Stevens: Celtics' Happy Locker Room A Credit To Entire Team, 1-15
BOSTON (CBS) -- Amir Johnson spent the last six years of his career in Toronto, and will likely get an ovation from his former fans when he makes his first visit as a member of the Boston Celtics on Wednesday.
Despite Toronto winning the Atlantic Division the last two years, Johnson signed with the young Celtics in the offseason. With a 22-20 record so far this season, Johnson's new team has had their ups and downs, but the veteran had some very nice things to say about the atmosphere around the team as he gets set to take on his former team.
"The team definitely gets along, man, this is one of the top locker rooms I've been in personality-wise and team-wise," Johnson told The Boston Herald on Wednesday.
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Johnson, a 10-year veteran, is a big part of the comradery in Boston's locker room, and his comments were music to head coach Brad Stevens' ears.
"I think that's really important and I'm glad to hear it," Stevens told 98.5 The Sports Hub's Zolak & Bertrand on Wednesday. "One of the things we've tried to focus on is creating a great environment or work and support. That is a positive sign hearing that from Amir. Any time you bring in a guy who has been in different locker rooms, that has a lot of experience in the league and a lot of experience winning in the league, that he says that is a positive thing."
Stevens has been playing musical chairs with his starting five for much of the season, and there have been some rumblings from players regarding a set rotation and playing time. But Stevens credits all of his players for how Johnson, and others, feel about the locker room.
"That's a credit to the guys who aren't playing as much. Those guys are really engaged and really invested and helping other people," he said. "That's a credit to our entire team 1-15."
Stevens also jumped on the push to get Celtics' guard Isaiah Thomas to the NBA All-Star Game.
"I can't imagine another guy meaning more to our team from the moment he stepped on the court for us in late February. I felt like at the end of last year, if you take the last 30 games he played, he would have been an All-Star and I feel the same way throughout the first 42 games this year," said Stevens. "It would be a nice tribute to him and a tip of the hat to his teammates. Obviously that usually means your team is competitive and there are other people working hard to put you in position to succeed. It would be a nice thing for our organization and Isaiah."
Stevens also touched on Boston's struggles at the end of games, and a referee error that cost the C's a possession at the end of regulation against the Dallas Mavericks:
