Celtics’ Brad Stevens on Tacko Fall getting All-Star votes: ‘I don’t love it’

Brad Stevens has had his share of fun with the mania surrounding Tacko Fall, but the Celtics coach is drawing a line when it comes to the rookie’s unlikely surge as a top vote-getter for next month’s All-Star Game.

When the first wave of results of fan voting were released by the NBA on Thursday, Fall, despite playing in just three games to that point, was sixth in votes among frontcourt players in the Eastern Conference, just one spot behind teammate Jayson Tatum. The 7-foot-6 center’s popularity is clearly off the charts for reasons beyond his contributions on the court, which have been slim.

But Stevens, who was seen a couple weeks ago hyping up the home crowd before inserting Fall in the game late in the Celtics’ lopsided victory over the Pistons, wasn’t thrilled when he saw Thursday’s voting results.

“I don’t love it,” Stevens said at Friday’s morning shootaround. “I don’t love the idea, when you’re talking about the All-Star Game or any awards, not being based solely on what’s happening on the court and impacting the team and winning. He is a wonderful person, he’s done a great job. Obviously, he’s played like 10 minutes here so he shouldn’t be sixth in All-Star voting. I get it.

“I think sometimes the All-Star Games and things like that become a mix of popularity contests and then really, really, really subjective voting so like that stuff is like the least of my concerns, to be honest. I’m not a huge All-Star Game person generally. I think, ultimately, I get it. I get the fan interest and what it draws. That’s about as much thoughts as I have on it.”

It’s unlikely Fall will actually be selected as an All-Star. Fans account for 50 percent of the voting to determine the 10 starters, while all current players and a media panel make up 25 percent of the vote each. The reserves are selected by coaches.

Still, Tatum wasn’t surprised to see Fall among the top vote-getters.

“I mean, Tacko got a standing ovation at Madison Square Garden,” Tatum said. “Tacko the goat.”

Four Celtics were voted on to the initial Top 10s, with Kemba Walker and Jaylen Brown picked third and seventh, respectively, for guards, and Tatum and Fall fifth and sixth for the frontcourt.

“We’ve got good players,” Stevens said. “I think the two things, when you talk about midseason awards or postseason awards, are how you played and did you win? I think that’s the bottom line. I know winning plays a big role in my mind when I have to vote for the reserves. I think impacting winning is a big part of it.”

Kemba out with flu

The flu bug going around the C’s has hit Walker, who missed his second game of the season Friday against the Hawks. Stevens said he wasn’t sure if the point guard would join the team as it heads to Chicago for Saturday night’s quick turnaround against the Bulls.

To help make up for Walker’s absence, the C’s called up Tremont Waters. Though the rookie had only played 28 minutes total this season prior to Friday, Stevens said he’s comfortable with him.

“I feel very comfortable using him,” Stevens said. “I thought when he came back the first time, when he played against Sacramento, we tried to simplify things. He came back the second time having been gone even longer, I thought that he needed a little bit of a refresher in all the things we’re doing. So he spent a lot of time kind of catching back up to speed and knows that he’s probably going to be on call.

“He and Tacko are going to be on call specifically over these next 40 days or so because obviously we play a ton of games. And with the flu bug going around and everything else, those guys are probably going to get plenty of opportunities.”

Smart at full health

Marcus Smart is no longer on a minutes restriction after missing three weeks with an eye infection. The guard said he had a checkup with a doctor Friday and “everything looks fine.”

“Thank God,” said Smart, who started in place of Walker. “It’s really just now whatever the game kinda decides. If it’s a close game, I’m still going to play. If not, we’re going to try to sit us guys and get us the rest that we need. There’s no minute restrictions.”

Stevens said Carsen Edwards was staying in Maine to play with the Red Claws but will meet the Celtics in Chicago on Saturday.

from Boston Herald https://ift.tt/36nq4fz