Ahead of one of his biggest games yet as head coach of the Boston Celtics, Brad Stevens isn’t especially worried about the Toronto Raptors being a veteran team that’s done what it takes to advance and hang a banner.
Part of that is because he knows the Celtics have tough veterans of their own who, while they might not have been fortunate enough to win it all at this level, have seen plenty of closeout games already in their careers.
“Jaylen’s played in played in three of them, against [the] Washington [Wizards] too,” explained the Celtics coach. “Marcus [Smart] played in that Washington series as well, so these guys have some experience in that.”
WATCH: Celtics players surprised with family messages ahead of Game 7 https://t.co/8HFZFNtImb
— The Celtics Wire (@TheCelticsWire) September 11, 2020
Part of it is more of a focus thing, because Stevens is aware that resting on the laurels of the past will often leave you reminiscing more than winning.
“As I said the other day, I think [experience is] great and all, [but] the most important thing is how we play tonight. What has happened in previous games whether we won or lost doesn’t really matter. You’ve got to play well tonight, and that’s it. I think the biggest thing that you take away from that experience is it’s a long game. You’ve can’t relax for one minute. And at the same time you’re not going to win the game in the first minute.”
“So, you’ve got to make sure that you’re playing the right way all the way through,” he added.
Former Boston big man Antoine Walker is taking the Cs vs Toronto too https://t.co/bvTO8NV5Tc
— The Celtics Wire (@TheCelticsWire) September 11, 2020
How well the Celtics can stick to that program — and how well they execute it in each moment — is likely going to be the deciding factor on whether they advance in the 2020 NBA Playoffs.
Or whether they get an earlier-than-hoped-for start on getting ready for the next run at a title.
