Jaylen Brown on Celtics second unit in win over Suns: ‘they won us the game tonight’

If you look at Saturday night’s scoring, the focus was on the Jays, with Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum collectively scoring 56 points. Although he contributed more than half of the Boston Celtics total offense, the victory against the Suns was defined by the second unit and its role in leading Boston to a 117-107 triumph in Phoenix.

Although the bench has delivered impressive production, their contributions go beyond what is typically reflected in statistics. While the Celtics While the bench ranks 28th overall in bench points, the second unit has been much more efficient in March, averaging 23.4 points per game. In Saturday’s victory, the bench had 27 points, two blocks and 10 rebounds, for a score of 11-18 in field goal shooting.

For Joe Mazzulla, he instilled the same culture from top to bottom during his time in Boston. That’s why he trusts its guys so much. Coming off the bench or starting, he has confidence in his rotation.

“This unit has been great for us all year, but tonight they were great,” Mazzulla told CLNS.

Although some critics argue that the Celtics lack a strong bench, the performances of Luke Kornet, Payton Pritchard and Sam Hauser suggest otherwise. To be honest, they were an integral part of the team’s success, not just last night, but throughout the season.

Of course, Boston is top-heavy, and Mazzulla’s rotation will surely dwindle during the playoffs. However, the Bus One Boys demonstrate why they deserve playing time in critical matchups.

What’s not to like about the Kornet competition? The C center showed remarkable versatility with an impressive two-way display. Against a respectable Suns team, he had 14 points, six rebounds and a block while shooting an outstanding 85.7% from the field. In just 20 minutes of play, Kornet had a career-high five dunks and scored his 500th field goal.

If you’re not familiar with the Kornet competition, here’s an example. Although its effectiveness is inconclusive, it certainly provides entertainment value. Kornet finished 3-3.

“They won the game for us tonight,” Brown told NBC Boston after Saturday’s victory. “Payton, Luke, Sam. Their energy, their play, their effort: they’re the reason we probably won the game tonight. It’s hard, but they are always ready. Well done to these guys.

Voted Eastern Conference Player of the Week last week, Brown had an impressive performance with 27 points, two steals, three assists and three rebounds, while shooting 42.9 percent from beyond the arc. However, it was Kornet skill in locating open space on pick-and-rolls which had a significant impact. Frequently, he took advantage of cleaning up missed shots and converting backhands. The two-man game with Jrue Holiday was electric.

His ability to adapt to Mazzulla’s approach was widely noted, demonstrating improvements in defensive strategies, rim guarding, and notably effective screens and box-outs against Jusuf Nurkic.

“He’s one of the best in our defensive system,” Coach Mazzulla told CLNS. “He has an innate ability to communicate matchups, change matchups and change his coverage. I think it’s an underrated skill that Luke has to be able to do that.

Celtics winger Sam Hauser didn’t produce much offensive success, but like Kornet, he ignited the bench with his defensive contributions. Despite scoring just three points on 25 percent shooting from beyond the arc, Hauser frequently disrupted Kevin Durant’s game.

While Durant remained a formidable opponent, Hauser managed to contain him on several occasions, even forcing him into uncomfortable turnovers. Hauser contested a total of eight shots, showing off his defensive prowess by effectively guarding Bradley Beal and even blocking a shot from Eric Gordon.

Pritchard finished the game with 10 points, shooting 4-6 from the field in 23 minutes of play. His agility and ball handling were on display as he executed impressive crossovers, culminating with a corner three-pointer in cold blood against Royce O’Neal. So good at creating separation, Pritchard made some quick interior baskets against Eric Gordon and big man Drew Eubanks.

“They were great. They were great,” Mazzulla told CLNS. “I thought Payton changed the game with his overall defense. He and Sam are both known for their offensive players, but I think it’s their defense which really helped us this year.

Pritchard’s knack for pushing the pace and passing quickly on defense proved crucial for the C’s. His speed and agility allowed him to effectively guard Beal and other opponents, leading to numerous missed shots. Turning defensive stops into offensive opportunities, his steal against Grayson Allen led directly to a Jrue Holiday three-point basket. Although he is not the tallest, Pritchard’s speed allows him to defend players effectively, especially along the backline.

An integral part of Mazzulla’s culture in Boston, this team has passion, and that extends to the bench. Whether on the pitch or on the sidelines, the bench provides crucial support to the team.