Back in November, Marcus Smart called out Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown following a tough loss to the Chicago Bulls: “Every team is programmed and studied to stop Jayson and Jaylen. I think everybody’s scouting report is to make those guys pass the ball. They don’t want to pass the ball.”
The quote and the headlines that followed spun a story NBA fans are all too familiar with—team implosion. When teammates start to point fingers and question each other’s decision-making, what often follows is a downward spiral. Chemistry falters, losses pile up, and hopes of contending go down the drain. Eventually, star players demand out. Franchises are forced into a rebuild, destined to wallow at the bottom of the standings for years.
Smart’s appeal to Tatum and Brown felt like the type of comment that foretold such an implosion. That is, unless you took the time to read the rest of his quote:
“They’re still learning. We’re proud of the progress they’re making, but they’re going to have to make another step and find ways to not only create for themselves but create for others on this team to open up the court for them later down in the game… It’s something we’ve been asking them to do, and they’re learning.”
Smart voices exactly the kind of support and patience that has kept the Celtics afloat this season. Amidst a number of blown leads, shooting woes, and growing pains, the Celtics are in the playoff picture with a 27-25 record—only 5.5 games behind the first-seeded Chicago Bulls. What’s more, they look poised to rise up the standings.
After an abysmal shooting stretch early in January, Jayson Tatum seems to have turned a corner. In his last five games, Tatum is averaging 33 points per game on 44.6 percent three-point shooting. The Celtics have matched his production, going 4-1 during those five games with a scorching 21.7 net rating. Jaylen Brown has also looked great over that stretch, averaging an efficient 26.8 points per game. However, his impact may be even greater off the court, at least according to his teammates. After their win against the second-seeded Miami Heat on Monday, Al Horford commented on Brown’s leadership efforts:
“Jaylen is really keeping everybody focused. I believe there’s a real sense of urgency from our group.”
Marcus Smart echoed Horford’s praise of Brown:
“When we’re going through walkthroughs he’s actually talking more,” Smart said. “That’s what we’ve been asking for, to get out of his comfort zone on that end. He’s been doing a really good job; he’s saying all the right things. That’s something he has to continue to progress with.”
Though Jaylen Brown appears to have stepped up, Smart also points out that there is still work to be done. They have 30 games left to prove that they belong at the top of the Eastern Conference. However, with Jayson Tatum playing at his best, Jaylen Brown taking on more responsibility, and wins beginning to pile up, it seems like the Celtics are putting things together at the right time.
