Boston Celtics: Boston media just might drive Jays away

The Boston Celtics have struggled, but is it the fault of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown?

Not to beat a dead horse, but the Boston Celtics have struggled badly this season. Even with two All-Star–if not All-NBA caliber players–an All-Defensive 1st-team guard, and another former All-Star at the point.

There are plenty of reasons why this team has struggled, whether it be leading the NBA in games missed due to health-and-safety protocols, lack of defense, or being seventh-highest in isolation frequency, yet 25th in efficiency.

This team has lots of issues, some do arise from the play of Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum, but not all. It should be very, very clear that this team is not sitting at 25-26 and #8-seed in the east because of our two stars.

This team has possibly a league-worst bench, their max-contract point guard has no confidence and frankly looks like a shell of his former self. The team overall, Jays included, has taken a step back (no pun intended) on defense. The team largely has no identity, offensively or defensively nothing has clicked.

They are a different team when they move the ball, being 15-3 when they get at least 25 assists, but just 2-12 when they amass 20 or less. Many blame both Brown and Tatum for the lack of movement, both having a higher iso-frequency than years prior. A lot of these issues can boil down to the lack of playmaking on the roster.

While Brown and Tatum especially have shown a willingness to pass and play-make, the team has virtually no consistent scoring options outside of themselves. That is largely the fault of general manager, Danny Ainge.

Ainge, in my opinion, hasn’t made the moves to launch this team to contention. The Fournier deal was good, helps in the short-term, and possibly the long-term if he decides to re-sign. However, it felt like a panic deal, like maybe there was a bigger picture deal on the table, that fell through and Fournier was all they could get from the fire sale.

Hopefully, a larger deal comes in the off-season, but for now, let’s stop all the finger-pointing. The knee-jerk reactions to every single game are getting old at this point. People praise the Jays one game and say “trade’em” in the next. Again, while this team has some issues that stem from the Jays, it’s as if people forget the past.

It is NOT time for the Boston Celtics to give up on Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown

This team has been led by these two players, both 24 or younger, and have made not one, but two Eastern Conference finals in the last three years. They are yet to lose before the second-round as teammates. There was lots of drama in 2018 with the Kyrie-saga, but this is a new type of adversity that they need to figure out, TOGETHER.

This is no, “where do I rank on the totem pole?” issue, or a matter of chemistry, it’s largely a lack of fluidity, consistency, and depth. There aren’t enough guys to take the scoring, and playmaking load off of the Jays. Sorry to say it, but the bottom half of this team is no better than a G-league roster.

With adversity comes a breakthrough, let them figure it out, they need this struggle to become the players we want them to be, that not everything is spoon-fed, that not everyone gets a deep roster to help them along the way. It will largely determine if they have what it takes to truly lead a team to the highest level if they can keep their cool when things get rough…

But trading them?

Is that what we do? We don’t like what we see in some games from two excellent, All-NBA caliber, modern-prototypical forwards, who happen to be under the age of 25, and we trade them? Have we become so spoiled that in the face of adversity, through a weird, unconventional season, that we just give up? We just give up on what many would consider a top-3 young core, because after 3 seasons of playoff success, and multiple near-finals trips, the team struggles with roster changes in a COVID-ridden season?

Media surrounding the Boston Celtics are eventually going to be the reason the Jays leave if they do:

The snap reactions are honestly appalling. They can, and will figure it out, but what we don’t need is people trying to tear them at the seam during the process. We don’t need people comparing them, saying one is better than the other all the time.

We don’t need Boston Media telling them they won’t be good enough, it’s the wrong type of fuel. It’s not a matter of weak-mindedness, it’s a matter of why would they want to be here if no one wants them?

Take this tweet from Gary Tanguay, of WEEI as an example:

"Tatum’s player option is in 2025. This means in two years he forces his way out town – that’s the NBA. He can take a hike as far as I am concerned."

Here’s another from Tanguay:

"Tatum and Bradley Beal end up in Miami or LA or some place that ain’t Boston or Washington – you watch. The Celts are done with this group. Start over Danny."

And another:

"It is obvious that Tatum does not want to here."

These are the type of parasitic comments that the Boston Celtics and the Jays in specific don’t need. How overindulgent has Boston Media become, that even with so much success in just the last few years, they are calling for a practical rebuild?

The “rebuild” is already on the team! They have not one, but two modern wings, who can shot create, and defend at a high level–usually. These are the type of players any team would be lucky to be building around, and we have them, and people want them gone. Sure, maybe they do need a character-check, a kick-from-behind to get them fired up. It is just the reality we live in, relying on two very young players to lead a franchise.

Greatness does not come right away, many don’t win championships until 6-7+ years into their career as top options. These two guys have come closer than most can dream of, and both were basically just able to legally buy alcohol.

We are yet to see the best basketball from both of these young players, so while they work it out, can we at least drop the spoiled attitude and back them along the way?