I spotted one thing whereas watching Celtics-Pistons on Thursday evening. It’s one thing I’ve identified subconsciously for some time however hadn’t articulated till now.
When Jayson Tatum enters a recreation, I imagine he does so with the mindset that he’s going to take regardless of the protection provides him. If he has one man on him, he will rating. If the double comes, he’s going to move. It’s about making the precise learn and reacting on the fly.
When Jaylen Brown enters a recreation, I imagine he does so with the mindset that he’s both going to be aggressive as a scorer or be aggressive as a passer. After all, he’s greater than able to doing each concurrently, however I imagine Brown consciously turns the scoring and passing switches on and off greater than Tatum does.
It’s not that one strategy is healthier than the opposite. They’re each good in their very own approach, and their types complement one another completely (I’m glad we’re executed with the foolish narrative that they don’t). However, in my view, Brown has already made up his thoughts how he’s going to play as soon as he steps on the ground, primarily based on what he feels the sport wants.
Some nights, he comes out blazing (see: Minnesota Timberwolves) and fires away within the first quarter. Different nights, he’s extra selective and chooses to get his teammates concerned (see: Detroit Pistons). Brown views the sport by way of a novel lens, which permits him to course of it in a approach others don’t. His really feel for the sport has improved considerably all through his profession.
“It’s been enjoyable to observe him develop over the previous couple of years in his reads,” coach Joe Mazzulla instructed reporters earlier this month. “Watching him, you see him having the ability to course of the sport in actual time.”
When Tatum is out, you would possibly assume that Brown would evolve into extra of a scorer. In actuality, he typically consciously elects to turn into extra of a passer. Brown might drop 30 most nights (and he typically does), however he is aware of that for the Celtics to achieve their full potential, others need to really feel empowered as a lot as their stars do.
Thursday evening, in a 123-99 win over the Pistons, he took simply 12 photographs and racked up six assists. It wasn’t an ideal effort, with 4 turnovers and a few sloppy ball-handling at occasions, however he completed a game-high plus-30 and put his teammates in a great place to succeed. Sure, stellar teammates and a subpar opponent are components, however he deserves loads of credit score.
“I believed he set the tone,” Mazzulla instructed reporters. “He took 5 photographs within the first half, however he made a degree to actually push the tempo, to create two on ones, discover his teammates and be a playmaker.”
Joe Mazzulla on Jaylen Brown, who completed a game-high +30:
“I believed he set the tone. He took 5 photographs within the first half, however he made a degree to actually push the tempo, to create two on ones, discover his teammates and be a playmaker. That and his protection.” pic.twitter.com/Vq8Xpr9APT
— Justin Turpin (@JustinmTurpin) December 13, 2024
When Tatum missed final Wednesday’s recreation in opposition to those self same Pistons, Brown added 9 assists.
Final yr in opposition to the Kings in December, with Tatum out, Brown contributed six assists. 9 days later in opposition to the Raptors, he added six extra. Whereas he additionally put the ball within the basket in loads of these video games, it illuminates a bigger development the place Brown decides to turn into extra of a playmaking 1A with Tatum out.
“Everyone goes out they usually repeat what their stars do,” Pistons coach J.B. Bickerstaff instructed reporters. “Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, these guys might shoot the ball each time they wished to, however they sacrifice themselves to make the precise play time and again.”
It’s a wholesome reminder that Brown might completely be the highest choice on a contender with a high quality supporting forged. Brown unselfishly blends in, when in actuality, he might simply stand out. He desires to be a part of one thing traditionally nice. When Tatum is out, we get a glimpse into simply how harmful he will be as a passer.
This play is an effective instance. After getting the steal, Brown might have simply hoisted up a 3. As an alternative, he waited for Jrue Vacation to get open, delivered a slick behind-the-back move on the cash and grinned to indicate he was happy with his work.
Brown, averaging a career-high 4.7 assists, has come a great distance as a passer all through his profession. His earlier excessive was 3.6 final yr, so this has been a big leap. He didn’t settle when he earned Finals MVP; he made tangible enhancements to his recreation, and it’s proven this season.
Subsequent time Tatum is out, and even when he’s not, watch how Brown approaches a recreation. When he’s pondering move, it provides one other wrinkle to a star-studded Celtics staff and makes them much more unstoppable.
