Celtics News

[DefenseWinsChamps]

Jayson Tatum:

If or when I do come back this season, they would have played 50 some odd games without me. They have things that have clicked and have been successful, so there?s a thought in my head like how does that look when I come back? [dang], do I come back or should I wait. I contemplate it every single day.

Love that humility. WILD sixth man to have.

We need his feel for the game and versatility. Rebound. Play good team defense. Hit open shots. Move the ball.

Let Jaylen be responsible for late clock creation while he gets his legs under him.

Tatum's job is what he is best at - being the most versatile all-around player in the league that can fit in with anyone.

[Goldstar88]

Jaylen Brown: I feel like I?ve sacrificed over the years in order for us to be a championship-caliber team. And I think now, I think we?re getting to see that a little bit. What exactly, you know, I was capable of and what I was sacrificing. I think before maybe it wasn?t so obvious. I think now, I think being able to be at the helm of things and, um, us being the second seed in the East?versus last year we finished second seed in the East. it?s almost been no drop-off with four players, five players that are essentially gone. Um, I feel like that the work from the coaching staff, the work from our leadership has?has been great. And, um, you know, I just tried to make myself available every single night.

I've never loved this mentality.  "Sacrificing" touches and stats to win a championship isn't a sacrifice at all.

Also, there *has* been a drop off.  Our defense has dropped from 5th to 12th.  Our offense, defense, and net rating are all worse than last year.  The Celtics have overachieved to a large degree, but JB seems to be saying that JT and others aren't the true difference makers, and that's nonsense.

EDIT:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N_-1ORYB9mw  Context @ 3:20

100% agree with you.  They actually are not a championship team right now with him at the helm.  Better than expected and he is a major reason why (not the only reason - Q, Simons, Walsh, Hugo, Garza, Sam and PP).  But they aren?t winning a championship without JT and I hope he know that what he?s calling *sacrifice* is actually just being a teammate. I think they?ll be fine (hopefully kick it up) when JT returns but that will be him and JT doing what they should do, for which both of them earn an ungodly fortune.

How about Tatum sacrificing in the playoffs during their championship season. He was shooting less and focusing more on assists and rebounds. Brown won the Finals MVP. You never hear JT talking about this stuff.

[keevsnick]

Hot take maybe: Jaylen Brown is 100% right.

He has absolutely sacrificed; we've seen that this season. Had he been on a different team he's probably have put up more numbers and still had some good team success.

Personally, I'm fine if he's a little in his feelings about it. He was booed on draft night. Relegated to the bench in his 3rd season after being a driving forced in an ECF in his 2nd season. He's had half the fan base try to trade him about half a dozen times. Endured left hand jokes, dunk contest jokes, ect ect ect. There were supposed Celtics fans COMPLAINING about having to watch 1st option Jaylen Brown hoops before this season and projecting 32 wins. They have the 2nd bets offense in the NBA.

JB has gotten a lot of flack, if he wants to throw it back in some people's faces then good for him.

I don't read this as being "anti winning" or whatever. Its just sort of statement of fact, he should absolutely get more credit for being a team guy the last 10 years.

[Celtics4ever]

evidently many are ignorant of the greatness of Bird.  I have him at 3 behind Russell (greatest player that dominated the league with titles and made his teammates better) and Wilt (the greatest individual player ever in term of what he could do on the court). 

He is my all time favorite player.   So I am very biased towards him to biased to make a judgment without that bias affecting my decision.  I used the 50 greatest players list to remove me putting him at number one.

One thing that bothers me, no matter what our guys do, the media and public outside of the fans, never acknowledge them in a positive manner.  I guess, it goes with being a Celtic.

[slamtheking]

evidently many are ignorant of the greatness of Bird.  I have him at 3 behind Russell (greatest player that dominated the league with titles and made his teammates better) and Wilt (the greatest individual player ever in term of what he could do on the court). 

He is my all time favorite player.   So I am very biased towards him to biased to make a judgment without that bias affecting my decision.  I used the 50 greatest players list to remove me putting him at number one.

One thing that bothers me, no matter what our guys do, the media and public outside of the fans, never acknowledge them in a positive manner.  I guess, it goes with being a Celtic.

that does seem to be true with the media.  being a career Celtic seems to be treated as a negative.  Pierce was a good example of a great player that was underrated by national media.  Hondo too in terms of how he's regarded in the game's history of top players

The foolishness of the debate where people are rating either Jordan or Lebron as the best ever totally ignores why they shouldn't be regarded as the best.  Those that argue it's Jordan based on titles ignore Russell's dominance.  Those that argue it's MJ's or Lebron's skillset ignore Wilt's superior skillset.  Those that argue it's either of their ability to make teammates better ignore the skillsets of Russell, Bird and Magic.  Those that argue it's Lebron's durability and career length ignore Kareem's longevity. 

I'm not saying MJ and Lebron aren't all-time greats but they wouldn't be my top 2.  I'd put MJ at 5 behind Russell, Wilt, Bird and Magic (although a friend of mine made a decent argument for MJ over Magic based on Magic having played on loaded Laker teams and a weak West to get to 8 finals in 10 years) and Lebron at 6 or 7 (flipflopping in my mind with Kareem).