This week's coverage runs through Jaylen Brown's reply to Jayson Tatum, a 113-121 loss in Detroit and a new center who graded himself harshly. Boston's own figures say a lot about the last two and almost nothing about the first.
The Brown-Tatum exchange is noise the roster cannot answer.
MassLive and Boston.com both reported Thursday that Jaylen Brown appeared to push back on Jayson Tatum's reaction to the summer trade. That deal sent Brown to Philadelphia for Paul George, two first-round picks and two second-round picks. Boston.com also relayed Vince Carter's doubt that Tatum can deliver as the No. 1 option. The record gives little to judge that with. Tatum played 16 games last season, at 21.8 points, 10.0 rebounds and 5.3 assists. That is a small sample for a player now carrying the lead alone, and no box score measures a relationship.
The collapse question goes back further than one night in Detroit.
MassLive's mailbag asked why the Celtics keep giving away big leads. Boston.com relayed Bill Simmons calling Tatum's opener terrible, and CelticsBlog blamed the 113-121 loss on rebounding. The word keep is only fair if last spring counts: Boston blew a 3-1 lead to the 76ers in the first round. One regular-season loss and one playoff series are a pattern to watch, not a diagnosis. MassLive also reported that George was fined after his 38-point debut. The fine did not change the final score.
The frontcourt debate is real, but last season's best unit is gone.
Boston.com reported that Mitchell Robinson was unhappy with his debut. MassLive had him explaining an injury scare and talking about facing the Knicks for the first time. CelticsBlog argued that a lineup with both Hauser and Queta is making an early case to start. The number behind that is real but dated. Brown, White, Queta, Pritchard and Hauser were +17.9 over 200 minutes last season, and Brown is now a 76er. Last season Queta grabbed 8.4 rebounds in 25.3 minutes, and Robinson grabbed 8.8 in 19.6. If rebounding is the problem, Robinson's rate argues for more minutes for him, not fewer.
The injury and cap pictures are quieter than the talk around them.
MassLive noted that a two-way guard is on the injury report for the Knicks game. Devin Carter, whom hoopsrumors reported Boston is converting to a two-way deal, is out with an illness and projected back November 8. Everyone else is available. The payroll is $198.7M against a $200.4M tax line, which leaves Boston very little room for any trade the chatter might invite.
Why did Jaylen Brown respond to Jayson Tatum?
MassLive and Boston.com reported that Brown appeared to push back on Tatum's reaction to the trade that sent Brown to Philadelphia. That trade brought Boston Paul George, two first-round picks and two second-round picks.
Is Mitchell Robinson playing against the Knicks?
Robinson was cleared on October 17 and is not on Boston's injury report. Devin Carter is the only Celtic listed, out with an illness.
