Celtics
“You’ve bought the expertise right here. You’ve bought to have well being and chemistry. They’re prepared.”
Brad Stevens made it a precedence this offseason to encompass 35-year-old head coach Joe Mazzulla with extra veteran assistants on the Celtics’ bench.
New assistant and former Celtics level guard Sam Cassell certain appears to suit the invoice.
Talking to Heavy Sports activities’ Steve Bulpett in Las Vegas, Cassell defined how he ended up touchdown again with the Celtics, noting that it was his reference to Mazzulla that made it a pure match.
“Joe made this occur,” Cassell instructed Bulpett. “He’s watched me work a few guys out earlier than and wished to know my persona and the way I hyperlink to gamers. We have now some mutual pals that he contacted, and we simply made it work.”
The 53-year-old Cassell has loads of expertise within the NBA ranks, each as a participant and a coach. The 6-foot-3 level guard performed 15 seasons within the NBA, profitable three championships with the Rockets (1994, 1995) and the Celtics in his remaining season in 2008.
Cassell believes his resume as a longtime level guard within the NBA offers him a definite benefit now throughout his time as a coach, particularly with regards to speaking with gamers.
After all, that messaging isn’t at all times constructive.
“I’m simply very truthful with gamers, man,” Cassell stated. “Generally they don’t prefer it, however I communicate the reality. I communicate to the sport plan of the top coach, and I inform them what the top coach expects. Generally gamers attempt to be reluctant to take that, however I believe I’ve a means that I may be 100% trustworthy with a participant with out them taking it personally. And that’s a trait that I do know I’ve.
“I’m a fantastic listener to gamers; I’m a former participant, so I perceive what they’re going by. Like I inform them on a regular basis, I’ve been every participant on a group, from the highest man to the fifteenth participant. I’ve been all these guys. I perceive what these guys are going by mentally.”
Cassell has spent the final 14 years as an assistant coach with the Wizards, Clippers, and 76ers, serving as a key useful resource on Doc Rivers’ numerous teaching personnel through the years.
Each Cassell and new Celtics lead assistant Charles Lee (previously with the Milwaukee Bucks) will look so as to add a steadying presence subsequent to Mazzulla on Boston’s bench.
“We’ve bought an opportunity,” Cassell stated of Boston’s title hopes in 2023-24. “You’ve bought the expertise right here. You’ve bought to have well being and chemistry. They’re prepared. … You realize, I noticed the way it appeared when the Celtics received their final championship.
“I used to be part of that group. And as soon as we get that factor completed, it’s an attractive factor to win a championship in Boston. It’s superior to be again in The Bean, particularly once you’ve received there earlier than.”
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