True or False: We Play Better as a Team Without JB

[GreenlyGreeny]

Even though JT struggled today, we seemed to play much better as a team today against one of the best teams in the west than I have seen in quite some time. I do not have all the data to share and will leave that to others, but each time I watch us play a game without JB (but with JT), we seem to play better as a team—playing better team ball with greater levels of facilitation on offense and even better effort on defense.

So true of false: Do we play (not are we) better without JB? TPs to those who share data on the matter.

Edit: As data is shared on the matter, it will be empathized below:

Now 8-1 without Brown this year and Memphis is obviously an excellent team.  Entering today Brown's on/off differential per 100 possessions was -3.5, which will only get worse after today's game.

[Roy H.]

We've played pretty dang well as a team with JB.

[Kuberski33]

I'll say false. He guards so he can match up defensively vs any 3 in the league (and most 2's) and his ability to get to the basket is top notch.  Other than Tatum, no one else on the roster can do it consistently - and JB is still better at it than Tatum. When he makes his mind up, he's not being stopped, even if he doesn't have a step on the guy guarding him.

[jpotter33]

I mean, this is a difficult question. The numbers actually bear out that we're not a super great team without JT out there, including when JB is in the game.

That said, I don't think JB's absence is the reason we're playing like we are lately. I think the injuries have required us to play with more intensity and focus, along with playing the right way.

When we have both of the Jays out there, they're so individually good offensively that I think we do get lazy at times and over-rely on those two to get buckets or initiate the offense for us. Yet when one of them is out, particularly JB, we have to focus in and play the right way to win.

All that said, I think once we're closer to the playoffs, all that is out the window and they lock in and play the right way more often and be less reliant on the Jays. And in that case, you absolutely want a high level 2 like JB to help JT out.

[blink]

we play as a team just fine with JB.
yes JT and JB can play together
yes JT and JB have gotten better at making their teammates better
but yes they still have a ways to go...
no we shouldn't trade JB


does that answer all the inane questions?

[liam]

we play as a team just fine with JB.
yes JT and JB can play together
yes JT and JB have gotten better at making their teammates better
but yes they still have a ways to go...
no we shouldn't trade JB


does that answer all the inane questions?

Yes! TP

[jpotter33]

I'll say false. He guards so he can match up defensively vs any 3 in the league (and most 2's) and his ability to get to the basket is top notch. Other than Tatum, no one else on the roster can do it consistently - and JB is still better at it than Tatum. When he makes his mind up, he's not being stopped, even if he doesn't have a step on the guy guarding him.

Well, I think that's simply not true. Beyond the Jays, both White and Brogdon can consistently get to the rim for themselves, and while doing it differently, Smart is also someone who regularly can get to the rim, even if it's more based on his footwork and ball handling than pure speed and explosive first step.

[GreenlyGreeny]

When he makes his mind up, he's not being stopped,

Until he turns it over because his mind is writing checks his body cannot cash (seems to sometimes play like he’s Kobe, but he’s clearly not). Or he misses a pivotal free throw near the end of the game.

[SCeltic34]

I haven't looked too far into the advanced stats, but Brown is part of almost all of our top lineups in terms net positive points except for one.  That includes our top 3 best lineups where we outscore our opponents.  We were also a net better offensive team in the playoffs last year with him on the court.

[liam]

True or false: Some fans don't appreciate how great the Celtics have been this year.

Yes:
No:

[GreenlyGreeny]

I mean, this is a difficult question. The numbers actually bear out that we're not a super great team without JT out there, including when JB is in the game.

That said, I don't think JB's absence is the reason we're playing like we are lately. I think the injuries have required us to play with more intensity and focus, along with playing the right way.

When we have both of the Jays out there, they're so individually good offensively that I think we do get lazy at times and over-rely on those two to get buckets or initiate the offense for us. Yet when one of them is out, particularly JB, we have to focus in and play the right way to win.

All that said, I think once we're closer to the playoffs, all that is out the window and they lock in and play the right way more often and be less reliant on the Jays. And in that case, you absolutely want a high level 2 like JB to help JT out.

Great post and kind of my feelings. I just find it odd how everyone seems to give more effort towards playing better team ball on O and better effort on D when JB is out. We do not see that phenomenon when JT is out, but JB is in, so it begs some questions…let’s not forget that JB’s the kind of guy who’s been defending Kyrie this year, so how would you behave around a teammate like that when he’s the number one guy compared to when he’s not playing a game?

[Phantom255x]

True or false: Some fans don't appreciate how great the Celtics have been this year.

Yes:
No:

[Kuberski33]

When he makes his mind up, he's not being stopped,

Until he turns it over because his mind is writing checks his body cannot cash (seems to sometimes play like he’s Kobe, but he’s clearly not). Or he misses a pivotal free throw near the end of the game.

His handle remains his weakness and his knack for missing FT's at key times. But they're still a lot better with him than without him.

[Phantom255x]

Well it depends. Do we play better without Smart? Because Smart has pretty much missed the past 5+ weeks and we haven't really skipped a beat.

This stuff doesn't really matter in the regular season, but it does when we either play elite teams in the regular season or the postseason. The postseason though is when it'll really matter

[blink]

When he makes his mind up, he's not being stopped,

Until he turns it over because his mind is writing checks his body cannot cash (seems to sometimes play like he’s Kobe, but he’s clearly not). Or he misses a pivotal free throw near the end of the game.

That is like complaining that JB isn't MJ.  Yeah he isn't Michael Jordan, but he is the 2nd best player on our team, edging closer to an all NBA player and you consistently just want to degrade him or trade him.  It's so tiring.