It feels like the season just started, yet somehow, it’s already 1/5 of the way through.
The Celtics are undeniably the hottest, and best, team in basketball. They’ve won nine straight, to move to 13-3 overall, and are showing no signs of slowing down anytime soon.
Whenever a key player is out, another key player steps up and fills the void. The stars have played like stars, their fellow starters have been excellent sidekicks and the bench is quite possibly the top reserve unit in the NBA.
Having said that, there’s always room for improvement. Here’s a look at what each starter has done well so far and what they can improve upon moving forward.
Jayson Tatum: A
Giving Tatum anything other than an A would simply be unfair. He’s been the best player on the best team in the NBA and is a legitimate contender for MVP.
He’s started all 16 games and is averaging 30.3 points, 7.4 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 1.3 blocks and 0.9 steals. He’s arguably the most complete and well-rounded player in the league and has taken his game to the next level this season.
Tatum zeroed in on what he needed to address this the offseason. His finishing ability, decision making and game management have all improved significantly. Even when he’s off (by his standards), he manages to affect the game in other ways. He’s a superstar in every sense of the word. A tip of the cap to you, sir.
Jaylen Brown: A-
Brown is posting career-best marks in points (25.3), rebounds (6.9) and assists (3.5), while shooting a career-high 49 percent from the floor. He’s excelling defensively, is an extremely tough cover and often seems to deliver a timely bucket when the Celtics need it.
He would get an A, but the unfortunate reality is that his turnover woes haven’t slowed down. In fact, they’ve gotten worse. He’s averaging 3.3 per game, which is the worst mark of his career and the 14th-highest total in the NBA (in fairness, he’s sandwiched between LeBron James and Kevin Durant). He coughed it up seven times against the Pelicans on Friday – his second seven-turnover game in the last six outings. That ain’t gonna cut it.
It’s important to note that he has the ball a ton, so it’s natural he’d turn it over more than a role player. At the same time, he needs to continue to work on valuing every possession and not falling for the trap defenses set when he beats his man off the dribble. Don’t take the bait. Wait for the play to develop and make the simple, correct…
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at CelticsBlog – All Posts…
