Analysis of Celtics Games, '21-'22 Season

[lovegtm]

Celtics made 6 fewer 3-pointers than the Mavs in the same # of 3PA.
Mavs 15-37 40%
Celts 9-37 24%

The Celtics rank 20th in 3pt% to the Mavs 22nd on the season, so both are below average.

To emphasize the point further yesterday, the C's ballhandlers/wings: Tatum, Brown, Smart, Grant & White not only shot 3s like crap they shot 2s like garbage.

Meanwhile, the Mavs main ballhandlers/wings: Luka, DFS, Dinwiddie & Brunson were 13-27 from 3

The C's lose a game like this by double digits earlier this season, their defense kept them around. PP didn't really hurt them much, more like Grant/White did help off the bench at all

Jaylen Brown has been in a shooting slump since the All-Star break.

You can shoot 25% on 3s against Detroit and win by double-digits. If it happens against Dallas, going to be tough to win.

I thought the team played really good defense in this one for the most part, and our perceptions are colored by the fact that 3s didn't fall.

That said...3s fall more if you have better shooters, and I hope that's the main (only?) focus this summer.

On yet the other hand, Jaylen Brown came into this season shooting 39% on his prior 750 attempts, and now is at 34% for the year. Tatum was a 39% shooter on 1500 career attempts, and is at 34%. Who knows what happened (new ball?), but that's the biggest problem for the team this year.

 

[joe dokes]

It’s really tough having both Smart and White out there together in a similar way as Smart and Schroder weren’t working together. These two are so redundant. Not having shooters on the floor are going to kill us come playoff time.

There may be some surface similarities in terms of long-range shooting, but I think White is miles better than Schroeder in keeping the offense moving. In that sense, I think he and Smart are reasonably well-aligned.

 

[cardiacs]

I wonder if playing in front of KG made them tight? This just looked like the kind of game we would have expected to see in December.

Did you guys see the pre-game footage of KG greeting the active players? Everyone looked a bit intimidated to me, except maybe Marcus but especially TL

 

[GB5]

And most glaringly with all they have corrected in two months, they remain brutal in close games.

 

[lexrageorge]

Yeah it's pretty obvious to all that White >>>> Schroeder when it comes to the fit on this team. One bad shooting game doesn't change that.

And most glaringly with all they have corrected in two months, they remain brutal in close games.

Since January 1st, close losses to Spurs, Knicks, Portland, Pistons, and Mavs, with only the last 2 since February 1st.

Close wins since 1/1: Magic, Pacers, Bulls, Hornets, Denver, Hawks, Nets, with the last 4 since 2/1.

Record since 1/1: 7-5
Record since 2/1: 4-2

The problem with looking at record since 1/1 is that the win column includes 2 overtime wins against the Magic and Pacers.

 

[benhogan]

Brown had some bad turnovers, I think, too if I recall correctly. He’s been my favorite player for years as I really like his game, but aside from some really magnificent games this hasn’t been an awesome season for him.

JB didn't make the All-Star team (or named a sub when a few dropped out). It was a fair assessment.
New system/expanded role may have disrupted his improving stat line. I wouldn't be shocked to see him return to his All-Star form next season (and would bet on that)

It's a tribute to their D (& IME) that the Celtics have played so well with both Brown/Tatum shooting 3s so poorly this season.

Tatum 39. 6% before this season // 33.7% this season
Brown 37.8% before this season // 34% this season

That's a pretty significant dip for both players over 60 games this season.

The good news is maybe we get some end-of-the-season bump from either/both that takes them back to their true 3pt shooting ability.

 

[Jimbodandy]

There may be some surface similarities in terms of long-range shooting, but I think White is miles better than Schroeder in keeping the offense moving. In that sense, I think he and Smart are reasonably well-aligned.

Yeah White's helping the defense also, which DS never did. His brickwork is no fun however.

 

[bakahump]

Any thoughts on the Non Foul Call on Luka? Ok so he hit the fingertips (which gets called 8/10 times). But Didnt he land in Tatums Landing space as well?

