Celtics are turning the Blazers' Anfernee Simons nightmare into a reality

Atlanta -- Saturday night at State Farm Arena, Anfernee Simons wasn't the star player going for 41 points in his hometown. He wasn't the one who finished one make shy of matching Marcus Smart's franchise record with 11 threes in a game, either. That distinction belongs to Sam Hauser. However, the latest example of the Boston Celtics' new sixth man's growth within a winning system was evident.

Simons came off the bench to generate 14 points on 5/10 shooting in the visitors' 132-106 victory vs. the Atlanta Hawks. He buried four of the eight threes he hoisted.

In his last 14 games, the eighth-year guard is averaging 16.2 points per contest. He's knocking down a scorching 44.2 percent of his 7.4 attempts from beyond the arc.

His commitment on the defensive end is a testament to a player walking the walk after arriving in Boston with an eagerness to prove he could be a winning player.

The Celtics applaud Anfernee Simons' evolution

After the former first-round pick erupted for 39 points, starring in Boston's 119-114 win over the Miami Heat two days before beating Atlanta, Jaylen Brown beamed about his new teammates' growth and willingness to sacrifice.

"He's probably more talented than the role that he's placed in. I think that's kind of obvious. But I have [a] hell of respect for him to come out, play winning basketball, and do what the team needs to do," said Brown.

The Portland Trail Blazers were ready to move on from Simons over the summer. They didn't believe this type of maturation would occur within their infrastructure. They might be right. However, that's more of an indictment of them.

The Trail Blazers weren't just willing to trade the player who had been their primary offensive option the last two seasons. They did so for Jrue Holiday, who, at 35, has three years and $104 million left on his contract. The latter is a leader who brings a championship pedigree. He is an excellent addition to a young locker room. However, it feels like a safe bet to believe they'd prefer to have the version of Simons, 26, that the Celtics have helped unlock. That Holiday has only appeared in 15 games to this point adds to that assertion.

What Portland knew about Simons is something Jaylen Brown is gaining even more of an appreciation for now that the two are teammates.

"Yeah, that boy nice," voiced Brown after Boston's victory in Atlanta. "You know, I've seen him, even since he's gotten here. I knew he was good when he got here, but he's even better than I thought he was. Like, he could really score the ball. He's really talented, and then, he has made a conscious effort to play winning basketball. So that makes it all the better.

"You know, certain guys around the league, you know, can score the ball or whatever the case may be, but like here, we talk about being that two-way player. Here, we talk about playing winning basketball. So, it's much harder to do that than it is to go somewhere else and play losing basketball and put up 20 points or 30 points or whatever. So I give him all the respect in the world. He's adjusted well, and he seems like he's finding his footing. He looks good. You know, he's probably better than the role that he's in -- he's more talented. And he's taking the next steps and the next stages. So it has been good. I've been enjoying watching him."

Brown's respect for the work Simons has put in on both sides of the ball, what it might look like if Jayson Tatum gets to share the floor with the Celtics' new sixth man, and his growth within his new environment make for a compelling case to keep him in Boston beyond the trade deadline.