Additional information: Jaylen Brown has been promoted to head coach for a second term
Make a sacrifice. That has been the Boston Celtics’ season-long theme so far. The new-look Celtics are prioritizing winning, from Jayson Tatum’s preseason meeting to help decide the starting lineup to the night-to-night shot distribution.
However, sacrifice has entailed more than merely reducing their workload. Rather, it means that every player in the top six is focusing on particular aspects of their games. Their strengths have become more apparent as a result of their individual sacrifices.
What has been the focus for each Celtics star? In what ways has it changed their game as a whole? The most crucial question is: How is it helping the team?
*Each of the top six Celtics players—Jaylen Brown, Jrue Holiday, Jayson Tatum, Al Horford, Derrick White, and Kristaps Porzingis—will have their own article.
Though it was obvious that Tatum was the team’s go-to player, Brown was constantly expected to step back with the addition of two new All-Stars.
And he has, in a sense. Although Brown’s shooting percentage is down and his scoring output is declining per game, he is still very much a part of the Celtics’ offense.
Brown leads all Celtics drivers in driving this season, and by a significant amount. His 10.8 drives per game surpass Tatum’s 8.6, which is in second place. Although Brown’s 10.8 is, on paper, his lowest since the 2020–21 season, he has assumed the lead in that capacity.
Brown averaged 11.4 drives per game in the previous season, which was comparable to Malcolm Brogdon’s (11.3) and Tatum’s (11.2). Additionally, his 11.1 drives in the 2021–2022 season placed him third behind Tatum (11.4) and Dennis Schroder (11.5).
Brown has made it his goal to get to the basket and make plays from there, while Tatum and the other five players in the Celtics’ starting lineup have concentrated their efforts in other areas, which has caused their drives to dwindle. Despite receiving fewer touches than he has had since the 2019–20 campaign, his drives have essentially not changed. It’s what he does best and, consequently, what makes the team successful.
The way Boston defeated the Indiana Pacers on Saturday night was a perfect illustration of Brown’s focus on driving. Brown was able to get to the hoop at will with Tyrese Haliburton in front of him, and he finished with a 31-point performance on 12-of-16 shooting from inside the arc.
Brown scored 11 of his 31 points in Boston’s victory over Indiana against Haliburton, going perfect 5-for-5 from the field against the Pacers guard—all inside the paint.
In the Celtics’ decisive victory over the Sacramento Kings without Tatum, Brown contributed 28 points and six assists while making 11 of his 18 two-point attempts.
Brown showed his affection for the Kings by dominating most of their top perimeter players, going 4-of-4 against Kevin Huerter, 2-of-4 against Keegan Murray, and 3-of-3 against De’Aaron Fox.
Additionally, Brown’s attack is centered on speed. 40.8% of his shots this year have come within the first nine seconds of the shot clock, indicating that a significant portion of his drives occur in transition and early in possession.
By getting the offense going more quickly, you give the opposition’s defenses less time to adjust, giving Brown an inherent advantage and plenty of time to decide on his drives.
Most remarkably, Brown leads the NBA in both makes and transition field goal attempts this season (162), trailing only Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in the latter category. Among players who have played in at least 20 games, he also ranks fourth in terms of transition frequency. The players he ranks alongside are all attack-oriented, transition-first role players: KJ Martin, Tari Eason, and Obi Toppin.
Brown is getting out of transition just as much as the players who rely on those looks to be successful. Brown was included on the All-NBA Second Team in the previous season. His playstyle, which is typically relegated to supporting roles, is becoming a way of thinking for every player on the NBA’s top team.
Pacers vs. Celtics in Boston
Dylan Buell/Getty Images photo
Brown has been able to carve out a role for himself in the Celtics offense by eliminating some of the shots he is less successful at. Even though he’s still a fantastic offensive option, he practically always looks to go downhill with the ball in his hands.
This season has been a dunk fest by proxy.
The fact that Brown leads the league in poster dunks is no accident. Anybody who stands in Brown’s way, from Trey Lyles to Anthony Black to Rudy Gobert, could end up with a highlight-reel dunk.
To complete the circle, Brown’s improved comfort level as a facilitator has given his already superb driving skills a new dimension. Brown can now find a teammate on the perimeter, in addition to being a threat to lay down a huge jam when he gets into the paint.
Because Brown is actively seeking to create a play for others, teams are no longer able to clog the paint in anticipation of a shot at the rim. Once Brown starts moving toward the hoop, defenses are in a chokehold because of the possibility that he will stop abruptly, turn around, and make a nasty fadeaway middy.
Brown’s passing has significantly improved, his three-point shooting efficiency has increased, and his defense has gone into overdrive. Still, everything comes from his drives. That’s the concession he’s made this season, if you will.
