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Paul Pierce Suggests Celtics Should Hire Former Teammate as Assistant Coach
Regarding the importance of hiring assistants with head coaching experience to Joe Mazzulla's staff, Brad Stevens conveyed the following to Inside The Celtics.
"I think that first of all, Joe's experience now, you could probably measure in dog years. Now he's been in three Eastern Conference Finals and a Finals and now the head coach throughout one of those runs. That's an experience in and of itself.
"I tried to prepare him for what it was gonna feel like after each game, win or lose. And I know how that feels for those guys. And that's one of the reasons why I always talk about how much I respect Jaylen and Jayson because, after every game that doesn't go your way, they're gonna be dissected. And the further you go, the more it is."
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And if you take the organization's president of basketball operations at face value when he says Boston's "small tweaks" from Banner 18, it adds to the significance of who gets hired to bolster the coaching staff. The group flanking Mazzulla will aid him in concocting the schematic changes that help unlock the Celtics' ability to make the leap from contenders to champions. That's the goal, at least.
Stephen Silas, the former Rockets' head coach Ime Udoka is replacing, was at the Auerbach Center at times during the playoffs and showed up to TD Garden. So did Phil Pressey. It seems more likely than not that Boston brings both on board.
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On the Ticket and Truth podcast on Showtime, Paul Pierce expressed a similar sentiment as the one Stevens voiced at his end-of-season press conference on Thursday.
"They were one game away from the Finals. You've just got to take a deep breath and say, 'Where do we get better at?' It starts at the top."
And while pointing out the value of the Celtics avoiding hiring a fourth head coach in four years, the 2008 Finals MVP suggested another name the Celtics should add to their staff to co-host Kevin Garnett.
"You can't keep bringing in new voices," stated Pierce. "I'm going to add to what I got right now. I've got to add to it. It's already good! I've got to add to it. It's already there. So, I'm bringing Mazzulla back, but maybe I'm bringing in a veteran coach like Sam Cassell. Some influence on the bench. Respect. A champion. Been a coach. Understands what it takes."
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Cassell, who was on that 2008 championship team, is a popular name mentioned among the fan base, and this author's repeatedly written would be a smart hire by Boston.
After a 15-year career as an NBA floor general, capturing the Larry O'Brien Trophy three times, including back-to-back titles with the Rockets, since transitioning from point guard to coach, Cassell's experience includes lengthy stints with the Wizards, Clippers, and Sixers.
Garnett, who's close with Cassell, and played with him on the Timberwolves for multiple seasons before they reunited on the Celtics, praised his work with young guards like John Wall, Bradley Beal, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander before the latter got traded to the Thunder.
Despite multiple interviews for head coaching vacancies in recent years, Cassell's yet to get his chance. But he's ready and deserving of that opportunity.
Considering his resume and ability to relate to players, helping get the most out of them, he fits perfectly with what Boston's looking to add to Mazzulla's coaching staff.
Further Reading
Are the Celtics Small Tweaks from a Title? Brad Stevens Thinks So
Brad Stevens Says Celtics View Jaylen Brown as a 'Big Part of Us Moving Forward'
Celtics' Coaching Staff Reportedly Undergoing Major Shakeup
Celtics' Championship Aspirations Undermined by Identity Crisis
With Partnership at Crossroads, Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum Discuss Former's Future with Celtics
Malcolm Brogdon Explains What Caused Boston Celtics to Miss 2023 NBA Finals
Here's What Stood Out in Game 7 Loss to Heat: Celtics Come Up Small, Enter Offseason of Uncertainty
