Jaylen Brown’s production has skyrocketed and yet, that hasn’t mattered to some fans. Numbers don’t lie, see for yourself.
I mean come on, can we give Jaylen Brown any time or love? Sometimes I wonder if fans realize how much depth the Boston Celtics actually have. The guy started the season in a completely different role than where he was last year and struggled earlier on this season due to a lingering back injury. Brown went from being praised for his stellar play throughout the Celtics’ postseason campaign, to being put on the trade block by many armchair-GM’s.
As a starter this season, Brown has been a shell of his former self and even looks fatigued at times. Early on in the year as he struggled in his usual role, Brown was moved to the bench. Now, when he comes off the bench the narrative is different. Here are Brown’s splits:
As a Starter (22 games): 28 mins/game
11.8 points, 4.0 rebounds, 1.2 assists
While Shooting: 41.5 FG%, 26.1 FT%, 63.3 FT%
Off-the-bench (23 games): 24.1 mins/game
13 ppg, 4.5 rebounds & 1.2 assists
While Shooting: 48.4 FG%, 41.3 3PT%, 70.7 FT%
This isn’t the first time Brad Stevens has tweaked the starting lineup before. We saw this when he decided to take out Gordon Hayward and replace him with Marcus Smart, and we actually witnessed a huge improvement from Hayward. And let’s be real, the second unit of Rozier, Brown, Hayward, Aron Baynes & Robert Williams could be devastating and shouldn’t be taken for granted.
However, as the Celtics have started to pick up their play, the same can be said about Brown. In the last 15 Games, Brown has put up some solid numbers, so I put them side by side with his production back in November to highlight his recent production:
The month of November (12 Games): 27.5 mins/game
11.3 ppg, 4.1 rebounds & 0.9 assists
While Shooting: 42% FG, 21.3% 3PT & 62.5% FT
Last 15 games: 25.4 mins/game
14.5 points, 4.6 rebounds & 1.3 assists
While Shooting: 50% FG, 46.2% 3PT & 74.5% FT
Although Brown has not been playing some of his best basketball since the 2018 playoffs, over the past few weeks he has greatly improved. As we approach the trade deadline, it’s inevitable to see his name followed by the word, “trade”, but the Celtics really should hold on to him and let him develop as this championship run continues. Lets recap: He’s really good and for fans who want him gone… I think you might benefit from watching him play.