League Championship Series. Like the 2004 team, they never lost again.
A grand slam by J.D. Drew in Game 6 triggered Boston’s comeback against Cleveland and Josh Beckett backboned the Boston pitching staff thought the playoffs as Boston won its final seven postseason games and obliterated the Colorado Rockies in the World Series.
2008 Celtics
BOSTON – JUNE 17: Paul Pierce #34 of the Boston Celtics celebrates with the NBA Finals MVP trophy after defeating the Los Angeles Lakers in Game Six of the 2008 NBA Finals on June 17, 2008 at TD Banknorth Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
True fact: From 1956 through 1986, the Celtics never went more than four seasons without a championship. But by the time the 2007-08 season arrived, Boston had gone 21 seasons without a basketball title, a void that, in some ways, that felt proportionate to the 86-year hole that defined the Red Sox. Seemingly overnight, that changed. The Celtics acquired both Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett by trade to join Paul Pierce, then went 66-16 during a regular season that remains among the best in club history.
The Celtics then won 16 more times in the playoffs, claiming their 17th franchise title by dismantling the rival Los Angeles Lakers in Game 6 on Boston’s home floor. Pierce was named NBA Finals MVP and the Celtics finished with 82 regular- and post-season victories, tied with the 1986 edition for most in franchise history.
2011 Bruins
VANCOUVER, BC – JUNE 15: Tim Thomas #30 of the Boston Bruins celebrates with the Stanley Cup after defeating the Vancouver Canucks in Game Seven of the 2011 NHL Stanley Cup Final at Rogers Arena on June 15, 2011 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. The Boston Bruins defeated the Vancouver Canucks 4 to 0. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
In 2011, simply put, the Bruins completed the set. With championships secured in football (three), baseball (two) and basketball (one) during the seven years that marked the 2001-2007 sports seasons, the Bruins, too, had their failures to overcome. Having gone 38 years without a Stanley Cup since their 1972 championship, the Bruins entered the 2010-11 season on the heels on an epic collapse against the Philadelphia Flyers in which they blew a 3-0 series lead.
But backed by the sterling play of goaltender Tim Thomas, who won the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP, the Bruins defeated the Montreal Canadiens, Flyers, Tampa Bay Lightning and Vancouver Canucks to win the Stanley Cup during the spring of 2011. Along the way, the Bruins became the first team in NHL history to win three Game 7s in a single postseason. The Flyers, fittingly, were swept.
2013 Red Sox
BOSTON, MA – NOVEMBER 02: Jonny Gomes #5 and Jarrod Saltalamacchia #39 of the Boston Red Sox lay the World Series trophy and the ‘Boston Strong 617’ jerseys onto the finish line of the Boston Marathon on Boylston Street during the World Series victory parade on November 2, 2013 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Jared Wickerham/Getty Images)
Were there better championship teams in Boston during the last 20-25 years? Yes. Even before the Boston Marathon bombings in April of 2013, the Red Sox of that season were designed to be a blue-collar, hardworking collection of grinders who could restore some pride after the team collapsed in both 2011 and 2012.
What they became was something much closer to an inspiration. And unlike their 2004 and 2007 predecessors, the 2013 clinched the World Series at Fenway Park by defeating the St. Louis Cardinals, though the indisputable, signature moment of the season came in Game 2 of the AL Championship Series against the Detroit Tigers.
BOSTON, MA – OCTOBER 13: David Ortiz #34 of the Boston Red Sox hits a game-tying grand slam in the eighth inning against the Detroit Tigers during Game Two of the American League Championship Series at Fenway Park on October 13, 2013 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Jared Wickerham/Getty Images)
Already down in the series after losing Game 1, the Red Sox trailed by a 5-1 score in the eighth inning of Game 2 when David Ortiz hit a two-out, game-tying grand slam that altered history. Boston never looked back.
2014 Patriots
GLENDALE, AZ – FEBRUARY 01: Malcolm Butler #21 of the New England Patriots intercepts a pass by Russell Wilson #3 of the Seattle Seahawks intended for Ricardo Lockette #83 late in the fourth quarter during Super Bowl XLIX at University of Phoenix Stadium on February 1, 2015 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
If we were to compile or discuss a list of the most memorable moments during the start to this new millennium in Boston, the decisive play of Super Bowl XLIX might be at the very top of the list.
In an epic battle between the Patriots and Seattle Seahawks, the Patriots held a 28-24 lead in the final seconds when Seattle faced a second-and goal at the New England 1-yard line. Electing to pass rather than hand the ball to bullish running back Marshawn Lynch, Seattle opted for a quick slant from quarterback Russell Wilson to wide receiver Ricardo Lockette, who was … well … you know the rest.
Patriots defensive back Malcolm Butler instantly went from anonymous, undrafted free agent to historic Super Bowl champion, and New England/Boston had another notch in its title belt.
2016 Patriots
HOUSTON, TX – FEBRUARY 05: Matt Ryan #2 of the Atlanta Falcons is sacked by Dont’a Hightower #54 of the New England Patriots during the fourth Quarter of Super Bowl 51 at NRG Stadium on February 5, 2017 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
For certain, Boston has had its share of wire-to-wire champions during the 2000s, ranging from the 20024 Patriots to the 2007 Red Sox to the 2008 Celtics. But the dramatic comebacks or turnarounds always endure. In Boston sports history, the mere utterance of “28-3” is worth 10,000 words – and probably far, far more – if for no other reason than the fact that the ripple effects might have been considerable.
When Tom Brady recently entered the Patriots Hall of Fame, head coach Bill Belichick made sure to mention Dont’a Hightower, who made history-altering plays in both Super Bowls XLIX (stopping Seahawks runner Marshawn Lynch at the 1-yard line) and LI (above). Without those plays … who knows. But as was often the case, the Patriots made them.
