Celtics capable of weathering loss of Jaylen Brown
The Boston Celtics proved earlier this season that they can survive an extended absence by Jaylen Brown. Now they'll need to do it again.
Brown took an accidental elbow to the face by teammate Jayson Tatum late in the first half of Wednesday night’s 106-99 win over the Philadelphia 76ers and did not return. Per reports, he suffered a facial fracture and will be out until at least after the All-Star break.
The Celtics are the top team in the NBA, 1 1/2 games up on the Milwaukee Bucks in the East. Brown is the second-best player on the team, behind Tatum, but Boston should be able to at least stay afloat while he is out.
In the seven games Brown has missed this season, the Celtics are 6-1. The only blemish is a three-point loss to the Miami Heat in late January.
Without Brown, Boston has averaged 117.4 points, 111.4 opposition points, 47.4% field goal shooting and 37.4% three-point shooting. Each of those stats are better than the team’s overall averages for the season.
With Brown out, the onus obviously falls on Tatum’s shoulders, but he is fully capable.
With Brown out this season, Tatum’s minutes, points and field goal shooting percentage are higher than his season averages.
Tatum's best scoring night of the season came when he dropped 51 points on the Charlotte Hornets with Brown out. The Celtics especially need more scoring from Tatum with Brown recovering. In games where Tatum scores 30 or more points, the Celtics are 25-5 this season.
In Brown's absence, the Celtics need other players to step up. Getting any of Al Horford, Robert Williams III and Marcus Smart back on the court would help. But Tatum and the rest of the team are more than capable of shouldering the load.
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