As Jayson Tatum works his way back into form after returning to action, several ESPN analysts examined how his presence could influence Boston’s offensive balance.
Zach Kram pointed out that Tatum has led the Celtics in field goal attempts per game for six consecutive seasons, so even with his return, the team may still need time to fully readjust to its usual offensive structure.
That transition is especially relevant for Jaylen Brown, who has carried a heavier scoring burden and currently owns the second-highest usage rate in the league.
Still, Kram noted that the defensive attention Tatum commands should continue to create advantages for his teammates and support an offense that already ranks near the top of the NBA.
Brown’s strong performances, and Boston’s success with him operating as the primary option have sparked fresh discussion about whether he should continue leading the offense.
Former Celtic Grant Williams dismissed the ongoing debate, expressing frustration that questions about the duo’s fit persist even after they led the team to a championship.
“It’s the same dumb shit they’ve been talking about since I was here,” Williams told The Athletic.
“So I think neither one of (Tatum or Brown) should pay any attention to it because they’re both phenomenal human beings, but also phenomenal players. And no matter what the media says, they’ve shown that they can play with one another and they add to one another’s games.
“And no matter who gets the attention, no matter who gets the praise, the ultimate goal is winning. Both of those two deserve to be in the Celtics rafters one day. And by doing it together, they’ll be able to do it at a high level.”
Celtics Notes: Tatum, Scheierman, Brown, Walsh https://t.co/R8LJEY5R7Q pic.twitter.com/XVU3z8QZWY
— Hoops Rumors (@HoopsRumors) March 7, 2026
