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Brad Stevens Talks Tough December Schedule With Gresh & Zo

BOSTON (CBS) - Celtics head coach Brad Stevens joined Andy Gresh and Scott Zolak on Friday for his weekly interview.

Despite the Celtics 8-12 start, the Celtics find themselves atop the Atlantic Division standings and if the playoffs started today the Celtics would be the four seed in the east.

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Coach Stevens doesn't pay attention to that sort of stuff, saying that the standings "don't have much impact on me" and its imperative for his team to continue to make strides, adding "There's a reason you play 82 [games] not 20."

After a recent practice Celtics forward Jared Sullinger made some headling-grabbing comments, basically saying that he's tired of hearing about all the "tanking" talk surrounding his team.

Stevens applauded Sullinger's sentiment, saying, "If they don't feel that way [about tanking] there's a problem."

Help is on the way for this Celtics team with All-Star point guard Rajon Rondo's return on the horizon. Rondo is meeting with world-renowned orthopedic surgeon Dr. James Andrews in the coming weeks that will ultimately determine when he can return to game action.

However, VP of Basketball Operations Danny Ainge said on this radio station that he's "not close" - so the Celtics will likely be without him for at least this month.

Celtics At 7: Happy With The Celtics Start?

Stevens noted how his team can't afford to have a bad month.

"We're in a reasonable position coming off that November schedule, but this December schedule, especially the upcoming 6 to 10 games are really, really challenging," said Stevens.

"So we are going to have to be at our very best and hopefully we can play as well as we have thus far. We're going to need to have a chance to win."

For a more detailed update on Rajon Rondo and Stevens' go-to move in beating his young son in H.O.R.S.E. listen to the full interview below:

Brad Stevens Talks Tough December Schedule

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