Brad Stevens’ homecoming a night of highs and lows
By COLLIN O’CONNOR
ISL Correspondent
INDIANAPOLIS — It wasn’t a great game or performance from his new team on this night, but former Butler coach Brad Stevens’ highly anticipated homecoming was still something worth seeing here Sunday.
As Stevens was first shown on the new, state-of-the-art video board that Bankers Life Fieldhouse recently installed, a huge roar broke out from the crowd as Butler fans saw their former coach for the first time since the Bulldogs lost to Marquette in last season’s NCAA tournament.
Of those in the crowd, among many, many Butler fans proudly wearing Bulldogs and Celtics gear were also current Butler coach Brandon Miller and athletic director Barry Collier.
And, while Stevens noted that it was good to be back, he also had a job to get done on that night.
“I wish I would have [taken a step back] but I really didn’t,” Stevens said. “Just walking out there, looking around at the stadium, I was seeing a lot of familiar faces and that was great. But at that point, the game becomes the game and you start coaching.”
Unfortunately for Stevens, it wasn’t much of a game. The Pacers held a lead for the entire second half and it was, for much of that time, in the 20s.
“I think this is about as good a team as it gets,” he said of the hometown Pacers. “They’re not known for their running but they’re very opportunistic. Adding [Danny] Granger is scary.”
The Celtics didn’t perform as well as Stevens probably would have liked in his return to Indianapolis, but it is important to note that they were also playing on the second of back-to-back nights after falling to the Washington Wizards on Saturday.
“It’s a challenge,” Stevens said of playing two nights in a row. “But that’s why you take care of yourself. That’s why the best of the best of the best can show up on every night and play well.”
Celtics center Jared Sullinger was quick to knock that off as an excuse as well, saying, “We’re not a team to make excuses. Indiana just came out and kicked our behind. We just have to play better.”
Perhaps it was more of the size the Pacers bring forth in their formidable front line that has put them on top of the Celtics both times this season. Boston is known to struggle against big frontcourts such as the Pacers and, as they were outscored 50-22 in the paint, Sunday night was no exception.
“We have to be able to defend the post better as a team. There are certain teams we match up with OK with the starting lineup the way it is, but it’s hurt us in the last three games. Washington took advantage of us with our bigs and Detroit dominated us with our bigs,” Stevens said. “We need to figure out a way to be better with our size. It’s possible, but it takes a lot of work.”
The Celtics now will enjoy five days off before playing again against the Cleveland Cavaliers. Stevens, though, after this performance in front of his hometown fans and his hometown team, noted how hard it will be to step away from the game for the next couple of days.
“I have a hard time taking myself away from it,” he said. “But I will, because I owe my kids and my wife that.”
