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Lamar Stevens signed a coaching camp take care of Boston final month after being waived by the San Antonio Spurs again in July. Now, he’s prepared to suit proper right into a Celtics workforce with the last word purpose of profitable an 18th NBA championship this season.
“The profitable tradition,” Lamar Stevens mentioned when requested what drove him to hitch the Celtics this summer season. “Once I talked to Brad [Stevens], once I got here right here for a exercise, he mentioned, ‘the one factor they fear about is profitable,’ and I felt like that was excellent for what I’m about and what I need to deliver and the issues I’m attempting to attain in my profession.”
Boston’s squad is wanting extraordinarily completely different than it did simply over 4 months in the past, after they have been eradicated from the playoffs by the hands of the Miami Warmth. A workforce that confirmed sufficient toughness and grit to battle again from an 0-3 deficit noticed lots of its warriors head to new houses within the offseason.
Marcus Good, Grant Williams, and Robert Williams III all supplied the Celtics with an edge within the vitality class. With the trio set to go well with up elsewhere this season, Stevens hopes that he can fill the void left by their departures.
“Yeah I feel I can step proper into that,” he mentioned. “You understand, including Jrue [Holiday] on the defensive finish and me — I really feel like these are roles that we will fill proper in. I’m excited for the chance and to deliver what I deliver to the workforce and hopefully that may uplift us. Our fundamental purpose is to win, every day, and I feel we might help with that.”
The 26-year-old ahead spent final season with the Cleveland Cavaliers. He appeared in 62 regular-season video games for Cleveland and began 25 instances. In 18.1 minutes every night time, Stevens averaged 5.3 factors and three.3 rebounds per recreation whereas taking pictures 44.8% from the sphere and 31.6% from past the arc.
That three-point share is a bit decrease than a workforce like Boston — who shot the second-most threes final yr — would really like. Nonetheless, it’s a class by which Stevens has improved in throughout every of his three years as a professional.
He knocked down simply 16% of his makes an attempt from distance as a rookie in 2020-21 after which improved to 27.7% within the following season. The previous Penn State standout instructed reporters on the Auerbach Heart that taking pictures has been a significant focus for him ever since he got here into the league.
“I feel that I improved — I feel every year of my profession I’ve improved on my shot. I feel the largest factor is that this yr I really feel like I’ve actually improved on it, and I’m excited to point out that.”
With Boston’s depth being referred to as into to query after the pair of main strikes they made this summer season, Stevens is taking a look at an awesome alternative to discover a area of interest with one of many league’s prime groups.
If his shot proves to be constant it’s not out of the realm of risk that he might earn some actual rotation minutes all year long.
Celtics followers will be capable of get their first take a look at the brand new No. 77 on Sunday night time when Boston hosts the Philadelphia 76ers at TD Backyard for his or her preseason opener.
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