 

[the moops]

Any thoughts on the Non Foul Call on Luka? Ok so he hit the fingertips (which gets called 8/10 times). But Didnt he land in Tatums Landing space as well?

Smart was the shooter. Looked like Luka didn't land anywhere in his landing space.

 

[bakahump]

Your right I am conflating the Tatum 3 at the very end and the Smart Luka Non Foul.

 

[DGreenwood]

Any thoughts on the Non Foul Call on Luka? Ok so he hit the fingertips (which gets called 8/10 times). But Didnt he land in Tatums Landing space as well?

I think it's not a foul by rule but it's called a foul all the time, which makes the situation frustrating.

 

[DeJesus Built My Hotrod]

Its actually not a foul if you refer to the rulebook.

Incidental contact with the hand against an offensive player shall be ignored if it affects John Goble's dinner reservations.

 

[BillLeesJumpShot]

Its actually not a foul if you refer to the rulebook.

Oh, SOSH. How do I love thee, let me count the ways.

 

[128]

View: https://twitter.com/wojespn/status/1503840922223755272

 

[PedroKsBambino]

I think it's not a foul by rule but it's called a foul all the time, which makes the situation frustrating.

Yes, I think the overall problem is they called two marginal technicals on Celtics, let the more egregious technical on Mavs become a 'delay of game', and then reversed a call that stands 3/4 of the time. But the call is not so much wrong by the book as it is problematic up against an uneven and unbalanced second half of officiating overall. As noted above, the specific call on the Smart three is a pretty reasonable interpretation of the rule in the book in the abstract...not definite as there was more contact than the 'high five' but also not clearly anything below the wrist or sooner.

That's life in the NBA. The officiating determined the winner of this game, but also it was not so bad that Celts shouldn't have been able to get the W anyway if that makes sense?

 

[Auger34]

Yes, I think the overall problem is they called two marginal technicals on Celtics, let the more egregious technical on Mavs become a 'delay of game', and then reversed a call that stands 3/4 of the time. But the call is not so much wrong by the book as it is problematic up against an uneven and unbalanced second half of officiating overall. As noted above, the specific call on the Smart three is a pretty reasonable interpretation of the rule in the book in the abstract...not definite as there was more contact than the 'high five' but also not clearly anything below the wrist or sooner.

That's life in the NBA. The officiating determined the winner of this game, but also it was not so bad that Celts shouldn't have been able to get the W anyway if that makes sense?

I think it was also made worse by the fact that it was reviewed and overturned.

Im not saying that Dave Pasch and Hubie Brown are fanatical rules experts or the arbiter of the game but if there’s a review going on and both announcers on a nationally televised game immediately go “oh yeah, that’s a foul” and wonder aloud multiple times “I wonder what’s taking so long with this review, it seems pretty clear it will stand” then there’s just no way that the call should be overturned. Especially since all year we’ve seen calls that seemed like they should be overturned not overturned due to “no clear and obvious evidence”

 

[Deathofthebambino]

I think it's not a foul by rule but it's called a foul all the time, which makes the situation frustrating.

I was sitting next to a guy at the game against Dallas (he's massively wealthy, basically retired and lives in my town, but his passion and goal is to become a D1 NCAA basketball ref, yes, odd, he currently does college and high school games). He has season tix to the C's and attends a ton of games. When they showed it on replay in the Garden, he immediately said "It'll get overturned, it's not a foul." I asked him why and he said, by rule, if you make contact with a shooter's hand after the release, and the contact is at or above the palm, it's not a foul. He even used his hands to show me with his hands using the action of releasing the ball, basically when you release the ball, the part of your hand that isn't moving at the wrist area would be a foul, and the part that continues forward ie. flops forward, wouldn't be a foul. He even said if the call were made correctly, Smart should have gotten hit with an offensive foul for kicking his leg out (which seemed pretty clear on replay). He also said it's called most of the time, but because it was slowed down and challenged, he thought it should have been overturned.

