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Sam Cassell Checks Nearly Every Box in Celtics Search to Strengthen Joe Mazzulla's Coaching Staff
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Regarding the importance of hiring assistants with head coaching experience for 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."
The franchise's president of basketball operations continued, "With head coaching experience, he's got a ton of that, but we're gonna look for, with at least one addition to the bench, and he'll lead this charge, we'll look for somebody that's got a lot of NBA experience for sure."
Brian Westerholt-USA TODAY Sports
While Sam Cassell, who's deserving of an opportunity as a head coach, is yet to receive his chance, he checks every other box Boston was looking to tick off as it works to strengthen its coaching staff.
The 15-year NBA floor general, who Shams Charania of The Athletic reports is the newest Celtics assistant, had a hand in John Wall, Bradley Beal, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and Tyrese Maxey's development, among others.
Cassell's experiences as a coach, including lengthy stints with the Wizards, Clippers, and Sixers, and a player, winning three championships, including with Boston in 2008, help him relate to players and get the most out of them in his current role.
That relatability is something the Celtics' staff lost when Damon Stoudamire got named head coach of the Georgia Tech men's basketball program, requiring him to leave Boston in-season.
And with the C's staff undergoing a significant shake-up with several assistants reuniting with Ime Udoka in Houston, and Aaron Miles, a former star for the Kansas Jayhawks, seemingly headed elsewhere, it increased the need to hire someone players can relate to.
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On a recent edition of the Ticket and Truth podcast on Showtime, Paul Pierce and co-host Kevin Garnett voiced they'd like to see this move happen and for Boston to add Cassell to Mazzulla's staff.
Stephen Silas, the former Rockets' head coach 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 they're brought on board too.
With Stevens stating at his end-of-season press conference, "Small tweaks" are the Celtics' best way to go from contenders to champions, bolstering the coaching staff becomes even more crucial. Adding Cassell is a significant step toward making that happen.
Further Reading
Danny Ainge Discusses Celtics' Unfulfilled Potential
Paul Pierce Suggests Celtics Should Hire Former Teammate as Assistant Coach
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
