In a devastating loss to the Chicago Bulls where the Boston Celtics saw their 19 point lead dwindle down to a blow-out loss, Marcus Smart had strong criticism for stars Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum. He claimed that the two were not passing the ball enough, especially in late-game situations where defenses were primarily focused on the team's leading scorers.
After a players-only meeting was conducted Tuesday and the Celtics went on to beat the Orlando Magic on Wednesday, Jaylen Brown finally broke his silence on the comments he received from Smart. Per Jared Weiss of The Athletic:
“Obviously in the midst of trying to win games, it’s something that we probably didn’t need,” Brown said of Smart’s public critique. “But we all communicate and talk to each other. So we’re always trying to find ways to win and I’m open to any and everything when guys bring it to me, coaching staff. I’m always watching film, trying to better myself and be a better basketball player and find ways to make my teammates better. So it felt good to get a win today.”
To say the least, the Celtics have been underachieving this 2021-2022 NBA season. After current president of basketball operations and former head coach Brad Stevens gave the leashes of the team to Ime Udoka, the organization had high hopes of success. Yet, the team holds a 3-5 record and happens to be one of the bottom four teams in the Eastern Conference.
While the Celtics' roster revolves around Brown and Tatum, the core pieces of this lineup include Smart, as well as off-season additions in Dennis Schroder, Josh Richardson, and Al Horford. Though there are plenty of well-known names and capable players at the team's usage, there have been serious struggles to put it all together.
Jaylen Brown and his co-star Jayson Tatum average nearly 51 points a game as a duo. After these two, there is a significant drop-off in points averaged per game. The Celtics will need to play more well-rounded team basketball if they want to change the negative fortunes of this season.
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