One thing that has completely shifted with the Celtics’ trade of Jaylen Brown for Paul George is that the team is able to run the same way no matter who’s on the floor. Obviously, Brown was a great player in Boston for many years, but he never really fit into the system, stylistically.
And as a result, the team would look different with Brown playing. He was more of a one-on-one player, a pick-and-roll guy, and someone who was often looking for his own shot instead of keeping the ball moving and spacing the floor.
But now, when Jayson Tatum goes to the bench, PG is doing a solid job of filling in that role and keeping the system churning. He’s not a ball-stopper at all, and is launching threes at a high volume while staying within himself. He’s not Tatum, but he doesn’t have to be either. He’s fitting in perfectly with the guys around him, and he’s doing exactly what’s needed from him.
The Celtics now have a roster full of guys who shoot, move without the ball, and don’t turn it over. These players are perfect for Joe Mazzulla’s offense, and as a result, they are able to stick to the script for 48 minutes, no matter who’s on the court.
Celtics can run Mazzulla's offense like a well-oiled machine
Boston has been dominant with and without Tatum this season because they can plug in George and keep it humming. Payton Pritchard and Derrick White know what’s needed from a point guard and can do it similarly. Neemias Queta and Mitchell Robinson are doing similar things at the center position.
And whatever combination of wings with Sam Hauser, Jordan Walsh, Baylor Scheierman, and Hugo Gonzalez is giving the team what’s needed from them. For years, we saw the team fall off a cliff when Tatum sat, and even last season, the team played much better when Brown was off the floor. It wasn’t because Brown was bad and the other players were better, but because they were able to play the way Mazzulla wanted.
That happens to be a perfect style for Tatum, but now, when he’s not out there, the bench comes in, and the team doesn’t have to adjust. This isn’t supposed to be bashing Brown or anything like that. Most teams drop off without their best player on the court, but the Celtics have done a great job to at least minimize the issue.
Their ability to run their offense and play their desired style for an entire game with whatever players Mazzulla has at his disposal is a total game-changer for the team. It raises their ceiling and floor and gives Joe a ton of flexibility in how he wants to handle games and his lineups, which is going to pay major dividends as the season goes on and they prepare for the playoffs.
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