Brad Stevens Talks About His Envy Of The Spurs On Zolak & Bertrand
BOSTON (CBS) - 98.5 The Sports Hub's Marc Bertrand and Rich Keefe, who filled in for Scott Zolak on Friday, caught up with Celtics head coach Brad Stevens, whose team is in San Antonio to face the Spurs tonight.
Stevens had nothing but good things to say about his upcoming opponent, who have been the model of success in the NBA for over 15 years.
"I think the number one thing is the continuity that they've had, the great commitment to one another that they've had players-wise, team-wise and staff-wise. You've got a terrific coach in [Gregg Popovich], you've got one of the all time great leaders in Tim Duncan, who is one of the more humble superstars in any sport."
But the Spurs are more than just the coach and the former No. 1 overall pick.
"Then you've got the perfect complementary pieces that they continue to add. You've got a superstar in Tony Parker, you've got a guy who's been a superstar in Manu Ginobili, and then you've got a budding superstar in Kawhi Leonard."
Stevens appreciates the type of basketball employed in San Antonio, something he admires and is trying to build here in Boston.
"They've put a huge priority on skill and savvy, and I think they put a huge priority on being a great teammate and a competitor -- you see that night in, night out. When you're watching them on film it's one of these games you're looking at and you're just envious of the way they play."
Rich Keefe commented that the Spurs don't even have a 20-point scorer, and everyone on their squad buys in to a team brand of basketball.
"From my own perspective, from the outside looking in, it's a lot easier to [buy in] when you have a humble superstar like Tim Duncan. He's the one that has sacrificed all the way up and down these last few years. It's become more Parker's team, they play more through Leonard, they play more through Ginobili -- whatever the era has been he's continued to sacrifice. He continues to play at a high level, but when your most accomplished person is like that, then everybody else just follows suit. It's part of their culture. It's part of who they are."
The Celtics hope to avoid a two-game skid when tip-off in San Antonio happens at 8:30pm Friday night.
Listen below for the full conversation, where Stevens weighs in on the progress of rookies Marcus Smart and James Young. All that and much more:
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