Boston Celtics: How Jaylen Brown’s play directly impacts a game’s outcome

While basketball is in fact a team sport, oftentimes a single player can have a significant impact on a game’s outcome. As for the Boston Celtics, Jaylen Brown has proven vital in deciding the team’s fate in contests during the 2019-20 campaign.

The 2019-20 season has — for the most part — been kind to the Boston Celtics. Currently, they place fourth in the Eastern Conference with a record of 28-14. They appear primed to have three players participate in Chicago’s All-Star game this February and, as of January 20th, are listed as the sixth best team in the NBA, according to the New York Times’ Power Rankings.

In comparison to last season’s debacle, this year is a true breath of fresh air for the Celtics’ fan base, front office and players alike. There’s a certain feel currently surrounding this franchise that has many clamoring about the success Boston could potentially have come playoff time.

When their main rotation is healthy, the Boston Celtics appear to be as good as any unit the Association has to offer. This claim was on full display Monday when the shamrocks throttled the Los Angeles Lakers to the tune of 139-107.

The team was seemingly firing on all cylinders and, in turn, Kemba Walker registered his first career victory against LeBron James (1-28 record overall).

It was an all-around team effort that lead Boston to this blowout victory, but it must be stated that there were a couple of main-contributors.

Jaylen Brown was one of them.

While he didn’t lead the team in scoring (Jayson Tatum did with 27 points) or rebounding (Enes Kanter was a menace with 11 boards), Brown’s overall output was a key to the C’s dominance.

That has been a common theme all season. While the combined effort of the Celtics’ stars and second unit has usually keyed the team to victory this season, there is a unique stat to Brown that shows just how valuable he has been day in and day out.

When Brown plays well, the Boston Celtics soar. When he doesn’t, they sputter. No player has a more varied stat-line in wins and in losses than the fourth-year wing.

In the team’s 28 victories, the 23-year-old finds himself averaging an impressive 22.6 points, 6.5 rebounds and 2.6 assists on 52.9% shooting from the field and 40.5% shooting from deep.

However, when the team loses, Brown finds himself averaging just 14.8 points, 1.8 assists and three turnovers a game on a not so spectacular 39.7% shooting from the field and 36.1% shooting from 3.

When viewing these stats, it’s almost like you’re looking at log lines from two different players. While one may have inferred based solely on the eye test that Jaylen Brown’s level of play is vital to the Celtics’ success, these numbers clearly back up this idea.

The young wing has taken a huge leap in year four of his NBA career, as he is averaging a fantastic 20 points, 6.8 rebounds and 1.2 steals per game on 49% shooting from the field and 39% shooting from deep.

However, if the Boston Celtics want to keep their winning ways alive, it is apparent that they need Brown at his best. He has proven to be more than just a complimentary player to Walker and Tatum in 2019-20 but, rather, a true partner and one of the team’s best players.

He has put forth an All-Star worthy season so far and, if the C’s wish to reach their full potential in in 2020, Brown needs to be at his best.