Brad Stevens end of season press conference notes:
- Team went 3-11 against top seeds in NBA and lost in first round. Says the team needs to get better
- Jaylen Brown has not expressed any "frustrations with the organization" to Stevens.
- Celtics margin for error needs to get bigger.
- Celtics over last 2 postseasons have had a really hard time generating a good first shot - this goes against Mazzulla who has said he is happy with the looks.
- Celtics need more of an impact at the rim, and need to add to the team to do that.
- Play style should be dependent on who's on your team.
- Would not commit to shooting too many 3s but says he looks at each shot individually.
- Pointed to Brown/Pritchard wide open 3s late in Game 7 as great shots, but admitted they certainly take some bad ones - went back to finding a way to generate more shots at the rim
- On making any big moves/overhaul: I don't take for granted how good we've been when we've been full.
- On losing so much at home & if it requires leadership change: I think that's a legitimate question. I don't think we should ignore it. Points to prosperity within the game and be more dialed in playing with big leads (acknowledged blown home leads 2023 MIA, 2025 NYK, 2026 PHI and the 2024 losses to MIA/CLE when they went on to win. We need to get better in those moments.
- On the coaching job: I know how hard that job is. Need to provide the resources and add to the team. Acknowledged a lot of growth to build off of.
- Do the Celtics shoot too many 3s? The bad ones, yeah. But I evaluate each and every shot. We have to do the best to generate the best possible look we can. Does not remember Mazzulla referencing 3pt attempt rate as the most important stat in basketball.
- On the gap between the Celtics and the top teams - believes the gap is relevant and plays into the honest assessment that needs to be made of the team.
- Calls Hugo Gonzalez a critical part of the team because his athleticism can meet the moment in big games.