The Boston Celtics are 26-6, boasting the best record in the NBA. They're 16-0 on the TD Garden parquet, have what's widely considered the best top six in the league, and SI Sportsbook gives them the highest odds of lifting the Larry O'Brien Trophy this year.
Jaylen Brown's returned from a season where he earned an All-NBA Second Team selection and has evolved into a more well-rounded player making significant strides as a playmaker and on defense.
Jayson Tatum embracing a role as a facilitator and screener in the Celtics' 126-115 win over the Los Angeles Lakers on Christmas, dishing out seven dimes and creating ten points off his screens, the most in the matchup, exemplify his willingness to sacrifice, as he set his teammates up to step into the scoring spotlight in an iconic rivalry game on the NBA's marquee date on its regular season calendar, a day he debuted his second Jordan signature sneaker.
Selflessness is a defining theme for Boston this season. Celtics owner Wyc Grousbeck shared in an appearance on the Greg Hill Show on WEEI that the team's star tandem leading by example and setting the tone for that is at the core of the C's cohesion.
"I like to answer by saying it's everybody because it really is," said Grousbeck. "That would be an easy way out of the question... But the first names that came to mind when you said what's leading it or driving it, I really did think of Jaylen and Jayson. I mean, look at Jaylen; in the offseason, he signed a big contract -- to say the least. That's a lot of pressure... And he's come back, and he's playing hands down the best basketball of his life, and he was already an All-Star."
Grousbeck continued, "He and Jayson are leading this team to cohesive, highly rated offense, highly rated defense, very connected. I put it first and foremost with Jayson and Jaylen that they both stepped up and said they are willing to do what's necessary to keep piling up the wins."
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