The Boston Celtics have kicked off their 2023-24 season with an impressive 16-5 start. The No. 1 seed in the east boasts the best net rating and third-best defensive rating in the NBA. However, their consistency on offense has fluctuated so far.
After a red-hot first few weeks in late October and early November, Boston has cooled off. Over their last five games, the Celtics rank 18th in offensive efficiency with a mediocre 114.8 rating. After finishing seventh in both assists and turnovers last season, the C’s sit at No. 24 in assists per game and No. 16 in turnovers per game. On the other hand, they still rank fourth in true shooting percentage and third in effective field goal percentage.
The Celtics’ offensive hiccups seem to stem from a lack of fully developed chemistry within their new-look squad. Offseason additions Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday have altered how Boston plays, along with how certain players have approached their specific roles within the Celtics offense.
Both Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown have averaged around two fewer field goal attempts than they did last season. Holiday and Porzingis have each taken about four fewer shots per game. Only Derrick White has increased his scoring numbers with a three-point jump in four more minutes per contest. White recently dropped 30 points against the New York Knicks to help Boston improve to 10-0 at home on the season.
Jaylen Brown spoke with Jay King of The Athletic about his individual play and the challenge of integrating his game into an offense with more scoring options than ever before.
“It’s a challenge,” Brown said. “I think we’re still figuring it out. It’s still early in the season. I’m figuring out where my spots are to be aggressive — to be, like, who I am, that’s in my DNA — but also, the part of my game that’s grown, being able to show that off. Being able to be a great screener. Being able to deliver passes on time and on target. I think that’s very important to being a great teammate and a great playmaker.”
Brown has shown growth in his decision-making with his lowest turnover rate since the 2019-2020 season, but his assist count has also taken a slight hit. Unfortunately, Tatum has averaged a career-high 3.2 turnovers per game. Like Brown, Tatum has looked to pass more often while sacrificing shot attempts. As the focal point of Boston’s offense, the 25-year-old superstar has dealt with some sloppy results.
The Celtics have also incorporated a heavier dose of post-ups this season through Porzingis and Tatum, who both rank top ten in points per post-up. After finishing last season in the bottom ten, the Celtics average the fifth-most post-up possessions in the league with 7.5 per game. Their increased focus on hunting mismatches and posting up more often has likely affected their assist rate to a degree.
“We’ve got Kristaps, we’ve got Jrue now, we’ve got a lot of guys that are kind of switching up a little bit how we normally play,” Brown said. “So we’re 20 games in, and I feel great about where we’re at right now. But where we’re at right now is not the end goal; we’ve gotta do a lot of growing and maturing as the season goes on. So that’s the most important thing. Don’t look at us as a finished product.”
It may take some time for Tatum and Brown to fully acclimate to their new teammates, but a championship foundation is there. That foundation is supported by a suffocating defense armed with elite athleticism, versatility, and discipline.
Brimming with two-way talent across the board, the Celtics’ starting five has dominated more than any other five-man lineup in the league. With a ridiculous 27.5 net rating, Boston’s main group simply needs to stay healthy heading into the playoffs.
