The Boston Celtics really don’t bank on any of their top players going off to earn wins.
Sure, Jayson Tatum scored 30-plus points seven times during February, but Boston was still 4-1 when he didn’t score 30 or more in the month; the Celtics were 5-2 when he did.
Tatum’s quality performances were more indicative of his personal development — Boston wasn’t getting any better or worse.
And on Wednesday, the Celtics continued to prove why their balanced scoring works. Jaylen Brown scored a team-high 21 points and led the Celtics to a 149-115 blowout win over the Brooklyn Nets.
Six other players scored in double figures, and according to ESPN Stats & Info, Boston scored the most points without boasting a 25-point scorer since the Seattle SuperSonics accomplished the feat on April 14, 1994. The Sonics beat the Los Angeles Clippers, 150-101, and 10 players scored in double figues. Detlef Schrempf had a team-high 21 points.
The Celtics scored 149 points on Wednesday despite not having a single player score 25 points (Jaylen Brown led with 21).
That was the most points by a team without a 25-point scorer since the SuperSonics on April 14, 1994 (150 points). h/t @EliasSports pic.twitter.com/11IrJmE5pA
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) August 6, 2020
Throughout the season, the Celtics have had a plethora of options. Brown attacks the rim well. Tatum is showing he’ll be one of the league’s most sound scorers for years to come. Gordon Hayward can score from multiple places on the floor. Kemba Walker shakes defenders for easy pull-up jumpers.
Tatum, Walker, Brown, Hayward and Smart are each averaging double figures in points per game. The trio of Tatum, Walker and Brown are each averaging 20 or more a game, making for a three-pronged attack that’s tough to stop.
With the Celtics at third place in the Eastern Conference, their next seeding game will be Friday against the Toronto Raptors.
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