After coming up short in the Eastern Conference Finals last May, Brad Stevens and Celtics' ownership made seismic changes, shipping off Marcus Smart, Robert Williams, and Malcolm Brogdon in exchange for Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis.
The additions of Holiday and Porzingis gave Boston what many consider the best roster in the NBA. However, despite all the talent, the new-look Celtics are still susceptible to growing pains, something Jaylen Brown noted following Friday night’s 121-107 win over the Brooklyn Nets.
“It’s a learning curve. We’re still figuring stuff out,” Brown said. “We’re still building chemistry with one another, still building trust with one another. The two teams that we lost to did a good job of putting a lot of pressure on us, and it kinda got us out of the stuff that we want to do that helps us win. As we study, watch, and we improve, we learn to trust each other in certain moments and we prepare for that.”
With such a talented top six, there is a tough balancing act. Each of the six is capable of scoring, so guys picking their spots, and learning to play together will be a part of that learning curve. A word often used is "sacrifice."
“It’s definitely a balance, it’s definitely a challenge,” Brown said when discussing the balance of looking for a shot versus getting others involved. “Just trying to figure that out. When to be yourself and be aggressive, and then when to get other guys going and let the game come to you. That’s something that we’re all adjusting to and something we’ll have to continue to get better at as the season goes on.”
The Celtics are talented enough to score with anybody. Even in dealing with these growing pains and a couple of tough shooting nights earlier this week, the Celtics still sit fourth in points per game (120.6) and fourth in offensive rating (118.1).
Chemistry is something that only builds with time. A lot of the Celtics’ offense so far has been hunting mismatches, as talent alone has lifted the C’s past opponents. The new-look Celtics are still trying to figure out how to play as a collective unit.
However, we are starting to see the Celtics use a more balanced attack as they get more and more accustomed to each other.
It’s November, the Celtics aren’t perfect, and it would be unreasonable to expect them to be. But things are gradually starting to click for the C’s as they get closer to unlocking that next level.
“I think it’s always good to know that we can get to another level,” Jrue Holiday said postgame.“I don’t think anyone wants to reach the top too early or peak too early.”
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