Jaylen Brown will command significantly more attention next season as Boston’s primary offensive weapon.
Jayson Tatum’s injury will likely sideline him for the entire campaign, leaving Brown to carry the franchise.
The Celtics lack star power beyond Jaylen Brown and Derrick White.
Former All-Stars Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis departed via trades, while Al Horford also left the organization during their roster overhaul.
Photo by Winslow Townson/Getty ImagesNBA analyst Jeff Goodman defends Brown amid challenging circumstances
Brown faces unprecedented pressure throughout his career, with some analysts questioning whether he can match Tatum’s production level.
However, NBA analyst Jeff Goodman believes criticism would be unfair given Boston’s depleted supporting cast.
“Jaylen Brown is going to be the number one guy without Jayson Tatum, without Jrue Holiday, without Porzingis, and with five big men of which it could be the worst collection of big men that we’ve seen in the NBA,” Goodman explained.
“It’s a bad group. So, is it fair? I’ve been the one that has been critical of Jaylen Brown over the years, but I will say this. Is it going to be fair to judge Jaylen Brown this year with a supporting cast he will have?”
Goodman redirected attention toward other Celtics players who need to prove themselves rather than focusing solely on Brown’s leadership capabilities.
Supporting cast questions surround Payton Pritchard and Sam Hauser
Goodman specifically questioned whether role players can handle expanded responsibilities.
He highlighted Payton Pritchard and Sam Hauser as players facing significant pressure to perform.
“Is Payton Pritchard good enough to be a 30 minute game guy? Can Sam Hauser play 25 minutes on a team where now he’s a little bit of the focal point? He’s not just standing in the corner with anybody paying attention to him,” Goodman asked.
Pritchard won Sixth Man of the Year last season but could assume a much larger role and attract more attention.
Meanwhile, Hauser typically operates as a rotational player but may compete with Chris Boucher for a starting forward position.
These players represent Brown’s primary support system as he attempts to maintain his recent scoring averages above 20 points per game.
Their development and consistency will largely determine Boston’s competitive ceiling.
Brown’s success shouldn’t be measured solely on individual statistics but rather on how effectively he elevates his teammates’ performance within a significantly altered roster construction.