5 Takeaways From Boston Celtics’ Early-Season Play

It should have been clear last season, but there is no doubt Brad Stevens is the long-term coach for this team. His basketball intelligence is unquestionable. Even more, his players enjoy playing for him. Stevens should be the Celtics' head coach, regardless of where this season goes.

The initial reaction to Avery Bradley's contract was Boston overpaid for the 23-year-old guard. Two weeks into the season and that narrative is completely gone. Bradley has continued to be a solid offensive player while being an absolute pest on defense. His contract is looking more and more like a steal when compared to an Alec Burks-type extension.

The Celtics figure to be one of the most active members at the trade deadline. The goal for Boston is to stockpile future assets, and Jeff Green is playing himself into a valuable trade chip. Green is leading the team in scoring with just under 19 points per game. He could be a nice addition to a contender who's looking for some scoring punch off the bench.

It's easy to look at Kelly Olynyk and think he will never be more than an energy guy off the bench. It appears that Olynyk will be able to prove all of those doubters wrong. He has been a very efficient player and provides so much versatility on offense with his outside shooting ability.

The long-term plan for Rondo changes from game-to-game with most Boston fans. The only thing that looks certain is that he is back to his All-Star level. Rondo still has the ability to dominate stretches of a game without scoring the ball. Watching Rondo at full strength is a good thing, regardless of where his future lies.