 

[Cesar Crespo]

I don't know how I didn't notice this before, but this is pretty bad.
Celtics 3 point %
1. Grant Williams .423 on 220 attempts
2. Payton Pritchard .371 on 170 attempts
3. Jaylen Brown .340 on 391 attempts
4. Jayson Tatum .337 on 558 attempts.

Brown and Tatum are 3rd and 4th on the team in 3 point % at .340 and .337 respectively.

Only 2 players are shooting above league average of .351. This team would be deadly if Brown and Tatum were closer to their career levels.

 

[Cesar Crespo]

Brown would have 15 more 3s (at .376), Tatum would have 33 more 3s (at .396). Horford would have 11 more (at .364)

That's another 177 points in 69 games. Or 2.6 points a game. That would give the C's a +8.2, which would be best in the league. The Nuggets are at +2.6, 11th in the league.

It would put the C's 3% at .366, tied for 4th in the NBA.

 

[Fishy1]

Brown would have 15 more 3s (at .376), Tatum would have 33 more 3s (at .396). Horford would have 11 more (at .364)

That's another 177 points in 69 games. Or 2.6 points a game. That would give the C's a +8.2, which would be best in the league. The Nuggets are at +2.6, 11th in the league.

It would put the C's 3% at .366, tied for 4th in the NBA.

I've been thinking the same thing. Pretty astonishing every time I run these numbers in my head. Thanks for spelling it out.

Doesn't help that Horford, Pritchard, Nesmith and White have all been shooting below career norms, even if Richardson and Grants career-best shooting offset some of that worse shooting.

 

[Cesar Crespo]

I've been thinking the same thing. Pretty astonishing every time I run these numbers in my head. Thanks for spelling it out.

Doesn't help that Horford, Pritchard, Nesmith and White have all been shooting below career norms, even if Richardson and Grants career-best shooting offset some of that worse shooting.

I don't think PP or Nesmith's career norms have been established yet. But if you go by last year's numbers, PP would have 6 more 3s in his 170 attempts (at .411). Nesmith would have 12 more 3s in his 95 (.370). White would have 6 more in his 54 attempts (at .359)

I'd guess PP is a bit better than .371 but I'm not sure he's quite as good as .411. Nesmith and White should be considerably better but some of it is probably just SS too.

To be less generous than .366, if the team was league average at .351, they would have 20 more 3s and 60 more points. They have played 69 games, so that's about an extra 3 pointer every 3 1/2 games. Every 1% is about 2.5 extra 3s made.

 

[Fishy1]

I don't think PP or Nesmith's career norms have been established yet. But if you go by last year's numbers, PP would have 6 more 3s in his 170 attempts (at .411). Nesmith would have 12 more 3s in his 95 (.370). White would have 6 more in his 54 attempts (at .359)

I'd guess PP is a bit better than .371 but I'm not sure he's quite as good as .411. Nesmith and White should be considerably better but some of it is probably just SS too.

To be less generous than .366, if the team was league average at .351, they would have 20 more 3s and 60 more points. They have played 69 games, so that's about an extra 3 pointer every 3 1/2 games. Every 1% is about 2.5 extra 3s made.

Sure, and I realize their career norms are not established - but it's not too uncommon for a team to have all of their shooters above their norms because there's so much variance in three point shooting.. I remember that happened with the Jazz a couple years ago. The Celtics are very nearly dealing with the reverse.

Anyways, all I'm getting at is the three point struggles seem to go beyond Tatum and Brown.

 

[Everetts Dinosaurs]

Doesn't help that Horford, Pritchard, Nesmith and White have all been shooting below career norms, even if Richardson and Grants career-best shooting offset some of that worse shooting.

At what point is there something systemic and you start looking at personnel changes among assistant coaches? It's terrible across the board...

 

[128]

At what point is there something systemic and you start looking at personnel changes among assistant coaches? It's terrible across the board...

