On the Bill Simmons Podcast, where Bill Simmons and Ryen Russillo do their weekly episode discussing their thoughts around the NBA, Russillo had an idea to share about Boston Celtics All-NBA forward Jaylen Brown.
“Jaylen has smashed through any ceiling I’ve ever had for him, I’ve said that before,” Russillo said. “Like the draft, early on, okay-he’s pretty good, but whatever, and then just keeps going up and up, and you know, I voted him All-NBA last year, and I didn’t really… I know there’s some of the analytics community would say it actually wasn’t as good, or whatever, and that’s fine.”
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Russillo mentioned how he has tried to pay more attention to the All-Star forward this year, acknowledging Boston’s addition of Kristaps Porzingis, resulting in Brown getting fewer shots.
He and Bill Simmons agreed that Brown has now sort of become a ‘no, no, no, yes’ player in reference to the tough shots he takes and makes.
Brown, in his eighth season and now the longest-tenured Celtic, has had another All-Star season, averaging 22.3 points, 5.5 rebounds, and a career-high 3.7 assists, shooting 49.9 percent from the field and 34.7 from three. With a 58.2 true-shooting percentage, this is basically the 27-year-old’s second consecutive season, taking the biggest adjustment to Boston’s new offense.
As he has still shown sloppiness with the basketball with some poor offensive moments in the clutch, Brown has shown plenty of growth as a leader for the Celtics, making a priority of setting the tone on the defensive end and letting his game come to him. He is playmaking for others a lot more, rather than typically forcing things. The integration of Porzingis has unlocked Brown’s game, along with Jayson Tatum’s.
Russillo knows that Brown is one of those stars that is as good as anyone making something out of nothing while creating his own shot, understanding that he can take the pressure off of the team as an elite creator and shot-maker. Russillo stated that he was not casually presenting breaking up Brown and Tatum.
“I look at him, and I’m consistently confused by this incredibly-productive, talented player, in a way where I’m like, ‘Is it as good as the scoring is,’ Russillo said. “By the way, their winning a million games, so it’s not like there’s this piece that’s [expletive] them up, and their flirting with just being over.500, being a four-seed. I don’t know, I’m asking you, what do you think it is that I’m seeing, because it just feels a little different, or maybe it’s always been this way, and I’m just finally admitting… Like, yeah he’s an awesome player, but I don’t know.”
In four games since the All-Star break, Brown has put up 27.3 points, 6.3 rebounds, and three assists, shooting 62.3 percent from the field and 43.8 from three.
Even if the Celtics do not achieve the ultimate goal and win the championship this season, their window is not closing anytime soon, as owner Wyc Grousbeck has repeatedly said. It would be extremely difficult to envision them parting with their longest-tenured core player, who is a historic icon within the franchise and the city of Boston.
