No, it wasn't just the Celtics 117-102 loss to the rival Los Angeles Lakers last night that generated this article. It was the way it happened.
Boston kept the game close - or at least staying within single-digits of LA until midway through the third period. Then they just found it damn difficult to generate any effective offense. The game went downhill for the Celtics from that point.
Jaylen Brown was again out of action with a persistent hamstring issue, and his absence hurt. When Jayson Tatum was off the court, The Green struggled to put points on the board, but the stats for the season reveal a bit more.
Jaylen has played in 13 of Boston's 25 games thus far. When he is out of action, the Celtics Offensive Rating actually increases from 104.7 to 108.6, but the Defensive Rating takes a real hit - going from 98.8 (on court) to 110.0 (off court).
The Net Rating goes from +5.9 (on court) to -1.4 (off court), a negative 7.3 Point Differential. Don't be fooled by the rise in OR with Brown off the court. Particularly with his improved ball handling, he demands a lot of attention from opposing defenses, and the stats clearly reveal his contribution on the defensive end.
Boston fans hope his hamstring issue can be managed because it is quite clear his team needs him.
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