Enemy Chatter: Brad Stevens may be a coaching savant but…

We often wonder what opposing teams, their beat reporters and bloggers are saying about the Celtics. Here’s a look at some enemy chatter from Charlotte.

I’ve heard again and again that Brad Stevens is a coaching savant. I’m not disputing that. But never in two years of covering Al Jefferson have I seen a coach do less to double-team one of the best low-post scorers in the NBA.

Tyler Zeller guarding Jefferson late was a joke and there was no real response defensively. Limited as the Celtics are, that is no excuse.

Rick Bonnell – Charlotte Observer

Big Al dropped 11 of his 23 points in the 4th quarter and single-handedly squashed any hopes of a Celtics rally.

I didn’t find any comments from Stevens about his strategy for guarding Jefferson. Maybe he figured the officials would eventually have to call traveling on Jefferson. He walks just about every time he makes a move in the post.

Rondo did blame the guards for not “digging the ball out” on Jefferson. Maybe the coaching savant wanted his guards to pinch down on Jefferson and force the pass.