These shooting problems predate this coaching staff. We were bemoaning the C's lack of 3-point shooting last season (and the season before that), too.

 

[Cesar Crespo]

These shooting problems predate this coaching staff. We were bemoaning the C's lack of 3-point shooting last season (and the season before that), too.

Yeah, but the difference this year is at the top. The role players have been an issue forever.
Last year, the C's were 10th
Season before that, 13th.
This year, they are 23rd. If Tatum and Brown were at previous levels, we'd be complaining but the C"s would be in the top half of the league.

Tatum and Brown's struggles don't predate the coaching staff, in other words. I doubt it's the coaching staff and think it's as simple as variance but who knows. I'd argue it's personal and a lack of shooters around the Jays.

 

[DeJesus Built My Hotrod]

At what point is there something systemic and you start looking at personnel changes among assistant coaches? It's terrible across the board...

Imo its a function of roster construction and then you throw in the variance that @Fishy1 references. It feels like Ainge/Stevens simply haven't prioritized shooting in their roster building moves and maybe it was wise because defense matters. Finally, I suspect a lot of these players do the bulk of their shooting work with personal trainers so I am not sure the coaching staff - which is effectively all new this season - has much sway over mechanics etc but that's just my outsider speculation.

 

[128]

Imo its a function of roster construction and then you throw in the variance that @Fishy1 references. It feels like Ainge/Stevens simply haven't prioritized shooting in their roster building moves and maybe it was wise because defense matters.

Yeah, and the one time the C's decision-makers clearly made shooting a priority, with the selection of Nesmith, they ended up with a guy who to date has been horribly inaccurate from 3-point range.

It's worth noting that there are several potentially good shooters at the end of the bench. All are defensive liabilities, though, and we're not likely to see them play much, barring injuries to the rotation guys.

 

[Cesar Crespo]

Jaylen Brown has been all over the place for his career.
.341
.395
.344
.382
.397
.340

He's just as likely to hit 34% of his 3s as he is 38%+. Tatum has been all over the place too but his career low coming in was .373 which is still pretty good.

Variance is real. Tatum and Brown also account for 37% of all the C's 3 point attempts. Even if just Tatum was at his career average coming into the year, the C's are at .356 from 3, or 12th in the league. Right where they were the last 2 seasons.

 

[HomeRunBaker]

Sure, and I realize their career norms are not established - but it's not too uncommon for a team to have all of their shooters above their norms because there's so much variance in three point shooting.. I remember that happened with the Jazz a couple years ago. The Celtics are very nearly dealing with the reverse.

Anyways, all I'm getting at is the three point struggles seem to go beyond Tatum and Brown.

Shooting and specifically 3-point shooting is about rhythm. Without having a true distributor to allow the shooter to be in his comfort zone it is likely that this is why Tatum and Jaylen’s rhythm is off (Coincidence that White took a dip since arriving?). This is also a factor imo of why Grant has improved with his role being more specific than it ever has.

Variance is real but when you dig deeper what is it that causes added variance? It’s like the poker player who is running bad and attributing it to variance. Well no, the added variance is bc you’re playing differently (shittier?) bc you’re losing.

 

[shoelace]

Shooting and specifically 3-point shooting is about rhythm. Without having a true distributor to allow the shooter to be in his comfort zone it is likely that this is why Tatum and Jaylen’s rhythm is off (Coincidence that White took a dip since arriving?). This is also a factor imo of why Grant has improved with his role being more specific than it ever has.

Variance is real but when you dig deeper what is it that causes added variance? It’s like the poker player who is running bad and attributing it to variance. Well no, the added variance is bc you’re playing differently (shittier?) bc you’re losing.

Compared to his two previous All-Star seasons, he's shooting worse on open and wide-open threes, he's also shooting worse on stepbacks and pullups and basically every 3 pointer he generates on his own. Here's the NBA.com shooting data. So, I'm not sure we can pin this on the "Marcus Smart isn't a point guard" thing.

