In pro basketball, synergy simply means the whole (read: TEAM) is better than the sum of its parts (individual players). Think of the Champion 1985-86 Celtics team . That Celtics crew may have had the top talent ever assembled at the NBA level, but that g roup also played so damn well together . How many times did Larry Bird send a no-look pass to a cutting Robert Parish or Kevin McHale for an "easy" layup? And at least 1-or-2 times a game, Dennis Johnson would rifle a pass to Bird for a bunny. Bird may have demanded the ball at times, but he usually came through with a successful score or laser-like pass to a teammate. Boston fans may see flashes of that this season with Jayson Tatum in charge of outcomes. The 2026-27 version of "The Green" may not have the most-talented lineup in the League, but it will be intriguing to see how well this crew plays as a unit. Newly-acquired Paul George is not ready for a rocking chair, and if he sticks with the team, his ...
Now, all of a sudden, many Boston Celtics fans are up in arms against the reigning executive-of-the-year, Brad Stevens. Give me a break! An NBA fan since 1960 , I also have been disgruntled with the "Celtics ownership and leadership . But for good reason . Former Celtics owner John Y. Brown and "Head Honcho" Rick Pitino immediately come to mind. Brown trading away three first-round picks for Bob McAdoo almost sent the basketball genius, Red Auerbach , away to New York. Pitino basically put Auerfbach on a shelf and proceeded to make bad decisions that led to a losing stint in Beantown. Brad Stevens is a class act, and he has done a great job at the helm, both as coach and team president. There is no way he deserves the bitter criticism , mostly based on his trade of Jaylen Brown to the rival 76ers. He is taking the "long view" of a franchise that may be the most-successful sports franchise ever. There is no immediate gratification for Stevens. He is p...