The Boston Celtics faced a tough summer, with Jayson Tatum sidelined indefinitely due to a torn Achilles. On top of that, they were facing financial constraints under the second apron, forcing them to make difficult decisions.
They had to part with key players from their recent success, including Jrue Holiday, Al Horford, and Kristaps Porzingis.
These moves had a significant impact on fan expectations and the overall atmosphere surrounding the team.
From a lost season to a playoff push
As the season began, with the Celtics struggling and looking lackluster without Tatum and with the influx of new players, it seemed like a lost season.
Early on, it appeared that Boston might miss the playoffs entirely, possibly opting for a rebuild year.
The hope was that younger players would develop, and the team could focus on securing a higher draft pick, making this season one to forget.
Even veterans like Derrick White and Peyton Pritchard had rough starts with poor shooting percentages, and things didn't look promising.
But then, the tide turned. Over their last 10 games, the Celtics have won 8, improving their record to 15-9. They've made significant strides and returned to their signature style of play.
Mazulla
Mazulla
Credit AP-Scanpix
They're now firmly in the race for a Top 4 seed in the Eastern Conference.
What changed for Boston? How did they turn their season around so dramatically when their roster, on paper, doesn't seem as strong as previous years, and they're missing their leader?
Return to the Celtics identity: Embracing a slower pace
At the start of the season, there was a lot of talk, even from the Celtics themselves, about playing faster. The plan during training camp was to increase their pace.
In the past couple of seasons, they were among the league's slowest teams, so they wanted to fix that.
However, when the season began, the Celtics reverted to what they know best. They're again the slowest-paced team in the league, with just 99.3 possessions per game, the only team in the NBA below 100 possessions per game.
Compared to last season, they're playing at the same pace. In terms of their tempo, intensity, and how quickly they finish plays, not much has changed.
This pace suits Jaylen Brown, Peyton Pritchard, and Derrick White. The system they're playing — focused on finding the perfect shot and prioritizing the three-pointer — fits their strengths.
There's no need to force a style that doesn't align with the team's identity or the organization's history, which is centered around a slower, more methodical approach.
Jaylen Brown as a primary option?
Brown
Brown
Credit Imagn Images – Scanpix
One of the biggest questions was whether Jaylen Brown could step up as the leader, the primary option, and the main creator — not just for himself, but for others, with the ball constantly in his hands.
This dilemma was quickly resolved as Jaylen Brown has been playing exceptional basketball this season, truly establishing himself as a strong leader.
He's shown that with a significant usage rate and that leadership role, not only can he handle it, but he can do so at an incredibly high level.
He currently holds a 36.5% usage rate, the highest among wings in the NBA, putting him in the 100th percentile for wings. The next closest is Brandon Miller at 30.3%, a difference of 6.2%.
Looking at all positions across the NBA, the only player with a higher usage rate than Brown is Luka Doncic, who has a 38% usage rate.
Brown unquestionably handles the ball much more than ever in his career and is involved in nearly every aspect of the game.
For instance, last season his usage rate was 29.2%. Looking at the basic stats this season in 23 games this season, he's averaging 33.7 minutes per game, recording 29.1 points (the highest of his career), 4.9 assists (the highest of his career), and 5.0 rebounds.
He's shooting 49% from the field, 36% from three on 5.9 attempts per game, and has 3.6 turnovers.
What's particularly interesting about Jaylen Brown's performance this season is his efficiency in certain spots on the court.
He's been exceptionally effective with long mid-range jumpers, which have become one of the highlights of his game.
Advanced stats reveal he's shooting 50% on long mid-range shots, which places him in the 84th percentile, a very strong figure. Overall, when it comes to two-point shots that aren't at the rim, he's shooting 47%, which is also impressive.
Looking at his efficiency at the rim, Brown has been dominant as usual, shooting 73% at the rim this season, which is consistent with his past performance in this area.
When comparing this season to last, his usage in various situations has slightly increased across the board.
For example, his isolation plays make up 22% of his play types this season, up from 18% last season, a 4% increase. Similarly, his pick-and-roll handler frequency is now 21%, compared to 16.4% last season, which is around 4% increase.
Brown
Brown
Credit IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect - Scanpix
What's even more interesting is his massive improvement in efficiency as a pick-and-roll handler.
This season, on a higher frequency of 20-21%, he's averaging 1.05 points per possession in pick-and-roll situations, compared to just 0.72 points per possession last season, showing a clear boost in productivity.
Out of these pick-and-rolls, Brown typically takes mid-range jumpers, exploiting screens and getting to his spots with remarkable precision.
He's extremely efficient in these shots, averaging 1.13 points per possession when taking jumpers in the pick-and-roll.
Around 60% of his pick-and-roll possessions end in these jumpers. Additionally, 23% of the time, he takes layups, where he remains dominant, averaging 1.43 points per possession, a consistency he's maintained throughout his career.
Of course, one player doesn't make a team. While Jaylen Brown's incredible leadership and performance have been key, it's not enough to carry the Celtics through the season alone. Other players had to step up, and they have.
As I mentioned earlier, both Derrick White and Peyton Pritchard had rough starts to the season, but now they're playing at an elite level.
However, I'm not going to dive too much into their performance, as they've already proven themselves to be among the best in the league at what they do.
Pritcahrd White
Pritcahrd White
Credit AP Photo/Charles Krupa
New supporting cast lifting Boston's ceiling
What stands out this season, though, is the emergence of players who bring something new to the Celtics.
Neemias Queta has been phenomenal and is often overlooked as one of the league's most underrated centers this season.
Additionally, Anfernee Simons has adapted well to the team's system and is contributing in ways that go unnoticed.
Another name to keep an eye on, who could be a crucial player in the future, is Jordan Walsh. He's still developing, but his potential is undeniable.
It was clear that Neemias Queta would have a significant role this season, especially given the changes in the roster over the summer.
He was expected to be the starting center and receive substantial playing time. Currently, he's averaging 24.2 minutes per game, during which he records 10.1 points, 1.4 blocks, and 8.2 rebounds, including 3.2 offensive rebounds.
His free-throw shooting has been a bit of a struggle, with 62% from the line, and he shoots 65% from the field overall.
Credit AP - Scanpix
However, his advanced statistics and specific segments of his game are truly impressive. Particularly, when we look at his on-off statistics, the impact he has defensively is remarkable.
When he's on the court, the Celtics' defense improves drastically. Without him on the floor, the team allows 20 more points per 100 possessions, a staggering indicator of how positively he impacts the defense, especially through his rim protection, toughness, and overall defensive presence.
As for Jordan Walsh, we're talking about a player who, last season, barely had an opportunity to play.
He averaged just 7.8 minutes per game, but this season, that has increased to 21 minutes.
His basic stats don't jump off the page — 7.1 points, 0.6 blocks, 1.1 assists, and 4.8 rebounds — and he's shooting 58% from the field. He's also shooting 45% from three on a small sample size (1.8 attempts per game).
But defensively, Walsh is already one of the best in the NBA. His lateral movement, intensity, aggressiveness on the ball, basketball IQ, and anticipation are exceptional.
If he can increase his three-point attempts and maintain solid shooting percentages — say, increasing from 1.8 attempts to 3-4 per game — we're talking about a player with elite two-way potential.
At just 21 years old, he's already an outstanding defender and brings tremendous value to the Celtics on that end of the floor.
Vukašin Nedeljković
Vukašin played basketball competitively in his youth, and now contributes to Synergy Sports Technology and Sportradar regarding basketball analysis. He also has experience working as a journalist in Serbia and is passionate about writing basketball articles mainly focused on basketball X's and O's.
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