2019-2020:

Closest defender:

4-6 feet: 41%
6+ feet: 46.2%

Pullup 3s: 47.1%
Stepback 3s: 42.7%

2020-2021:

Closest defender:

4-6 feet: 38.2%
6+ feet: 52.4%

Pullup 3s: 39.8%
Stepback 3s: 38.3%

2021-22:

Closest defender:
4-6 feet: 34.3%
6+ feet: 38%

Pullup 3s: 35.6%
Stepback 3s: 37%

 

[dhellers]

Yeah, but the difference this year is at the top. The role players have been an issue forever.
Last year, the C's were 10th
Season before that, 13th.
This year, they are 23rd. If Tatum and Brown were at previous levels, we'd be complaining but the C"s would be in the top half of the league.

Tatum and Brown's struggles don't predate the coaching staff, in other words. I doubt it's the coaching staff and think it's as simple as variance but who knows. I'd argue it's personal and a lack of shooters around the Jays.

For Jalyen, I have to wonder if he has nagging injuries that are throwing him off. I think of what he was doing in the fall of 2020, when he was the second coming of George Gervin -- basically hitting shots from everywhere. And then he messes up his ankle?. He hasn't been the same scoring threat since; and "since" he has suffered several injuries.

It is sad; if he was close to his fall 2020 performance, this would team would be a true contender. If he maintains his current streaky ways, perhaps we can hope that PP and GW get hot and stay hot from 3 point land (to make Ds pay for doubling JT).

Is "Hope" the worst of what was in Pandora's box? https://reasonandmeaning.com/2017/03/11/hope-and-pandoras-box/

 

[RorschachsMask]

For Jalyen, I have to wonder if he has nagging injuries that are throwing him off. I think of what he was doing in the fall of 2020, when he was the second coming of George Gervin -- basically hitting shots from everywhere. And then he messes up his ankle?. He hasn't been the same scoring threat since; and "since" he has suffered several injuries.

It is sad; if he was close to his fall 2020 performance, this would team would be a true contender. If he maintains his current streaky ways, perhaps we can hope that PP and GW get hot and stay hot from 3 point land (to make Ds pay for doubling JT).

Is "Hope" the worst of what was in Pandora's box? https://reasonandmeaning.com/2017/03/11/hope-and-pandoras-box/

Injuries play a part, for sure. But that run in late 2020 was just an unsustainable burner, he was shooting like 75% from midrange through 10-15 games. Jaylen is just a really jump shot dependent guy, and when it’s off, he struggles to score against set defenses.

 

[bakahump]

Right. He is murder in transition and if the J is on he can be a solid 2nd scoring threat in the halfcourt. But when its not his drives in the half court end up causing turnovers and bad shots (and no foul calls). Especially with 3 mins or less to play.

 

[Fishy1]

Shooting and specifically 3-point shooting is about rhythm. Without having a true distributor to allow the shooter to be in his comfort zone it is likely that this is why Tatum and Jaylen’s rhythm is off (Coincidence that White took a dip since arriving?). This is also a factor imo of why Grant has improved with his role being more specific than it ever has.

Variance is real but when you dig deeper what is it that causes added variance? It’s like the poker player who is running bad and attributing it to variance. Well no, the added variance is bc you’re playing differently (shittier?) bc you’re losing.

My post was certainly simplistic, and I really don't disagree with any of this. I do disagree with these single-variable explanations. I don't want to explain away their shooting with luck, and I don't want to account for all of it with rhythm either. Obviously Taking a shot in rhythm is much preferred to not. And guys sometimes spend entire seasons out of rhythm regardless of who is passing them the ball. Regardless, I don't think we can explain all of the bad shooting because they weren't getting passes delivered where they needed them. Smart is not a bad passer. Neither is Derrick White. In fact the stats have consistently shown that both Jays have historically shot better with Marcus on the floor.