2018 Red Sox
LOS ANGELES, CA – OCTOBER 28: Christian Vazquez #7 jumps into the arms of Chris Sale #41 of the Boston Red Sox, as starting pitcher David Price #24 approaches the mound to celebrate their 5-1 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game Five to win the 2018 World Series at Dodger Stadium on October 28, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
Of course, no championship is ever easy – but the 2018 Red Sox sure made it look that way. Boston started off 9-1 and 17-2 en route to a franchise best 108-54 record during the regular season, then shredded the New York Yankees, reigning World Series champion Houston Astros and Los Angeles Dodgers by going 11-3 in the postseason. All in all, the Red Sox went an extraordinary 119-57 under first-year manager Alex Cora, leading one to wonder whether the team was on the verge of another dynastic run.
What has happened since is an entirely different (and separate) story, but we should all agree on this: the 2018 Red Sox were arguably the single most dominant team of any Boston champion in the city’s history.
2018 Patriots
ATLANTA, GA – FEBRUARY 03: Rob Gronkowski #87 of the New England Patriots talks with Tom Brady #12 in the second half during Super Bowl LIII at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on February 3, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
Was it a special team? No. But if Boston learned how to win again between 2001 and 2018, well, these Patriots were proof.
New England was a relatively pedestrian 9-5 entering Week 16 of the regular season, then wrapped up with a pair of wins against the downtrodden Buffalo Bills and New York Jets. Most everyone assumed the Patriots would be eliminated when they visited Kansas City for the AFC Championship Game, but the Chiefs weren’t quite ready to win yet (thank you, Dee Ford) and the Patriots still weren’t quite ready to lose.
The result? A record sixth Super Bowl title for Tom Brady, who made one final Patriots stand with money target Rob Gronkowski in both the AFC title game and the Super Bowl. Each game featured enormous from one future Hall of Famer to the other. Consider them a parting gift.
2024 Celtics
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – JUNE 17: Jayson Tatum #0 high fives Jaylen Brown #7 of the Boston Celtics after a play against the Dallas Mavericks during the second quarter of Game Five of the 2024 NBA Finals at TD Garden on June 17, 2024 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
On the one hand, the 2024 season was a cakewalk; on the other, it was merely the conclusion of a journey that lasted 7-8 years beginning with the draft picks that delivered Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum to Boston. On paper, the Celtics 4-1 series victory over the Dallas Mavericks will look easy, but the truth is that it took several years to accomplish.
Kyrie Irving, Gordon Hayward and Marcus Smart were all teammates of Tatum and Brown before the Celtics finally found the right mix, going 64-18 in the regular season and 16-3 in the playoffs to finish with the sterling record of 80-21. In both the conference and league finals, Jaylen Brown was named Most Valuable Player of the series. But make no mistake, the Celtics won with a division of labor (and skill) that set them apart.
The 2024 title in photos
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – JUNE 17: Jrue Holiday #4 and Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics react after a play against the Dallas Mavericks during the fourth quarter of Game Five of the 2024 NBA Finals at TD Garden on June 17, 2024 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. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – JUNE 17: Al Horford #42 consoles Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics during the closing seconds of the fourth quarter of Game Five of the 2024 NBA Finals against the Dallas Mavericks at TD Garden on June 17, 2024 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. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – JUNE 17: Derrick White #9 of the Boston Celtics celebrates after a three point basket against the Dallas Mavericks during the fourth quarter of Game Five of the 2024 NBA Finals at TD Garden on June 17, 2024 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. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – JUNE 17: Jrue Holiday #4 of the Boston Celtics goes up for a basket past Derrick Jones Jr. #55 of the Dallas Mavericks during the first quarter of Game Five of the 2024 NBA Finals at TD Garden on June 17, 2024 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. (Photo by Pool/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – JUNE 17: Kristaps Porzingis #8 and Sam Hauser #30 celebrate with Jaylen Brown #7 of the Boston Celtics after Boston’s 106-88 win against the Dallas Mavericks in Game Five of the 2024 NBA Finals at TD Garden on June 17, 2024 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. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – JUNE 17: Payton Pritchard #11 of the Boston Celtics and Luka Doncic #77 of the Dallas Mavericks watch Pritchard’s half court buzzer beating shot during the second quarter of Game Five of the 2024 NBA Finals at TD Garden on June 17, 2024 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. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – JUNE 17: Sam Hauser #30 of the Boston Celtics reacts after a basket against the Dallas Mavericks during the second quarter of Game Five of the 2024 NBA Finals at TD Garden on June 17, 2024 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. (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – JUNE 17: Al Horford #42 of the Boston Celtics celebrates during the fourth quarter of Game Five of the 2024 NBA Finals against the Dallas Mavericks at TD Garden on June 17, 2024 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. (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – JUNE 17: Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics reacts as he walks toward the bench late in the fourth quarter during Game Five of the 2024 NBA Finals against the Dallas Mavericks at TD Garden on June 17, 2024 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. (Photo by Mike Lawrie/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – JUNE 17: Jaylen Brown #7 celebrates with Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics during the second quarter of Game Five of the 2024 NBA Finals against the Dallas Mavericks at TD Garden on June 17, 2024 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – JUNE 17: Jaylen Brown #7 of the Boston Celtics holds up the Bill Russell NBA Finals Most Valuable Player award after Boston’s 106-88 win against the Dallas Mavericks in Game Five of the 2024 NBA Finals at TD Garden on June 17, 2024 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. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – JUNE 17: Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics holds the Larry O’Brien Championship Trophy after Boston’s 106-88 win against the Dallas Mavericks in Game Five of the 2024 NBA Finals at TD Garden on June 17, 2024 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. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
