Whoever This Anonymous Player Is That's Talking Shit On Jayson Tatum And Jaylen Brown Is A Gigantic Coward
Listen, don't tell me I didn't give you all a heads up when it comes to this stuff. I told you to start to mentally prepare for shit like this. It's what happens when the Celtics play like the worst team in basketball. Let's face it, that's how they've looked. Since the Clippers win on February 5th, they are 3-8 over their next 11 games. They currently aren't even a top 8 seed (1.0 game back of 4th). So it's no surprise that we saw Ric Bucher take his shot, then yesterday ESPN decided to completely change the owners quote about Kyrie to get their shots in, and now we have this.
I have a few issues with that quote as you can imagine. If you're going to talk shit like this, own it. Go on record. What a pussy move it is to only talk like this if you can be "anonymous". What a coward. If this is how you feel, put your name on it. The article went on to say it was one current player who faced the Celts recently. Well, let's look at the schedule
Could it be Trae Young who's a little upset about his All Star snub when both the Jays made it? Who knows, but that doesn't change the fact that it's a coward move by not attaching your name to it. I also want to know if it's someone that actually plays or is an end of bench guy. Imagine if this was someone who never played talking like this? Maybe that's why they didn't want to share their name.
This is how I feel whenever this shit comes up, not just because it involves the Celts. If you are man enough to go to the media and slander someone or talk shit on someone, be man enough to go on record and use your name. I also find it convenient. Where was this quote when the Celts were 8-3 before Tatum got covid? Their style of play/usage/playmaking was the same then as it is now. Weird this player didn't have anything to say then, but once the skid starts well now he's ready to talk. Again, what a coward.
My second problem has more to do with what he actually said. It's clear this person does not watch Jaylen and Tatum play. For starters, their playmaking has taken huge leaps. For starters, both player's assists totals have increased every season of their career. Tatum is up to 4.5 this season with Jaylen at 3.9. Their AST% (21.5% and 20.8%) are the highest of their careers. Now, let's compare that to players who also share their same usage
How much do you want to bet that anonymous player would never say that about Kevin Durant? He's barely averaging more assists a night than Tatum, and their AST% are essentially identical. Is he a superstar? I would also like to point out that outside of Luka/Trae/Mitchell, nobody is their age or younger on that list. So, the Jays can't be superstars one day because one of them is matching the playmaking of Kevin Durant at 22? How does that make any sense.
My third problem with that quote is it shows this player has no idea how the Celtics play. When they aren't playing like assholes, they use a motion offense. A lot of that success has to do with a big man in the middle who you can play through. A la Horford. They don't have that right now, so things have had to adjust. How many times do we see both Jays get trapped at half court only to then have to pass it over to someone like Semi? Wouldn't you argue that if a defense is sending two players to trap, that in turns opens things up for other players to have easier shots? So in that instance, how would Tatum/Jaylen not be helping their players get easier looks if defenses are putting all their attention on them? You can see where this quote starts to fall apart.
Now, there is also the other side of the coin that is also true. It's a straight up fact that in big moments we tend to see those two revert to isolation basketball, which for the most part this season has been a disaster. Their clutch time numbers are rough, and in terms of isolation offense Tatum ranks in the 29th percentile and Jaylen in the 32nd. Tatum is shooting 33% while Jaylen is coming n at 40%. It's gross. But how much of that is due to roster construction/guys they are sharing the floor with in those moments? Especially in the games Kemba sits. Other guys are not even looking to be scoring threats, and teams are able to lock in on the Jays.
They do have to be better in those moments in terms of not falling into bad habits and playing the right way, but to try and make it seem like they don't make things easy for guys and only know how to score is just factually inaccurate. I don't care if you want to use the data or the eye test, if you have been watching both guys this season that's simply not the case.
But seriously, if you're brave enough to talk shit, put your name on it. Otherwise you're no different than the trolls in my mentions that are currently feasting on my dead body because the Celtics stink out loud right now.