 

[Cesar Crespo]

My post was certainly simplistic, and I really don't disagree with any of this. I do disagree with these single-variable explanations. I don't want to explain away their shooting with luck, and I don't want to account for all of it with rhythm either. Obviously Taking a shot in rhythm is much preferred to not. And guys sometimes spend entire seasons out of rhythm regardless of who is passing them the ball. Regardless, I don't think we can explain all of the bad shooting because they weren't getting passes delivered where they needed them. Smart is not a bad passer. Neither is Derrick White. In fact the stats have consistently shown that both Jays have historically shot better with Marcus on the floor.

It's definitely not just one thing. Luck is a part of it. Injuries/fatigue another part. Plus, every other year, the C's have had a couple other pretty good shooters who put up decent volume. They had KI, Morris, Rozier, Kemba, Hayward, good Horford. Fournier for a handful of games.

They don't really have that now. They have Tatum and Brown. (7.6 3PA/G, 7.1 3PA/G). Smart is 3rd in the team at 4.8 3PA/G. Horford is 4th at 4.0. White would be 4th at 4.4 if he qualified. Team was 10th in attempts.
Last year, Brown was 3rd at 7.1. Smart was 4th at 5.9. Fournier averaged 5.9 for his brief time as well. (Kemba 8.2, Tatum 7.6) Team was 10th in attempts.

In 19/20, Smart was 3rd at 6.6. Brown was 4th at 5.9. Hayward 5th at 4.3. (Kemba 8.4, Tatum 7.1) Team was 13th in attempts.
In 18/19, Tatum and Brown were more role players. KI led the team at 6.5 Morris 2nd at 5.2, Smart and Rozier tied for 3rd at 4.3. Seems low but C's were 7th in attempts that year.

They lack the 3rd guy. Beasley or Duncan would have been nice in that regard. They don't really fit in defensively with what the C's are doing though. And where 3&D guys are expensive and 3 point shooting is at a premium, it's probably a smart strategy to go with the 3&D guy over the 3&D guy.

 

[HomeRunBaker]

My post was certainly simplistic, and I really don't disagree with any of this. I do disagree with these single-variable explanations. I don't want to explain away their shooting with luck, and I don't want to account for all of it with rhythm either. Obviously Taking a shot in rhythm is much preferred to not. And guys sometimes spend entire seasons out of rhythm regardless of who is passing them the ball. Regardless, I don't think we can explain all of the bad shooting because they weren't getting passes delivered where they needed them. Smart is not a bad passer. Neither is Derrick White. In fact the stats have consistently shown that both Jays have historically shot better with Marcus on the floor.

Marcus was rarely on the floor as the primary initiator prior to this year. He still isn’t a true 1 in that the offense runs so much through Tatum and Jaylen. It surely isn’t the only reason as simple variance does account for a lot. Rhythm matters greatly…..look at Curry’s numbers when he’s running the offense as offense to when Draymond is allowing Steph to play off the ball and simply catch and shoot.

 

[RorschachsMask]

Smart had 18 potential assists, and 0 turnovers. That’s on top of the super efficient 20 points.

View: https://twitter.com/NBCSCeltics/status/1504318123184467969?s=20&t=wYtiE7yD-49dvi_iguvVdg

 

[NomarsFool]

Why is Jaylen Brown continuing to shoot so poorly? I mean, he is airballing open look, uncontested 3s. Those have been automatic for him. Still the nagging injury?

My biggest concerns now (apart from some freak injury) is Derrick White's slide and Jaylen Brown's dip from All-Star caliber player to, well, not.

 

[benhogan]

Why is Jaylen Brown continuing to shoot so poorly? I mean, he is airballing open look, uncontested 3s. Those have been automatic for him. Still the nagging injury?

My biggest concerns now (apart from some freak injury) is Derrick White's slide and Jaylen Brown's dip from All-Star caliber player to, well, not.

Tatum/Brown/Horford and Smart are all shooting 3s in the same ballpark. Who would have guessed that?

