The Celtics locker room features a sign that lists everything Boston must do. It includes four or five bullet points on what to expect from the team every night, save for a few clunkers: stopping pick-and-roll action, finishing defensive possessions, protecting the ball, pacing-and-spacing, and making winning plays.
Stevens listed them again early this season as priorities, particularly for the young players looking to earn minutes and succeed early with the Celtics — who would inevitably need its youth to step up through injuries and COVID-19. He defined roles for each individual to end training camp, and pressed players to focus on what they do best in more minutes instead of trying to do more overall.