Jaylen Brown offers to sacrifice as Celtics prioritize team over individuals

https://www.nbcsports.com/boston/celtics/jaylen-brown-offers-sacrifice-celtics-prioritize-team-over-individuals




Jaylen Brown offers to sacrifice as Celtics prioritize team over individuals



By Chris Forsberg
November 30, 2018 11:56 PM



BOSTON — The Boston Celtics’ most notable moment on Friday night came 85 minutes before tipoff against the Cleveland Cavaliers when Jaylen Brown, rehabbing from a back bruise suffered last week in Dallas, stepped in front of reporters and was asked if he felt there might be changes to the rotation upon his return.

Essentially, it was a nice way of asking how Brown felt if coach Brad Stevens elected to bring him off the bench upon his return to action. The 22-year-old swingman, who just six months ago was the team’s leading scorer as an injury-battered Celtics squad came one win away from a trip to the NBA Finals, pondered the notion and offered a notably mature response.

“Possibly [Brown's role might change], especially if we are winning. Whatever it is that needs to be done to figure it out,” said Brown. "Everybody has talent, everybody has ability, but, obviously, we have to make something work here. We don't want to be looking down the line and trying to figure out, 'What if?' or 'Woulda, coulda,' whatever.

"Whatever it is that we can make it work now, I'm totally happy with that. Winning answers everyone's questions and figures everything out. If we win, everything else will be fine.”

Listen, there’s nine guys in the Celtics’ locker room that can make an honest-to-goodness argument for starting. Stevens can only play five of them and, for much of the season, the ones that he trotted out at the start of games haven’t consistently gotten the job done.

Brown, maybe the player who seemed most uncertain of his role out of the gates this season, was starting to come out of an offensive funk before he hit the ground hard trying to block a shot in the final minutes of a disappointing loss in Dallas. With Brown sidelined and frustrated by his team’s inconsistent play, Stevens shuffled both Marcus Smart and Marcus Morris into the starting lineup in hopes of a jolt of energy and got rewarded with one of Boston’s best wins of the year in New Orleans.

The Celtics kept that momentum going on Friday night by racing away from the basement-dwelling Cavaliers in the second half of a breezy 128-95 triumph at TD Garden. Kyrie Irving (29 points on 15 shots) seemed to have a little extra motivation, even if his former team doesn’t look much like it used to, and Gordon Hayward (14 points on 6-of-9 shooting) displayed more progress (even if he lamented some moments where he felt he could have been more aggressive going at the basket).

But Hayward’s biggest contribution as he searches for what he dubbed, “Old G,” was his selflessness in moving to a bench role earlier this month. When Hayward — and his $31.2 million salary — accepted a move to the second unit, it sent a message to the rest of the team about sacrifice. And even if it was obvious that Hayward might benefit from some time with reserve lineups while working his way back from a fractured ankle, the move ensured that younger players had to fall in line should their rotation role change.

In a quieter way, fellow veteran Marcus Morris had done the same coming into the season. Morris sometimes grumbled last year about desiring a starting role. But he showed up to camp this year — in a contract year, no less — devoid of demands and willing to accept whatever role Stevens asked of him. Told to spearhead the bench, Morris went so far as to create the “BWA” — Bench With Attitude — aimed at getting Boston’s backups on board with the notion of impacting the game with grit while coming off the bench.

Even as he’s elevated to a starting role the last two games, Morris has said he’s on board with however Stevens chooses to ultimately deploy his talent. It seems pretty obvious that, if Boston desires to get where it wants to go, it will probably eventually have to go back to the season-opening starting 5 (Irving, Brown, Hayward, Jayson Tatum, and Horford) as that is the lineup with the highest ceiling and greatest versatility.

But it hasn’t worked yet and Stevens needed to make changes. Now a double shot of Marcus has infused the first unit. And Stevens should probably ride this group until players get more comfortable and then start moving the furniture around.

Apprised of Brown’s comments about accepting any role, Morris seemed pleased.

“It’s very important for a young guy to step up like that,” said Morris. "I think when [Brown] comes back, he’s going to fit in whatever role Coach gives him. We’re just trying to keep it going. We’ve got good spirits right now and we’re just trying to let this thing go as far as it can.”

