It's official Boston Celtics fans: Jaylen Brown's tenure with the Philadelphia 76ers is officially underway! Well, sort of. Preseason doesn't count for anything, but it does show a glimpse of what could be to come this season. Brown got his chance to show out for the Sixers, and in one half of basketball, he did not disappoint.
In only one half, Brown put up 22 points to go on eight-for-13 shooting to go with three threes and no turnovers. It's fair to say that he put on a show for Sixers fans, reminding everyone how good he is when he is the focal point.
That's why this has been painful for the Celtics fanbase as a whole to see Brown go. He rose up to become this player, and everyone got to see just how good he is individually when he is the top option.
To see him do that in a Sixers uniform is painful because it's also another extension of the player who rose up to become a legitimate MVP Candidate for a team that wildly surpassed expectations. Yeah, he even showed some warts along the way, but that comes with the deluxe package of Jaylen Brown.
So what? Is this confirmation that Brad Stevens made a franchise-altering mistake on this one? Well, the fat lady definitely hasn't sung on that front. Especially when knowing the circumstances for this particular game.
Brown won't be the focal point for Philadelphia
Brown showed out for Philadelphia tonight, but at the same time, this was the perfect setting for him to do so. Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, and LeBron James all sat tonight. In other words, Philly's three most ball-dominant players weren't playing, giving Brown the runway to look like the guy that made five All-Star teams in Boston.
But that's not going to be how the season goes. He's going to be firmly behind them in pecking order, and that is likely going to be a problem. Nights like tonight show how good Brown can be when he's at his best, and the only way he can do that is if he has the ball in his hands. He does not do well when he doesn't have that.
Playing next to VJ Edgecobe is easy because Brown will have the usage edge on him plus he takes the pressure off. But when the 76ers are at full capacity, he's not going to have the same chances to prove himself.
Brown is not an adaptable player. He's at his best when he gets among the most touches, and that likely won't happen with the Sixers. Paul George didn't, and look what happened.
Philadelphia was definitely not stupid to go after Brown, and he proved the kind of talent they got in only one half of basketball against the reigning champs. However, they better be aware of the challenge when they try to put him around their three other best players. Because when Brown is surrounded by that much ball-dominant talent, he's faltered.
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