I failed. We failed. We let the whole city down.

[lbgreen33]

How can you bash JB when he says this! Clearly, he wanted to have a better game. JT was hobbled on the first play, JB wanted to step up, but he played terribly. 1 game from the finals!
What do we do as Fans? Tell him, it's okay! You did your best? NO, many of us say, Trade the bum!

That's just Not who I am. For me, I want to give him a hug and say thanks for the incredible Season!!
That's just who I am!  I would like to say I can conquer the world, but in reality, I have fallen short many times. It doesn't matter what you are paid, You do your best.
My father used to tell me when I was a kid. When you go to bed at night and put your head on your pillow, Ask yourself, did I do the best I could today? If the answer is yes, "F" what others think! You gave it your best and No One can ask anymore.

[libermaniac]

I do appreciate his effort, I'm just disappointed that he hasn't improved his handle in any appreciable way since his rookie year.  Other aspects of his game have improved by leaps and bounds, but he needs to focus on his weaknesses (like Tatum appears to do), as opposed to his strengths.  We'll all come to our senses in time.  No way should we break up the Jays.  It's a shame the way the supermax works in that it would appear an insult to him to not offer him the supermax.  But, even in his own confident heart, he has to know he's not worth $59 million per year.

[SparzWizard]

Well JB, you spent 7 seasons with the Celtics and you still haven't worked on your handles and that has been affecting your game and causing us to lose important games. I think it may be time to trade you for Damian Lillard.

[lbgreen33]

Well JB, you spent 7 seasons with the Celtics and you still haven't worked on your handles and that has been affecting your game and causing us to lose important games. I think it may be time to trade you for Damian Lillard.

I love Lillard, but he is too old. I want to follow this team for years to come.

[wiley]

Well JB, you spent 7 seasons with the Celtics and you still haven't worked on your handles and that has been affecting your game and causing us to lose important games. I think it may be time to trade you for Damian Lillard.

I don't think the handles are the problem...the problem is just trying to make overly difficult moves at the wrong time.  Fancy dribbles to set up crossovers aren't really needed...and are impossible in tough playoff basketball unless you're a truly elite (and usually smaller) ball handler.

Go back to playing simple and that solves it..  give up the ball and get it back...that solves 80 percent of his issue.  He has a great, very simple turnaround that he used to use a lot more...get back to the efficient, more basic Jaylen...

[gouki88]

Well JB, you spent 7 seasons with the Celtics and you still haven't worked on your handles and that has been affecting your game and causing us to lose important games. I think it may be time to trade you for Damian Lillard.

I love Lillard, but he is too old. I want to follow this team for years to come.

Steph Curry is doing alright for a 35 year-old PG with similar skills to Dame. Lillard is only 32, and is not slowing down at all. I’d do the trade, especially the one that Moranis posted in another thread

[angryguy77]

Martin came out and said the plan was to make him go left.......we have the nba version of freaking zoolander

This guy is not supermax money worthy. I just used brown as an example to my son on why learning to handle the ball with your left hand is vital.

26 years old and he's not improved his game to something any star player should be able.to do. I'm flabbergasted a player who made all nba has such a obvious weakness to exploit.

Sorry, talk is cheap. Paying him a max will kill this team in 2 years. He doesn't have the ability to improve in this area.  If he did, it wouldn't take this long.

That said I expect Brad to make the worst possible decision regarding him, because why not.

[rocknrollforyoursoul]

Martin came out and said the plan was to make him go left.......we have the nba version of freaking zoolander

This guy is not supermax money worthy. I just used brown as an example to my son on why learning to handle the ball with your left hand is vital.

26 years old and he's not improved his game to something any star player should be able.to do. I'm flabbergasted a player who made all nba has such a obvious weakness to exploit.

Sorry, talk is cheap. Paying him a max will kill this team in 2 years. He doesn't have the ability to improve in this area.  If he did, it wouldn't take this long.

That said I expect Brad to make the worst possible decision regarding him, because why not.

I expect zero major changes with this team in the near future. Why? Because everyone involved is on board with Brad's general approach to basketball and his particular vision for the Celtics—namely “Live by the 3, Die by the 3” and a lack of emphasis on fundamentals, particularly in close, late-game situations.

So my expectations are that Mazzulla will be kept for at least another year, Brown will be offered the supermax (whether he takes it is another story), and the Cs will continue to shoot lots of threes without having a solid Plan B for the times the threes aren't falling, and will continue to struggle late in close games and against zone defenses.

I've come to the conclusion that this iteration of the Celtics is not really a “thinking man’s team”—they consistently do foolish things, such as forgetting everything that has worked once they reach the last few minutes of a close game, or resorting to hero ball, or letting off the gas once they have a decent lead, or playing good defense only to give up offensive rebounds, or dribbling into a crowd (sorry to pick on you, Jaylen, but that's a big one). And it's really frustrating to watch that type of team, especially when they have the raw talent to be a great team.

