Boston Celtics: 5 New Year’s resolutions for 2019
By Joe Hagen
5. Get Jaylen Brown more involved in the offense
Last season, Jaylen Brown was perhaps the Celtics’ second-most valuable player after Kyrie Irving went out with a season-ending injury in March. In the postseason, Brown proved his worth to the team. He was second only to Marcus Smart in terms of one-on-one defense, only add a few inches in height and wingspan. He was a sniper capable of stretching the floor for the entire offense, and the Celtics’ single most relentless attacker of the paint.
Sure, there are plenty of areas to Jaylen’s game that are in dire need of some shoring up. His free throw numbers are beyond inexcusable for a capable outside shooter, his defense seems to have taken a step back when the offensive game is not clicking, and he’s really struggled in general to stand out amidst a roster crowded with high-end talent.
However, Jaylen Brown remains an ideal player next to Kyrie Irving in the backcourt and has the ability to defensively switch across a multitude of positions. He has the potential to play a very similar role for the Celtics that Klay Thompson plays for Golden State. He will never be able to knock shots down at the same clip Thompson can, but he has the same if not higher defensive ceiling, is still a very capable shooter, and has much more potential then Thompson ever did as a slasher and finisher at the rim.
It is when Brown is forced to dribble the ball around and create looks for himself on the floor that he runs into trouble. To optimize Jaylen Brown’s game, he needs a playmaker on the floor with him to create looks and open up the floor, whether that be by attacking the paint and kicking out for an outside shot, or drawing defenders from the paint for Brown to attack.
The Celtics should have no shortage of capable playmakers. Kyrie Irving can be that guy. Marcus Smart can be that guy. Gordon Hayward can be that guy. Even Al Horford can play that role. This team is at its best when Jaylen Brown is engaged and contributing, and it is the job of the playmakers and ball-handlers to find him.