Only a year and a half ago, the Celtics were very far from the team they are today, capable of aiming for the title after participating in the Finals. In mid-January 2022, they thus ranked 11th in the East, with a negative balance, before the tide started to turn significantly.
Part of what brought about this sudden change was this habit formed by Jayson Tatum And Jaylen Brown when things were not going well Boston : share the video sessions with each other, rather than doing them individually or with the rest of the group. Which is much more common.
Joe Mazzulla already at the heart of the machine
” I think that’s what really helped us: watching the videos together and communicating », indicated Jayson Tatum on the sidelines of the 2022 Finals, concerning this decisive development in his eyes. ” I felt like it felt like a breaking point: either it started our season or it broke it and, instead of breaking up, we got closer. »
For their coach, Joe Mazzullait is above all a proof of maturity on the part of the “Jay’s” and this development generates, in their game, ” more reading, responsibility and freedom in decision-making “. Moreover, the Celtics coach, who succeeded Ime Udoka at the head of the C’s, was also sometimes present to attend these sessions, when he was only a simple assistant.
” Most of the time, Joe was part of these video sessions and he led them, even when he was not yet a head coach. confirms Jaylen Brown. ” I’ve always liked the way Joe analyzes gaming and video. He picks up things we might not have seen and it helped us understand the game better. »
With hindsight, the meticulous Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown agree that those moments were essential in allowing them to reach a new milestone in the game. Individually of course, but also collectively, because it benefits all of Boston. Both in defense and in attack, where freedom prevails – despite some predefined systems – for questions of unpredictability and rhythm.
” We still had a lot of things to learn in the game, aspects to grow on, and we started to see it. The game slowed down during video sessions and you could see where your growth needed to be “, Says Jaylen Brown, more empowered than ever on the offensive level.
Doubts about their cohabitation now gone
Another positive point of these video sessions: they therefore brought the “Jay’s” closer together, regularly criticized in the past, because they were said to be unable to live together to lead the Celtics to the heights. Nevertheless, they have always been eager to make a difference in Massachusetts, with the help of Joe Mazzulla.
” Everyone was saying the same thing, but no one was trying to help us and that’s why Joe [Mazzulla] was different: he showed us things “adds Jaylen Brown. ” He helped us analyze the game, identify areas where we could improve, see where we could make the game easier for ourselves. It was done during a few of these video sessions and that’s where the difference was made. »
” They have always been eager to learn and grow “says the Boston coach for his part. ” The truth is that they want to win and play together. They are very good players, who care about each other. It wasn’t a story of selfishness or anything, but it’s mostly that we didn’t necessarily have the system in place for them to backhand defenses together. When two such talented guys work together, there will always be difficulties and times like that, but they were able to overcome them. And it took off from there for them. »
Eighteen months later, it’s an understatement to say that Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown have taken off, as have the Celtics, who many now consider to be the big favorites for the title. Which would probably not have been possible if the joint Jay’s video sessions had not been established.
” What makes them so good is that they know they can always improve “says Joe Mazzulla, very close to them. ” How many superstars are like that? That’s what I felt about them and what I wanted to bring out. I know they are good and I know they know it, but I also know they really want to improve so I wondered how to make that happen. »
| Shots | Bounces | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Players | GM | Minimum | Shots | 3 points | LF | Off | Def | Early | pd | bp | Int | CT | party | Points |
| Jayson Tatum | 74 | 36.9 | 46.6 | 35.0 | 85.4 | 1.1 | 7.7 | 8.8 | 4.6 | 2.9 | 1.1 | 0.7 | 2.2 | 30.1 |
| Jaylen Brown | 67 | 35.9 | 49.1 | 33.5 | 76.5 | 1.2 | 5.7 | 6.9 | 3.5 | 2.9 | 1.1 | 0.4 | 2.6 | 26.6 |
| Malcolm Brogdon | 67 | 26.0 | 48.4 | 44.4 | 87.0 | 0.6 | 3.6 | 4.2 | 3.7 | 1.5 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 1.6 | 14.9 |
| Derrick White | 82 | 28.3 | 46.2 | 38.1 | 87.5 | 0.6 | 2.9 | 3.6 | 3.9 | 1.2 | 0.7 | 0.9 | 2.2 | 12.4 |
| Marcus Smart | 61 | 32.1 | 41.5 | 33.6 | 74.6 | 0.8 | 2.4 | 3.1 | 6.3 | 2.3 | 1.5 | 0.4 | 2.8 | 11.5 |
| Al Horford | 63 | 30.5 | 47.6 | 44.6 | 71.4 | 1.2 | 5.0 | 6.2 | 3.0 | 0.6 | 0.5 | 1.0 | 1.9 | 9.8 |
| Grant Williams | 79 | 25.9 | 45.4 | 39.5 | 77.0 | 1.1 | 3.5 | 4.6 | 1.7 | 1.0 | 0.5 | 0.4 | 2.4 | 8.1 |
| Robert Williams | 35 | 23.5 | 74.7 | 0.0 | 61.0 | 3.0 | 5.4 | 8.3 | 1.4 | 1.0 | 0.6 | 1.4 | 1.9 | 8.0 |
| Sam Hauser | 80 | 16.1 | 45.5 | 41.8 | 70.6 | 0.4 | 2.1 | 2.6 | 0.9 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 1.2 | 6.4 |
| Mike Muscala | 20 | 16.2 | 47.2 | 38.5 | 69.2 | 0.7 | 2.7 | 3.4 | 0.6 | 0.5 | 0.2 | 0.3 | 1.4 | 5.9 |
| Payton Pritchard | 48 | 13.4 | 41.2 | 36.4 | 75.0 | 0.5 | 1.3 | 1.8 | 1.3 | 0.8 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.8 | 5.6 |
| Blake Griffin | 41 | 13.9 | 48.5 | 34.8 | 65.6 | 1.1 | 2.6 | 3.8 | 1.5 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 1.8 | 4.1 |
| Luke Kornet | 69 | 11.7 | 66.5 | 23.1 | 82.1 | 1.2 | 1.6 | 2.9 | 0.8 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 0.7 | 1.2 | 3.8 |
| Justin Champagnie | 2 | 11.7 | 16.7 | 20.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 2.0 | 1.5 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 2.5 |
| Jd Davison | 12 | 5.5 | 42.1 | 28.6 | 50.0 | 0.2 | 0.6 | 0.8 | 0.9 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.4 | 1.6 |
| Mfiondu Kabengele | 4 | 9.1 | 28.6 | 0.0 | 100.0 | 1.3 | 1.3 | 2.5 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.8 | 1.5 |
| noah vonleh | 23 | 7.4 | 45.8 | 25.0 | 100.0 | 0.8 | 1.3 | 2.1 | 0.3 | 0.5 | 0.1 | 0.3 | 1.5 | 1.1 |
| justin jackson | 23 | 4.7 | 25.9 | 25.0 | 50.0 | 0.1 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.3 | 0.9 |
