The old adage goes that role players play better at home in the NBA, and it is not necessarily just the role players who get a boost from the home crowd. But there is more to the Boston Celtics‘ recent success according to All-NBA forward Jaylen Brown.
Currently undefeated at home and getting close to breaking records for the storied franchise, Brown pointed to the work done by the team’s front office and coaching staff as a key factor in the Celtics becoming a wagon in 2023-24. Speaking to the media after the Celtics’ win over the Toronto Raptors at TD Garden on Friday, the Georgia native shared his thoughts on what has been driving the team’s excellence.
“One, we’re experienced, another year of experience makes a difference,” he began via MassLive’s Brian Robb.
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“Two, I think the way our team is constructed, it makes things simple with the addition of Jrue (Holiday) and (Kristaps Porzingis), so that’s credit to us players, I think we’ve improved,” continued Brown.
“I think credit to the front office for constructing a team that fits together, and then credit to the coaching staff for making sure that we know where we’re supposed to be, making sure we see where the reads are supposed to be made and making the game real clear for us.”
“I think the coaching has been excellent this year in making sure that we see the game the way a game should be played,” he added.
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— The Celtics Wire (@TheCelticsWire) December 30, 2023
The additions Brown noted in terms of players as well as the expansion of Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla bench in Sam Cassell, Charles Lee, Phil Pressey and Amile Jefferson has indeed had an unmistakable impact.
Friday’s win vs. the Raptors, the victory over the desperate Detroit Pistons the night before, and several other such games on Boston’s 2023-24 season schedule would likely have been losses for the Celtics in prior seasons.
But the right players and supporting case have transformed a very good but not great Boston roster into a title favorite since.
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