It’s rare that Boston has gone a full week without an annoying step backward, though an unusual three-day break in the schedule certainly aided that this week. Still, back-to-back wins is progress, and a victory in Minnesota would allow the team to ride some serious good vibes with another odd four-day break ahead.

Irving, who has routinely preached the longview, said he wants the team to use the next 60 games to “turn it up at least two notches.” But you can tell he’s pleased with the progress of the last two games and the way that players seem to understand that roles will remain fluid.


"I think the biggest thing for us has just been patience,” said Irving. "It hasn’t looked pretty, it hasn’t looked great all the time, but it has looked good at times, and I think that we’ve used those moments to build off of, but we just couldn’t find that consistency.

"Now I think that guys are just in the right positions. Obviously, we have some guys out still, so when those guys come back, then I see the level of effort we’re all playing with, and they will fit right along in. [Brown] will add a dynamic, whether he’s starting or off the bench, I think he’ll add another dynamic for us scoring and playing defense, and as well as Al [Horford] being who he is.

"I’m just happy with the guys growing closer as a group and understanding what the big picture is, and playing games the right way.”

The Celtics still have a lot of work to do to play to their potential. But it’s a lot easier to get where they want to go if everyone is pulling on the same rope.



bob
MY NOTE: Horford is considered "the father figure" on this team, Kyrie the Champion and Smart the heart, but I must say I am very, very pleased with the role Marcus Morris is playing. No bitching about starting or minutes and extremely supportive of the young'uns. I don't know if Danny can afford to keep him next year, but I hope he can.


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This team has so much depth. If they can all start clicking at the same time they will rise into contention.

bobheckler wrote:
bob
MY NOTE:  Horford is considered "the father figure" on this team, Kyrie the Champion and Smart the heart, but I must say I am very, very pleased with the role Marcus Morris is playing.  No bitching about starting or minutes and extremely supportive of the young'uns.  I don't know if Danny can afford to keep him next year, but I hope he can.


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Bob,

I agree.

When Morris was acquired, I questioned his value. I no longer do.

Regards

He must have been injured last year, thought he was lousy and too slow last year, he’s definitely improved in all areas....

The best option has always been playing all of the talented players on the roster. The problem has been figuring out how to do it. I've felt for a long time that Brad shouldn't have a fixed starting lineup but that he should go with the best matchups. He hasn't experimented a lot but has allowed injuries and personal days to show him other opportunities. A change was needed and Jaylen's injury allowed him to make a real change. The way playing everybody works is that the starters build a lead and the second unit expands it giving the third unit enuf minutes to make improvement and show what they can do. That was one of the beauties of the last few games when there was a lead. It also allows for fewer minutes played by the better players to not be a problem Winning fixes everything. Time for a streak!

Jaylen may come up smelling like roses if this all works out. He is a multi talented kid, and I believe there was some real confusion as to just what his role would be this year. He is young, smart, athletic, and knows in his heart what he can bring to this team. I kind of feel bad for the kid, he was so important to this team last year, but, in my heart of hearts, I think all will be okay for him soon. Getting back from this injury, on such a hard foul, will be a bit longer, they just announced he was out again tonight.

Jaylen will come back, and all will turn around for him. I am sure.

RosalieTCeltics wrote:Jaylen may come up smelling like roses if this all works out.  He is a multi talented kid, and I believe there was some real confusion as to just what his role would be this year. He is young, smart, athletic, and knows in his heart what he can bring to this team. I kind of feel bad for the kid, he was so important to this team last year, but, in my heart of hearts, I think all will be okay for him soon. Getting back from this injury, on such a hard foul, will be a bit longer, they just announced he was out again tonight.

Jaylen will come back, and all will turn around for him. I am sure.

Agreed

He, and everyone else on a quality team. has to make "sacrifices" if the team is going to play to its top level. This young guy is too smart to be a selfish player and will do his best at whatever spot in the Cs rotation that the head coach gives him.

I would bet the ranch that Jaylen Brown has not been the happiest player on the team this year because he has not yet found himself as yet much more than he has been upset with his playing time.

So what if he 'only' becomes the best wing on the second unit! His day will come probably sooner rather than later, and banner #18 has to be his goal.

He will be our primo wing defender, doing the grunt work, making life miserable for the Durant’s and James as soon as he gets in. He will morph into a much more skilled Dennis Rodman. Yes I think he can defend certain 4’s....

cowens/oldschool wrote:He will be our primo wing defender, doing the grunt work, making life miserable for the Durant’s and James as soon as he gets in. He will morph into a much more skilled Dennis Rodman. Yes I think he can defend certain 4’s....