White can't be this bad of a 3pt shooter going forward, right? I'd still rather see him drive, draw and kick to Grant more. White settles for 3s early in the clock too much. Corner Office should be fed more attempts to see if his 40%+ can translate to volume. Too many possessions the ball doesn't reach the corner/Grant

 

[Euclis20]

Overshadowed a bit by the Curry injury, but the Celtics held the Warriors to just 32 points in the first half last night, a season low for them (I'm not sure if it was 1st half low or the lowest total they've scored in any half this year, but still impressive). TL was especially something, with 3 blocks in the first half. I'm expecting both he and Smart to make an all-Defense team.

 

[the moops]

Smart will definitely make an all defense. I can't see Williams vaulting over Embiid or Gobert

 

[bigq]

TL was especially something, with 3 blocks in the first half.

The blocks were great and TL was definitely occupying a big space in the Warriors collective mind. There were a couple of occasions where they drove into the paint and kicked out prematurely for fear of another block. I don’t know what you call that - maybe antigravity.

 

[Euclis20]

Smart will definitely make an all defense. I can't see Williams vaulting over Embiid or Gobert

He can make it as a forward. Both Bam and Embiid made 2nd team last year.

 

[Auger34]

Why is Jaylen Brown continuing to shoot so poorly? I mean, he is airballing open look, uncontested 3s. Those have been automatic for him. Still the nagging injury?

My biggest concerns now (apart from some freak injury) is Derrick White's slide and Jaylen Brown's dip from All-Star caliber player to, well, not.

Thinking too much. He pumped on an open 3 in the first half before finally shooting. He was getting more comfortable and in rhythm as the game went along (although he did still have some bad misses)

that game last night was kind of weird, both JT and JB had some UGLY jump shot misses. I am pretty sure they both airballed 2 3 pointers a piece

 

[bakahump]

And what about the JT Leap/Non Dunk. Looked like he was going to explode and slam it only to come up like 4 inches short and fingerroll lay it up.

I dont think it was indicative of anything just an odd play to see.

 

[DGreenwood]

And what about the JT Leap/Non Dunk. Looked like he was going to explode and slam it only to come up like 4 inches short and fingerroll lay it up.

I dont think it was indicative of anything just an odd play to see.

I think this is the play you're talking about. It's almost like he was unsure of his footing at the last second, but I looked a couple times and didn't see any type of minor slip or stumble that would throw him off.

View: https://twitter.com/celtics/status/1504282043206696965?s=20&t=VUPu1kRaLSlvKoekJAVjGA

 

[wade boggs chicken dinner]

Why is Jaylen Brown continuing to shoot so poorly? I mean, he is airballing open look, uncontested 3s. Those have been automatic for him. Still the nagging injury?

To my eye, JB still moves somewhat gingerly at times. I keep wondering whether his hammy isn't 100%?

 

[DGreenwood]

To my eye, JB still moves somewhat gingerly at times. I keep wondering whether his hammy isn't 100%?

I'm not disagreeing that he seems off at times, but then he goes out and does stuff like this and looks like the most athletic guy on the court.
View: https://twitter.com/BillSimmons/status/1503106856360636416?s=20&t=MVwUs3CVwMJyuCWUregFuA


View: https://twitter.com/celtics/status/1504284541019574276?s=20&t=VUPu1kRaLSlvKoekJAVjGA


Those don't look like the types of things players do when they are protecting an injury. It's weird. It looks like he just can't find his rhythm at times.

 

[RorschachsMask]

I think Jaylen is trying to adapt his game to be a better fit for the offensive system, the offense being increasingly tailored around Tatum, with Smart also being a bigger piece.

To me it looks like he’s just playing uncertain, and players almost always struggle when that’s the case. He’s also a streaky jump shooter, though this last few months is the most extreme case. But he did shoot 31% from deep last February, on high volume.

 

[the moops]

He can make it as a forward. Both Bam and Embiid made 2nd team last year.

Ahh didn't realize that. That gives him a shot. Will be interesting for sure. There are many more than solid big defenders

Giannis, Gobert, Embiid, Draymond, Bam, Jackson Jr, Williams, Mobley, Tucker, Jokic