The Boston Celtics have had success with players like Isaiah Thomas, Jae Crowder and Evan Turner, who have played were given up on by prior teams.

"We look at guys who might have a chip on their shoulder," Brad Stevens says. "That's been a big deal for us. It's something that can be contagious, but it has to be recruited. At this level you have to draft and sign guys who have that attitude. It's hard to create an environment if those guys didn't bring that with them."

The advantage they found is players who came to Boston pissed off. "It's our DNA," Crowder says.

"We got a group of guys that have always been counted out," Thomas adds. "And we play like that."