Effort can go a long way in the NBA, which is why Boston Celtics lead assistant coach Sam Cassell wants to see the players he helps prepare for the 2026-27 NBA regular season leave it all on the court every tilt in Boston's looming 82-game campaign. "We're just trying to be the hardest playing team every night," said Cassell in a recent interview. "We feel if we being the hardest playing team every night, it would give us a 65 percent chance to win every night."
"And sometimes, shots goes in, shots miss, but we want to be the hardest playing team majority every time we take the court," added Cassell. And with the team heading to South Carolina for the final leg of their 2026-27 training camp, the longtime Celtics assistant will have a chance
to help instill that mentality in earnest for the coming year. "We just want to get the guys away from their families and friends and get more connected," he explained.
"These guys have had a great training camp so far," said Cassell. "We've been competing. They have no other choice but to compete. Joe Mazzulla is our coach. You don't compete, get off the court. You don't play, and they understand."
"That's the great thing about our team," suggested the Celtics assistant. "They understand that aspect, how we need them to play."
"But you also got to give them credit, too, because they allow us to coach them hard. They allow us to do things that a lot of teams' players don't allow their coaches to do."
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This article originally appeared on Celtics Wire: Sam Cassell on effort, Boston Celtics camp in South Carolina
