In 10 games since the All-Star break, Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum have both been performing like no one is in the duo’s way.
Brown has put up 28.9 points, 6 rebounds, and 3.6 assists, shooting 54 percent from the field and 40.6 from three. The two have been the usual main instrument of the Boston Celtics best record in the league and winners of 15 of 17 games.
Tatum, now fifth in the MVP ballot, is averaging 26.5 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 5.4 assists, shooting 44.3 percent from distance.
Brown has been the one steering the ship as of late with his foot on the gas, leading the way with 33 points per game in his last four contests, to go with seven rebounds, shooting 52 percent. The All-NBA wing has now recorded the sixth-most games in the league with 30 points, shooting over 60 percent.
Normally, Tatum would be Joe Mazzulla’s first player in the starting five to sub out throughout the season, but with Brown in control, the three-time All-Star has taken on those duties. With his 37 points last night, the Celtics coach talked about that process.
“Both of them were having constantly, free-flowing conversation throughout the game,” Mazzulla said. “Credit to them, just kind of trusting the staff on the decision that was made at the time, but there’s a few things that go into it. Obviously, if one of them is playing really well, you want to keep that. Last night, we changed the sub pattern so that we can keep the matchups that we wanted later in the half, later in the quarter. So, just a constant free-flowing thing that at first is the best interest of them, and the next best thing is how can we take sure we’re taking advantage of matchups having the right lineups. Just a free-flowing conversation, and guys are doing a good job of communicating them.”
Coming out of the All-Star break, Mazzulla emphasized the focus of not pinning Tatum and Brown together for everything, wanting to highlight their own differences and identities for the rest of the season. We are now seeing that more than ever.
“I just think their two different players,” Mazzulla added regarding Brown being the focal point over Tatum as of late. “The goal is never for Tatum to get the most shots in a game; the goal is to play efficient basketball and win the game. The two of them are understanding how they can have impacts on the game differently. Jaylen’s impact comes in transition with his speed and his physicality, and his ability to create defense to offense with his on-ball defensive pressure. A lot of those shots are really in transition because of his ability to run and Tatum’s play in the half court, where he likes to play chess and take advantage of pick-and-roll matchups, whether it’s handling or screening.”
The two are showing their leadership, complementing each other at an all-time high. Reading the game with their IQ and taking what the defense gives them, playing to their strengths. Tatum and Brown have shown growth in picking opposing schemes apart and seeing the play before it happens, guiding Boston towards getting teammates their best shot.
“The amount doesn’t really matter that much; it matters the process of getting them,” Mazzulla said. “I think since the All-Star break and really throughout the second half of the season, they’ve both been really fighting to get the best shot possible for them and their teammates through what the game is giving them, and that’s really what it comes down to.”
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