There has been a debate amongst Celtics fans brewing over the past few weeks. With the Celtics at the top of their conference at a 7-3 record, talk about the hot start has already started to shape. Much of this success is in large part due to the two Js: Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum. Brown and Tatum have had a superb start to the season, averaging 26.3 and 26.9 points per game respectively. This scoring efficiency places them both in the top 10 column for points per game. They are also doing extremely well in other areas, with Brown leading the team in steals at nearly 2 per game, and Tatum grabbing 7 rebounds per game. To put it in a nutshell, these two are some of the best players in the NBA, and their numbers back it up. However, a debate has emerged: who’s the better player? I decided to take a look at more advanced stats, and compare them with what I see in games (believe me, I watch a LOT of basketball), to pick out the best Celtics player as of right now. My consensus? Jaylen Brown is the best player on the team. Here’s why.
Case 1: Shot selection
With usual #2 option Kemba Walker coming into the start of the season injured, many predicted Jaylen Brown would step into the vacant #2 scoring role behind Jayson Tatum, but Brown has made a consensus case for #1 scoring option, and there’s a strong reason why: shot selection. Jaylen Brown has come out on FIRE from the field, shooting nearly 54% from the field. In other words, he is making more shots than he misses. Brown is an extremely athletic player, his ability to get to the basket and generate easy layups or draw fouls has been showing early on. If he doesn’t decide to drive to the basket, Brown is a 59% 2 point shooter, and his pick and roll game is without a doubt one of the best in the league. Brown has been borderline unguardable to start off the season mainly because he gets high percentage looks. Brown’s shot selection is a huge contrast to Tatum, who has been criticized for taking too many fallaways and fadeaway jumpers, also known as low percentage shots. Tatum is still a very good shooter, his tough fadeaway jumpers speak for themselves, but his inconsistency has shown in games during this season. Brown has shown amazing improvement and consistency in both shot percentage and good open looks.
Case 2: Defense
Don’t get me wrong, Tatum is a decent defender, but Brown’s athleticism translates to the defensive end perfectly. Brown is 6th in the NBA in steals per game, averaging 1.7 per game. He uses his strength and athleticism to deflect passes, and guard some of the NBAs best. During last season’s NBA Playoffs, Coach Brad Stevens assigned him the daunting task of guarding All Star power forward Pascal Siakam. Interestingly enough, Brown barely missed out on the All Star team that year, and the excellent play of Siakam definitely contributed to it. The matchup was an NBA analysts dream, and it turned out to be extremely one sided in favor of Brown. Brown played with a chip on his shoulder, and held Siakam to just 15 points per game, and forced him to take tough shot after tough shot. Brown absolutely shut down Siakam on both ends of the court, and Siakam looked like a totally different player in the worst way possible when guarded by Brown. Brown has been able to take that defensive output into this season, playing solid defense against some of the league’s best players. In terms of 2 way play, Brown is clearly the best player on the Celtics in that regard.
Verdict:
Brown was as mentioned before snubbed as an All Star last year, and it is easy to understand why. Tatum is a flashier player, he makes tough shots, can acrobat to borderline impossible fadeaways and layups, and that dunk over LeBron in the 2017-2018 Eastern Conference Finals definitely helped his image. He takes away the attention from Brown being a great player. Brown simply isn’t the flashiest player, but his consistency on both ends of the court and production this season has been off the charts, and he will most likely earn his first All Star selection. What is going to make this friendly rivalry more interesting is that Tatum had a confirmed positive COVID test, meaning Brown will have to carry the team on his own. It will be interesting to see how he reacts, and how the Celtics do to respond in this season like no other.