[Kernewek]

Martin came out and said the plan was to make him go left.......we have the nba version of freaking zoolander

This guy is not supermax money worthy. I just used brown as an example to my son on why learning to handle the ball with your left hand is vital.

26 years old and he's not improved his game to something any star player should be able.to do. I'm flabbergasted a player who made all nba has such a obvious weakness to exploit.

Sorry, talk is cheap. Paying him a max will kill this team in 2 years. He doesn't have the ability to improve in this area.  If he did, it wouldn't take this long.

That said I expect Brad to make the worst possible decision regarding him, because why not.

I mean, this is not a secret in the NBA - you always want to make the guy go to his less-comfortable hand. That's why everyone always tries to force Harden to go right.

Agree it's annoying to hear Martin describe it like this, but safe to assume that this is not the full depth of Miami's gameplan for Brown.

[Celtics4ever]

Well JB, you spent 7 seasons with the Celtics and you still haven't worked on your handles and that has been affecting your game and causing us to lose important games. I think it may be time to trade you for Damian Lillard.

I love Lillard, but he is too old. I want to follow this team for years to come.

Steph Curry is doing alright for a 35 year-old PG with similar skills to Dame. Lillard is only 32, and is not slowing down at all. I’d do the trade, especially the one that Moranis posted in another thread

Steph's range is the difference here, but seriously you think he is going to maintain that?   No man beats father time........

[Who]

I was thinking Lillard has 2-3 years left of main guy star level years, 2-3 years of low level star (supporting act star) and 2-3 years of role player solid starter years.

With that shooting ability of his, he should be able to play until he is 40 so long as he can avoid major injuries. Much like CP3 has been able to do in Phoenix. That would be 7 years of ball ahead of him with maybe 4-5 years of star level production then 2-3 years of role player.

[Roy H.]

I want to keep him.  I worry about the $60 million salary, but he's among the best #2s in the NBA.

[Kernewek]

I want to keep him.  I worry about the $60 million salary, but he's among the best #2s in the NBA.

The other thing to keep in mind is that the new CBA isn't just going to affect the Celtics - it's going to hit every team in the league. It'll be harder for everyone to spend their way into contention. If we assume that our floor with the Jays is, what, a second round exit? That's a hell of a floor for two star wings who aren't even 27 yet.

[Who]

I want to keep him.  I worry about the $60 million salary, but he's among the best #2s in the NBA.

I wonder where JB ranks among #2s on playoff teams:

East

MIL = Jrue or Middleton
BOS = Jaylen
PHI = Harden
CLE = Garland
NYK = Randle
BKN = Cam Johnson
ATL = D Murray or J Collins
MIA = Bam

Jaylen stacks up well againt the East. Clearly better than the #2 in ATL, BKN, NY and probably MIL. Middleton was close to Jaylen prior to the injury but not since. He needs to prove himself again to get back in that conversation. Jrue is an interesting argument. Some will go for Jrue so maybe that is debatable. I will stick with Jaylen.

Harden is probably better than Jaylen. Some will disagree there. Garland and Bam are debatable. I go back and forth on Bam as better. Garland & Jaylen is a close call.

West

DEN = J Murray
MEM = JJJ
SAC = Sabonis or Fox
PHO = Durant or Booker
LAC = PG13
GSW = Draymond, Wiggins or Klay
LAL = AD
MIN = Towns

Jaylen doesn't do as well in the West. GSW is the only team that is clearly worse than Jaylen.

I'd take J Murray, Booker or Durant, PG13, AD & Towns over Jaylen.

Sabonis or Fox. Who is the #1 and who is the #2? I see Fox as the #1 and Sabonis as the #2. Not impressed by Sabonis. I would take Jaylen over Sabonis. I feel many would choose Sabonis as the #1 and Fox as the #2. That is similar to the Garland question; A close call. I'd lean Fox.

I prefer JJJ over Jaylen. I love his defense. A two way player with elite defense and good offense.

Overall

So my count would be: 6 better than Jaylen. 2-3 close calls. 5 worse.

So somewhere in the middle of the pack.

Where do others rate Jaylen against these playoff team #2s?

[Surferdad]

I want to keep him.  I worry about the $60 million salary, but he's among the best #2s in the NBA.

The other thing to keep in mind is that the new CBA isn't just going to affect the Celtics - it's going to hit every team in the league. It'll be harder for everyone to spend their way into contention. If we assume that our floor with the Jays is, what, a second round exit? That's a hell of a floor for two star wings who aren't even 27 yet.

I assume this is one of the main goals of the new CBA. This means some enticing trade offers could appear in the off-season. Brad needs to continue to be patient, maintain the team that was one of the top-4 last season and see what pops up.

HOWEVER, no need for patience regarding the HC. Joe is too young/inexperienced and it showed. Plus, his entire staff is being poached by Udoka. Start from scratch with a championship-level HC.