Two days after Tatum's overtime winner, Boston is talking about Jaylen Brown, who now plays in Philadelphia. The Celtics are 3-1 and third in the East, and they host the Bulls on Friday in a Cup group-stage game, four days after beating them by 35.
The loudest story in Boston is about a player who is gone.
MassLive reported that Brown responded to Brian Scalabrine after a report that he had demanded a trade. Boston.com reported that the Sports Hub's Felger & Mazz criticized Celtics broadcasters for on-air digs at Brown. On Tuesday, a report via Kris Rhim carried a denial from Brown's representative that he ever demanded a trade. None of this changes a rotation, a contract or a pick. It does keep the summer's deal, Brown to Philadelphia for George and draft capital, in every conversation about this team.
Monday's rout of Chicago should not set the bar for Friday.
Boston beat the Bulls 134-99 on October 26, with 28 points from Payton Pritchard. Friday's rematch counts in the Cup group stage. After that, the Celtics go on the road for a back-to-back: Orlando on November 1 and Houston on November 2.
The center minutes are the figure worth watching.
Against Brooklyn, Mitchell Robinson finished -17 in 25 minutes and went 1-4 at the line. Garza posted +18 in 13. Robinson was in the lineup for the final five minutes of the fourth quarter, but he was off the floor at the final horn, when Mazzulla had Pritchard and Hauser out with Tatum, George and White. One night of plus-minus is noise with a box score attached. It does not prove Garza is the better option. The open question is whether Mazzulla gives him more minutes anyway.
A 62-win pace is arithmetic, not a forecast.
Four games project to 62-20, yet the power rankings dropped Boston from 4th to 7th over the week. Tatum scored 40 on Tuesday, 18 of them at the line, while shooting 24.1 percent on threes through four games. At $198.7M, the payroll sits just below the $200.4M tax line, which leaves little room to add anyone. Devin Carter remains out with an illness and is expected back November 8.
When do the Celtics play the Bulls in the NBA Cup?
Friday, October 30, at home, in a Cup group-stage game. Boston beat Chicago 134-99 on October 26.
Did Jaylen Brown demand a trade from the Celtics?
A report via Kris Rhim carried a denial from Brown's representative that he demanded one. Boston traded Brown to Philadelphia this summer for George and draft picks.
