A Tale of Two Openers

It was the best of games, it was the worst of games.

The Celtics’ regular season is officially underway. After a two-headed Eastern monster of a first week, Boston sits at 1–1, offering fans a glimpse of both the team’s potential and the frustrating habits that have haunted it for years.

The season opener was a story as old as time. A roaring start and a 20-point lead were diminished in the third quarter by poor shot selection and abysmal defense. It doesn’t matter who you put on this Celtics team; they will find a way to blow a lead in the third or fourth quarter. There is so much culture and history woven into those iconic jerseys. It’s too bad that part of that recent culture involves blowing games late.

Once a player lets that jersey touch his skin, a parasite infiltrates his body. Every so often, it whispers sensually through his bloodstream: “Hey, what if you just chucked up garbage for the next 20 minutes and became a turnstile on defense?” The parasite isn’t there all the time, but it’s like a cicada. When it wakes up, you can’t hear anything else.

There were some interesting choices from Joe Mazzulla, too. Starting Jordan Walsh, taking Mitchell Robinson out after five minutes despite his strong start, and seemingly failing to emphasize driving into the paint all raised questions. Detroit is a good team, so I’m not going to hang my head over the loss, but through the first half, I was thoroughly impressed with what Boston was putting together.

Paul George had no rust to shake off from the offseason. He was a howitzer from three, pouring in 38 points, two more than his current age, while also showcasing his defensive prowess. I did not have high hopes when the Jaylen Brown trade went down, but here I am once again saying it: Never doubt Brad Stevens. Even this early, George looks like a perfect fit and came ready to play. Hell, he wore that jersey proudly. Now we wait to see if he falls ill with the parasite.

Jayson Tatum, on the other hand, appeared to be stricken with the sickness. He walked away with 13 points, struggled with his shot selection, and couldn’t buy a bucket. He did finish with 11 assists, but in an offseason filled with remarks along the lines of “This is your team now,” it was a disappointing first game from Boston’s returning superstar.

And then came the noise. Down the East Coast, Jaylen Brown was off to a great start with the 76ers. Did they make the right move? Can Tatum shoulder the team? Is he a whole bitch? That last one came straight from NBA X.

Tatum heard it all, and he responded.

Friday night, the Knicks brought their bag, but Tatum reminded them whose house they were in. He finished with 36 points, nine rebounds, and seven assists, hitting clutch shot after clutch shot down the stretch in the fourth quarter. He banged his chest and threw up the three, reminding everyone that this is still his team.

George continued his artillery barrage, albeit with less destruction, finishing with 15 points and seven rebounds. Walsh was an absolute pest on defense and came through with some exhilarating plays when they mattered. Meanwhile, Queta and Robinson turned the paint into a block party. Robinson, in particular, showed no mercy toward his former teammates. He’s quickly becoming the kind of “Don’t take shit from anybody” player the Celtics will need in Brown’s absence.

It was a complete team effort that resulted in a 107–103 victory, giving Boston a win in its first game at the real Garden. More importantly, it showed what this team can look like when the pieces come together and Tatum plays like the superstar Boston needs him to be.

But the basketball wasn’t the only story developing during the week. Between Games 1 and 2, a clip from Tatum’s offseason documentary made the rounds. He detailed his reaction to the Brown trade, explained that he was shocked when Brown went to Philadelphia, and gave his teammate of nine years his flowers. Brown responded with a 🧢 emoji, essentially calling him a liar.

Jaylen Brown holds grudges, and his public attitude has been a topic of conversation before. Many will remember his reaction to being left off the Olympic team, and the tension between him and Tatum is hardly the first instance of public scrutiny. But I’ve got a problem with this.

Tatum has done nothing but give Brown his props and show no ill will toward his former teammate. Brown, on the other hand, hasn’t exactly returned the favor. He’s salty. I get it. But the season has started. You’re still on a great team, and you put yourself in this position because you were an asshole. So get over it.

After the win, the media asked Tatum about the interaction, and he did what a great leader does. He acknowledged Brown’s frustration, recognized him as a great player, and refused to get dragged into the drama. Instead, Tatum emphasized that people should be talking about their success and the fact that nobody can ever take that championship away.

He answered like a true leader. When Brown was the guy, his play was fantastic, and he helped carry this team through the playoffs. But his public complaints and tendency to portray himself as the reason for the team’s success made it difficult to see him as the leader Boston needed. Brown is a great player, but I don’t think he’ll ever be a leader.

Drama does make for a great book, though.

That’s where we are after the first week: a team split at 1–1, a superstar who answered his critics, a new supporting cast beginning to find its footing, and enough off-court drama to keep the headlines rolling. There are still plenty of questions to answer, but Boston has already flashed what it can become when everything clicks.

Now, we turn the page to the next chapter in our story.