Malcolm Brogdon has been a dream pickup for the Boston Celtics
By Rob Greene
What Brogdon Has Brought to the Boston Celtics
The 30-year-old has been nothing short of remarkable in his role as the sixth man running the second unit. An incredible luxury for the Celtics to have come in and be a game’s difference maker in a usual starter who can slide in and be a second option for a contender at any point.
Brogdon, through his first 20 games as a Celtic, put up just 13.9 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 3.7 assists in just 23.2 minutes with 48.7/49.4/85.7% splits. He has brought an ignition of simplicity to the game on both ends of the floor for Boston. His calming demeanour as a leader and voice in the locker room brings peace, allowing the Celtics to maintain levelheadedness through momentum swings and different stakes.
For starters, that 49% from beyond the arc through his first 20 has barely decreased. He has been among the league leaders all season, still in the top four in percentage at 45.5 now. Brogdon has not recorded less than 10 points since an unusual 1-6 New Year’s Day in Denver. Over his last 10 contests, the first-year Celtic has been unable to cool down, averaging 17.8 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 3.5 assists as a +63 and shooting a sizzling 49.2/50.9/88.5%.
Brogdon is one of the last few players in the league to have a 50/40/90 season with Steph Curry and Kyrie Irving. He and Russell Westbrook, the top candidates for Sixth Man of the Year and accustomed starters, are among the bench’s top players in both points and assists.
The Atlanta native averages 12 PPG in 24 games in his postseason career, shooting 37.6% from distance. When the Pacers were swept by Miami during round one of 2020 in the NBA bubble, Brogdon put up 21 points, 10 assists, and four rebounds.
In the Finals, the Celtics showed something was still missing. It is unlikely that the team’s core of Tatum, Brown, and Smart will face an offensive hiccup like that again. primarily with the way they took care of the ball. With their chemistry and longevity of continuity, the battle-tested trio now has the appropriate experience.
Brogdon has brought a tranquility to Boston that has allowed him to effortlessly master all the fundamentals, making life that much more uncomplicated for the defending Eastern Conference champions. Adding a secondary playmaker who not only defends and makes threes at a high level but can score at ease on all three levels