Lakers' JJ Redick just extinguished a tired Jaylen Brown narrative

Before Sunday's installment of the NBA's most iconic rivalry, a showdown between the Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics at Crypto.com Arena, JJ Redick shared his outlook on the season the visitors are having.

It's a topic broached with coaches and opposing players around the Association this year. The consensus is that, while external expectations were that this would be a gap year for Boston, the franchise's success comes as no surprise to those around the league.

"Not surprised," said JJ Redick about the Celtics being second in the Eastern Conference standings. "I think in terms of how Joe wants to play, they have enough of the right personnel."

The Lakers' bench boss also addressed the season Jaylen Brown is having while shouldering more responsibility. It's an opportunity he has long awaited. The five-time All-Star has responded by fashioning a campaign that has him in the MVP conversation.

That's not just a product of his individual success, but that he's able to elevate those around him. Like what Boston is doing despite its roster shakeup and Jayson Tatum recovering from a torn Achilles tendon, the year Brown is having matches Redick's expectations.

"I don't think anybody should be surprised at how good of a season Jaylen Brown and Payton Pritchard are having. Jaylen, in particular, [a] conference finals MVP, [Finals] MVP, and getting kind of to carry it, you know, as the number one guy every night," expressed Redick.

JJ Redick puts a tired Jaylen Brown narrative to sleep

Los Angeles's head coach also utilized his time at the podium to take down a narrative that persisted until the current campaign, when Brown's ability to make plays with his left hand rendered the jokes about his struggles to finish with that hand an outdated reference.

"He's just improved so much year to year, it's actually -- it's remarkable," said Redick. "I was watching personnel tape yesterday and went on our internal site, and [I] was looking at his drive numbers going left versus right. Everybody says he can't go left, and there's just no holes in his game."

Brown is attempting and making the most drives per game this season. He also ranks in the top six in shots converted from the mid-range, per NBA.com. His ability to sustain balancing both has consistently created quality chances for him and his teammates. It has helped the Celtics generate the second-highest offensive rating in the NBA.

"I think, starting with a player like that and then having all of the shooting and then Pritchard's ability to break down defenses in isolation, with shooting all around that," said Redick of what makes Boston's offense so potent. "And then, I think Joe is, there's a handful of coaches that I think are doing a tier-one job this year, and Joe's in that group of coaches. He's really done a phenomenal job."