I caught up with this game at the end of the 3rd C's behind by 4. With a lineup of JT, Al, TL, Romeo and Prichard the Celtics not only took back the lead but stretched it to double digits. Nice! Tatum finally figured-out his 3 wasn't falling, so he began going to the basket, which collapsed the defense and opened up Romeo and PP for clean look 3's, which they hit. The ball was moving well north/south. JT was playing well with his teammates. Al was energized defensively. They looked like an NBA team, moving the opposing defense all around the floor.
Midway in the 4th... Minus PP, enter Jaylen Brown. Within 20 seconds he fires an off balance 3 that doesn't hit the rim. Four bad shots later, the C's cling to a two point lead. The rest is history. Jaylen STILL misses defensive rotations often. Where is his head at? Was Brown even watching the game from the bench at all? Or was he concerned with his own stats?
The evaluation of him as a freshman coming out of college still comes to mind. "Very athletic, mechanical, not a natural basketball player."
His 22 points 5 rebounds and 5 assists mean nothing now, his inability to feel a basketball game and give a team/game what it needs is troubling. Tatum, while not perfect, plays differently with JB off the floor. He plays with his teammates more.
I'd rather have two players scoring low double figures and having a solid BBIQ than watching Jaylen playing hero ball at exactly the wrong time in a game...again.
Sabonis for Brown even-up in a heartbeat.