Whoaaaaaaaa Cow if he develops into a much more skilled Dennis Rodman he will be one of the all time greats!

bobc33 wrote:

cowens/oldschool wrote:He will be our primo wing defender, doing the grunt work, making life miserable for the Durant’s and James as soon as he gets in. He will morph into a much more skilled Dennis Rodman. Yes I think he can defend certain 4’s....

Whoaaaaaaaa Cow if he develops into a much more skilled Dennis Rodman he will be one of the all time greats!

I thought some posters would be blasting me....maybe a Scottie Pippen/Rodman clone. The game against Blake Griffin really surprised me, he just stayed on him, his reach and athleticism threw Blake off.

Jaylen is in a tough spot, luckily he is still young and supremely talented. In the long run, he will be fine here or elsewhere.

mrkleen09 wrote:Jaylen is in a tough spot, luckily he is still young and supremely talented.  In the long run, he will be fine here or elsewhere.  

We all know how talented/gifted he is, when he puts it all together, like the glimpse in last years playoff run, be a shame if he wasn’t helping this franchise with all that ability. Rozier has been as bad or worse and Tatum has had many off nights too as has Horford. Guess because he is so gifted, we expect so much from him....again he’s going to help some franchise, I don’t know why we would let him help another franchise as much as he can, he’s got a lot of high end basketball ahead of him.

cowens/oldschool wrote:

mrkleen09 wrote:Jaylen is in a tough spot, luckily he is still young and supremely talented.  In the long run, he will be fine here or elsewhere.  

We all know how talented/gifted he is, when he puts it all together, like the glimpse in last years playoff run, be a shame if he wasn’t helping this franchise with all that ability. Rozier has been as bad or worse and Tatum has had many off nights too as has Horford. Guess because he is so gifted, we expect so much from him....again he’s going to help some franchise, I don’t know why we would let him help another franchise as much as he can, he’s got a lot of high end basketball ahead of him.

I dont know anything anyone else on this board knows, but I do know that a team is a mixture of players with complimentary talents, and if you have too many guys who do the same thing or all need to dominate the ball for example, it wont work. Not saying that is the case here, but to me - Jaylen has to develop to the best of his ability and if it proves that he needs the ball in iso situations to be effective, that wont work as that is the same thing Tatum and Kyrie need, both of whom are superior players to Brown.

If Jaylen however, develops his jumper and is more aggressive in transition - and gets his points off up quicks and drives early in the shot clock, that works perfectly well with Kyrie and Tatum - so no issue there. Only time will tell.

Kleen don’t be so modest, you definitely know the game.

The Jaylen that produced in a variety of ways in the playoffs last year, exceeding my expectations and I think most of ours can help any team. There is no reason he cannot get at that level or past it IMHO.

Once he finds his role, he will become one of the most important players on this team. His offense is not as strong as Tatum's (at times) but he make s up for it with what he does alot of the time on the floor Just as Gordon has found his way, the same will happen with Brown.
It is Rozier who I have had questions about this year, his defense, shot selection and all around play have me scratching my head. Has this hurt his trade value? Is starting so important to him that it has affected his game coming in off the bench?

Jay King @ByJayKing
about 33 minutes ago
Jaylen on why he expects to come off the bench: "Our team is looking completely different in the first initial start of the game.... I haven’t talked to Brad or anybody else, but whatever, however we can keep this going, playing the right way and continue to win, I’m 100% for it"


Chris Forsberg @ChrisForsberg_
about 14 minutes ago
Jaylen Brown reaffirms he plans to play vs. Knicks and is fine if it’s a bench role. “However we can keep this going, playing the right way and continue to win, I’m 100 percent for it.” On bench role, he adds, "I think people make it a bigger deal than what it really is."


Tom Westerholm @Tom_NBA
about 44 minutes ago
Jaylen Brown on joining the second unit: "People make it a bigger deal than what it really is. At the end of the day, it’s basketball. Hayward came off the bench the other day and had 30 points. That’s a mindset thing. That’s a choice."


bob
MY NOTE: Go get'em, kid, earn your minutes.


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Good attitude Jaylen.