Boston Celtics: Changes to Lineup Might Signal Change of Fortune

Brown & Tatum

Finally, shot selection for the young guns has been poor so far this season. Jayson Tatum‘s shooting percentages are down across the board as well as his efficiency. He has often fallen in love with fadeaway jumpers from just inside the three-point line.

While he can get away with those jump shots a lot of his time, due to his shot-making ability, he should not be rushing those shots so early in the shot clock, especially with so many dynamic scorers on the floor. He possesses the unique athletic ability and touch to get by his defenders and finish with ease.

The same goes for Jaylen Brown, who has been scrutinized by many with his poor shooting so far this season. Brown has been relatively inefficient so far this season, yet seemed to finally have his break out game against the Mavericks when he shot 7-for-9 to go for 16 points and 5 rebounds.

Brown’s best game this season happened to the be the game where he also took zero shots from behind the arc. Brown has the athletic ability to get to the rim at will.

When he takes it strong to the hoop, there aren’t many in the league that can stop him. It also draws opposing defenders away, opening up free shots for the rest of the team.

Both Brown and Tatum are simply too talented not to take advantage of their defenders on almost every possession: they shouldn’t be settling for contesting jump shots early in the shot clock when they are talented enough to create easier shots for themselves and others.

The Celtics “death lineup” of Irving-Brown-Tatum-Hayward-Horford may very well be the starting lineup we expected them to be by April, May, and perhaps even June. However, a quarter of the way through the season, the Celtics need to start stringing together some wins and playing like the team we expected them to be and even the team they showed themselves to be at the end of last season.

A record of 11-10 is a gross underachievement for a team with this talent, and with a coach like Brad Stevens. In the meantime, pairing Horford with Baynes and continuing rolling with Smart in the starting five seems like the best short-term and long-term solution.

As of right now, it will help reestablish that defensive intensity that the Celtics have been defined by in the past. Additionally, it will make it easier on Horford on both ends of the court so come playoff time Horford will have that same presence and energy that we have seen from the perennial all-star before during the post-season.

In the long run, bringing Hayward and Brown off the bench can help them regain some confidence in their scoring ability and bring some fluidity and execution to a second unit that often becomes reluctant to move the ball. It can also help redefine their respective roles on a team – Hayward used to dominating the ball on offense and Brown accustomed to being one of the top weapons on the playoff team last year.

So far this season, this hasn’t been the Celtics team that we expected a quarter of the way through; however, it is not uncommon for a new team, introducing new players, to struggle at the beginning before eventually coming into their groove. Coach Stevens is simply too smart not to figure out how to fix this offense and get each player accustomed to a new role. However, it all begins with changes to the lineup and the rotation.