Brad Stevens Talks Celtics, Kawhi Leonard, Gordon Hayward Comeback

Boston Celtics head coach Brad Stevens is eager for the 2018/19 NBA season to start.

The Celtics overachieved in the playoffs earlier this summer as despite being without the likes of Kyrie Irving and Gordon Hayward through injury, they were still able to get past the Philadelphia 76ers in their second round series.

They were even close to reaching the NBA Finals but succumbed to LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference Finals, having blown a 3-2 lead.

Despite the missed opportunity, there were many positives such as the performances of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. In addition, Irving and Hayward will be back in action for the new season, while most of the key players from last season have been retained.

"We’re all eager to get started," Stevens said at a fundraiser Tuesday, as per NBC Sports. "It’s a long year. But it happens quick from the standpoint, First practice is Tuesday, the 25th [September] and we’re playing an exhibition game three days later which is a little bit insane. But we open our regular season three weeks later."

"It’ll be a great opportunity to start fresh with a new team although we have a lot of guys back and see if we can be the best version of ourselves. ...To add Kyrie back in the mix, to add Gordon … they were here last year but it’s almost like adding brand new players to your team."

Hayward has not featured since making his debut for the Celtics last year where the All-Star unfortunately suffered a fractured tibia and dislocated ankle.

However, Stevens revealed he's looking good and will be back sooner rather than later.

"He looks good. I saw him a couple weeks ago in San Diego," Stevens added. "I went out there and watched him work out. He looked really good. And three weeks later seen him again. He’ll be cleared to go some 5-on-5 like very, very soon, anytime soon."

With the departure of James to the Western Conference, the Celtics are the favorites to reign in the East.

According to ESPN, they have a 38 percent chance of making the NBA Finals while their chances of winning a first championship since 2008 have increased from 12 percent to 18 percent compared to last year.

Stevens though, plans on taking things one game at a time. He is not looking past the Toronto Raptors either, who after finishing last season as the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference, have now added Kawhi Leonard to their ranks, though they had to trade DeMar DeRozan to get the deal done.

"He’s [Leonard] a great player. And DeMar is a great player," Stevens explained. "Kawhi’s ability to impact a game on offense, on defense. I think the addition of Danny Green as well. That’s a really good, versatile team. They were the best team in the East last year."

"At the end of the season, Cleveland did what Cleveland has done the last few years and that’s figure out a way to get to the Finals. We had our moments in the playoffs, and we had some ‘ugh’ moments in the playoffs that we seem to forget. But Toronto was the best team in the East. And so, they added one of the best players in the NBA. So obviously, I’m sure they are excited about their season."

The Celtics will kick off their season at the TD Garden in Boston against the Sixers on Oct. 16.