It was an unusual start to the game for the Celtics on Tuesday night, as it was announced just before tip-off that interim head coach Joe Mazzulla would not be coaching the team due to eye irritation and that Damon Stoudamire would be taking his place.
That came as a shock to everybody, as Marcus Smart told NBC Sports Boston's Abby Chin at halftime that he didn't find out until they introduced Stoudamire as the coach during introductions. It even came as a surprise to Stoudamire, who says he found out he would be coaching the team about 10 minutes before tip-off.
But despite the abnormalities, one thing stayed the same: the dominance of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown.
Tatum and Brown are quickly establishing themselves as the clear-cut best duo in the NBA, as they have been dominant for the Celtics all season long. The conversation used to be: can Tatum and Brown both make the All-Star Game? Now it's: can they both make All NBA?
They have taken the next step and have become invaluable for the Celtics. Just look at their last three games…
In Friday night's win over the Timberwolves, the Jays combined for 66 points as they passed Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen for the third-most games with two teammates scoring 30-plus points. They also totaled eight assists, meaning they scored or assisted on 31 of the Celtics' 44 made baskets (70%).
They followed up Friday night's performance by combining for 70 points on 60.9% shooting and nine assists against the Milwaukee Bucks on Christmas Day. The Jays scored or assisted on 34 of the Celtics' 50 made baskets (68%).
Tatum and Brown put the team on their backs again in Tuesday night's win over the Rockets, as the two combined for 77 points on 50.9% shooting, 12 rebounds, and nine assists. The two scored or assisted on 32 of Boston's 43 made baskets (74%).
They each totaled 30-plus points for the sixth time this season, which according to ESPN is tied for the second-most by a duo before the New Year in the last 50 seasons. In those games, the Celtics are 5-1.
Tatum and Brown have often been taken for granted. To think it was once a debate about whether or not these two could play together is wild. These are two guys that are both under the age of 26 and quite possibly aren't even in their primes yet.
A tandem that some fans were once ready to break up is now being brought up in the same conversation as Jordan and Pippen, and that's something they don't seem to forget.
"It's crazy. This time last year y'all wanted to trade either one of us, and now you just said Mike and Scottie," Tatum said after the game. "We're not as bad as you guys say we are but we aren't as good as Michael and Scottie yet."
"We love to try and help our team win every night and just try and get better," Tatum added. "But we've gotta win. We've gotta win when it counts most for it to really mean something."
Despite all the personal success between the two, the Jays know only one thing matters, and that is winning the NBA Finals.
