Brown/Tatum

[lbgreen33]

I love that Jaylen is scoring, I always loved his game, but I thought he often was a ball hog. He embraced team ball the year they won the title.
So, just wondering if anyone is concerned if he will be able to flip the switch back to team player again when Tatum returns?
He did it before, but man he goes one on three a lot! I think he does at times find the open man and they have missed a lot.
I am sure he will be fine stepping back a little when Tatum returns, but it will be interesting to watch.

[Roy H.]

I don't think we'll see too much change when they're both on the court.  They've played together for almost a decade, and I think that their roles are pretty set.  There could be some short-term transition pains this year, but if anything I see those coming from Tatum being too deferential to Brown when he comes back.

Once Tatum is back, I would like to see Joe run more plays specifically for JB.  Spread the wealth a little more with end of quarter plays, etc.  If you've got a nearly 30 ppg scorer who is leading a good team, you've got to utilize him as more than a decoy in those situations.

[Donoghus]

They already have a successful track record of coexisting together so I have no worries there. 

[satch]

I like JB-But I think he has the type of game that is just good enough to get you beat. Plus, there are nights his foul shooting is troubling.

[Atzar]

I don't think JB is a ball hog, really.  He used to be.  I think he's generally grown out of that.  But being the best offensive player on the team, as well as the only guy on the roster who can score against good defense without just relying on long threes, is not the same as being a ball hog.  We need him to do the things he's doing.  Do you think White is getting into the paint against Ausar Thompson?  Pritchard?  Simons?  No.  They'll avoid risk and pass it around the perimeter until somebody has to launch a 30-footer. 

He'll be fine when Tatum comes back.  Far more worried about the possibility that Tatum may not be that guy anymore than I am about JB's mindset. 

[Celtics2021]

JB has seen his usage skyrocket this year, by around 25%.  Despite that, his shooting efficiency has increased, which is pretty surprising.  Further, his TS% is better than the players he is most likely taking shots away from (Simons, White, Pritchard, and Hauser).  When Tatum comes back presumably Jaylen will be able to step back at times, and hopefully those possessions where he steps back are the ones where he is less likely to score.

But JB has unequivocally shown he can carry an offense, and he will only benefit when the burden is lightened a little with Tatum?s return.

[Who]

I was having the opposite reaction -- that this period as the team's main go-to guy would serve Jaylen Brown well and he would be a better team player (passer / playmaker) by the time that Tatum returns. 

[Vermont Green]

JB has seen his usage skyrocket this year, by around 25%.  Despite that, his shooting efficiency has increased, which is pretty surprising.  Further, his TS% is better than the players he is most likely taking shots away from (Simons, White, Pritchard, and Hauser).  When Tatum comes back presumably Jaylen will be able to step back at times, and hopefully those possessions where he steps back are the ones where he is less likely to score.

But JB has unequivocally shown he can carry an offense, and he will only benefit when the burden is lightened a little with Tatum's return.

Tatum's and Brown's ability to coexist is way down on my list of things to worry about moving forward.  But when I look at Celtics2021's post above, it makes we wonder something different.  You look at how down all the complementary players are this season in terms of shooting.  Could it be that Tatum (or the combination of Tatum and Brown) was better at making them better than Brown is, or are they just having down seasons?

Brown is having a great season.  He is adjusting his game and doing what the team needs in terms of individual scoring.  But White, Pritchard, and Hauser are not performing as well playing off Brown as they did playing off Tatum.  Also, the team is giving up more ORebs this season over last.  Tatum lead the team in rebounding last season.  Brown is backfilling some aspects of Tatum's absence but not others.

Tatum coming back will be good for everyone, including Brown.  And I have no doubt that Brown understands this as well as anyone.

[slamtheking]

JB has seen his usage skyrocket this year, by around 25%.  Despite that, his shooting efficiency has increased, which is pretty surprising.  Further, his TS% is better than the players he is most likely taking shots away from (Simons, White, Pritchard, and Hauser).  When Tatum comes back presumably Jaylen will be able to step back at times, and hopefully those possessions where he steps back are the ones where he is less likely to score.

But JB has unequivocally shown he can carry an offense, and he will only benefit when the burden is lightened a little with Tatum's return.

Tatum's and Brown's ability to coexist is way down on my list of things to worry about moving forward.  But when I look at Celtics2021's post above, it makes we wonder something different.  You look at how down all the complementary players are this season in terms of shooting.  Could it be that Tatum (or the combination of Tatum and Brown) was better at making them better than Brown is, or are they just having down seasons?

Brown is having a great season.  He is adjusting his game and doing what the team needs in terms of individual scoring.  But White, Pritchard, and Hauser are not performing as well playing off Brown as they did playing off Tatum.  Also, the team is giving up more ORebs this season over last.  Tatum lead the team in rebounding last season.  Brown is backfilling some aspects of Tatum's absence but not others.

Tatum coming back will be good for everyone, including Brown.  And I have no doubt that Brown understands this as well as anyone.

Tatum's absense is no doubt having an impact but the underperformance of those 3 isn't primarily Tatum's absense since their issue is missing wide open shots they would normally make in prior years. 

[Atzar]

JB has seen his usage skyrocket this year, by around 25%.  Despite that, his shooting efficiency has increased, which is pretty surprising.  Further, his TS% is better than the players he is most likely taking shots away from (Simons, White, Pritchard, and Hauser).  When Tatum comes back presumably Jaylen will be able to step back at times, and hopefully those possessions where he steps back are the ones where he is less likely to score.

But JB has unequivocally shown he can carry an offense, and he will only benefit when the burden is lightened a little with Tatum's return.

Tatum's and Brown's ability to coexist is way down on my list of things to worry about moving forward.  But when I look at Celtics2021's post above, it makes we wonder something different.  You look at how down all the complementary players are this season in terms of shooting.  Could it be that Tatum (or the combination of Tatum and Brown) was better at making them better than Brown is, or are they just having down seasons?

Brown is having a great season.  He is adjusting his game and doing what the team needs in terms of individual scoring.  But White, Pritchard, and Hauser are not performing as well playing off Brown as they did playing off Tatum.  Also, the team is giving up more ORebs this season over last.  Tatum lead the team in rebounding last season.  Brown is backfilling some aspects of Tatum's absence but not others.

Tatum coming back will be good for everyone, including Brown.  And I have no doubt that Brown understands this as well as anyone.

I don't draw the same conclusion here that you do. 

I attribute the struggles of those guys to the fact that they're being asked to take multiple steps up in the pecking order, rather than the idea that Tatum makes them more betterer than Brown does.  White is having to act like a #2 rather than a #4, Pritchard is acting like a starting lead guard and #3 instead of a sixth man gunner, Hauser has expanded his diet of shots to include a lot of lower-quality/harder looks that he used to turn down.  They're trying to do things that they've never done at the NBA level and it's coming with growing pains. 

IMO if we added a qualified second option to this roster, you'd see their efficiency bounce back up as they slotted into more suitable/familiar roles.  Brown isn't the problem; the void in quality shot creation outside of Brown is the problem. 


Also, some important context:  our offense, despite the struggles of several key players, is currently fourth in the NBA in Offensive Rating.