At the end of each Celtics Training Camp practice, players spend extra time at the Auerbach Center working on some aspect of their game.
Tacko Fall and Enes Kanter have gone toe-to-toe in the post more than once. Jayson Tatum has taken a ton of three-pointers, as have Grant Williams, Daniel Theis and Brad Wanamaker.
Jaylen Brown has gotten his share of shots up, too. But he's not solely focused on improving his jumper.
Ask and you shall receive @matt_medeiros01 @5outPOD pic.twitter.com/3stsBQO7wN
— Nick Friar (@Nick_Friar) October 3, 2019On Thursday, prior to addressing the media, Brown repeatedly rifled behind the back passes to one team assistant. He also threw a ton of cross-court passes and practiced other moves off the dribble.
Jaylen Brown's behind the back pass doesn't look too bad. pic.twitter.com/ukjLWdYUAv
— Nick Friar (@Nick_Friar) October 3, 2019Jaylen Brown's behind the back pass doesn't look too bad. pic.twitter.com/ukjLWdYUAv
— Nick Friar (@Nick_Friar) October 3, 2019"I put a lot of pressure on myself to come out and I work hard so I expect to see myself improve," Brown said. "When you're kind of not seeing those improvements — you're not seeing them on the stat sheet, but you're seeing them every single day, sometimes that can get tough because you don't see it. But I definitely think I've grown each and every year, no question. This year, hopefully you'll be able to see it on both."
Brown is also trying to be more productive at the rim, as are all of his teammates. Brad Stevens has made it a "huge emphasis."
"Making the right reads, making the right plays, seeing it before it happens. Getting stronger, getting more balance, tightening up ball-handling — stuff like that makes it easier to just finish the ball," Brown said. "All that stuff I took into this summer, added to my game. Showed a little bit (with Team) USA, but can't wait to show some more this season."
But, as much as Brown is working to "generate more at the rim" — which also includes drawing more fouls — Stevens feels Brown was the best at doing so for Boston last season.
"I think the guy that probably got to the rim the best last year, or at least against the best defenses, was Jaylen," Stevens said. "And that's what Jaylen does, and that's somewhat soaring with his own strengths."
Brown can still afford to improve in this department. He drew 2.7 fouls per game last year, a slight drop off from 2017-18 (3.3). Furthermore, he needs to take advantage of his trips to the line. He's only a 65.8% free-throw shooter.
