Boston Celtics: The 5 most important players during a playoff series

Jaylen Brown

After signing a four-year, $115 million contract extension over the summer, Brown’s level of progression is exactly on pace to what has been expected of him this season. Despite dealing with some injuries, Brown, who is having a career year this season, has sometimes been overlooked due to the emerging stardom of his teammate in Tatum.

This season, Brown has started at least 50 games for the second time in his young career and has averaged 20.4 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 2.2 assists per game while shooting 49 percent from the field and 38 percent on his 3-point shot attempts. It has become more noticeable this season that Brown is extremely calm, cool, and collective when he is in possession of the ball and driving into the paint.

The biggest difference from Brown this season, despite increased playing time, is his ability to efficiently use his left hand to finish and score around the basket. While Brown is able to execute it confidently and makes it look easy in doing so, finishing with your off-hand is something that is extremely hard for players to do.

Brown has increased his level of defensive production and overall intensity this season to heights we have never seen from him yet throughout his career. While showing to be a better on-ball defender, Brown can effectively match up and guard both the point and shooting guard positions. Brown is smart and studies his opponents during mid-play and it helps him on the defensive end.

As the ceiling is extremely high for Brown, there is still plenty of time for him to grow and develop into a more prominent two-way player. Brown, who is only 23 years old, is in the perfect position to one day lead the Boston Celtics to success, as the future is looking to be extremely bright in Boston for years to come.