The Boston Celtics are putting everything together in Ime Udoka's first season as head coach. After a very rough start, the Celtics have torched nearly every team in their path on the way to contending for the Eastern Conference's top seed. Udoka's somewhat brash style of coaching has proven to be successful, as the Celtics have the third-highest winning percentage since the new year.
Udoka told The Athletic's Sam Amick that holding players accountable is a big part of his coaching philosophy. He claims that it's something he and Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens have in common, though he does it better than the Celtics' former head coach
“But, you know, you’ve got to look (at) where I come from and who I was as a player — team basketball and San Antonio — and kind of the epitome of selflessness. So that part for me is a no-brainer, and I think that’s part of the reason (Celtics president of basketball operations) Brad (Stevens) hired me because that’s what I thought. We thought the same way. But also I could actually implement it and hold guys accountable, and it’s natural for me whereas it’s uncomfortable for some others.”
The Celtics are a defensive juggernaut and have one of the best offenses in the league. With Jayson Tatum improving even further, they could be very dangerous once the playoffs roll around. Boston suffered a little setback with Robert Willaims' meniscus tear but they still have a strong roster that will be tough to defeat in the postseason and in the following years under Udoka.
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