Boston Celtics fans are buzzing with questions after Jaylen Brown’s departure, especially about how the team’s play style will look. With a major piece of their offense gone, the big question on everyone’s mind is what kind of Celtics squad will hit the court, and our staff’s got some takes on what’s coming.
Tatum Stepping Up, But What About the Shot Chart?
Some of our sharpest minds, like Ian Inangelo, don’t actually see a massive shift in play style despite Brown being out. The vibe is that Jayson Tatum is going to slide right into that driving force role, handling most of the creating, with Payton Pritchard, Paul George, and Derrick White backing him up. Ian thinks three-pointers might actually go up because Brown was known for his midrange game, but the core offense shouldn’t totally flip. And on defense? With Mitchell Robinson now in the mix, rebounding should be way better, keeping the D from taking a step back. Trevor Hass pretty much echoes that, seeing Tatum as the clear alpha, with White and Pritchard touching the ball more. But here’s the curveball: Trevor actually thinks they’ll attempt *fewer* three-pointers and diversify their attack, pushing for more paint touches and post-ups for Tatum. So, will it be bombs from deep or grinding in the paint? We’ve got different ideas on that one already.
Possession Maxxing: The New Grind?
But not everyone is expecting just a slight tweak. Jake Issenberg is throwing out a whole new “Possession Maxxing” identity for Boston. He points out that last season, the Celtics started to really dial in on offensive rebounding and cutting down turnovers. Then Brad Stevens doubled down on that, sending out Jaylen Brown, who was called out as the “one weak link” in their turnover game, and then signing Mitchell Robinson, who Jake calls “one of the best offensive rebounders of all time.” Plus, Robinson and Paul George are apparently elite at forcing turnovers on defense. Jake’s betting we’re about to see Head Coach Joe Mazzulla crank up the ball pressure like never before. Steve Hooper jumps in too, emphasizing pace. He’s hoping the young wings keep the tempo high, similar to last year’s regular season. If the ball isn’t zipping around and finding paint touches, he thinks it could be a “long year” for Boston.
So, will we see Tatum taking over with a few minor adjustments, or is this a full-blown “Possession Maxxing” revolution with ball pressure and a changed offensive philosophy? Boston’s next game will start to show us which path they’re actually on.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Celtics Blog.
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