Jaylen Shares His Thoughts On Celtics’ Team Meeting, Says Team is ‘Focused on Miami’

Per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the Celtics (3-5) held a players-only meeting before their 92-79 win over the Orlando Magic (2-7).

The team came together following Celtics guard Marcus Smarts’ comments in a postgame interview where he stated that Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum need to pass the ball more (per ESPN). Smart’s comments came after Boston’s 128-114 upset against the Bulls, where they were outscored 39-11 in the fourth quarter at home.

“The last few days, we’ve just been focused on Orlando,” Brown says, per ESPN. “That was the goal: come out, try to get a win. That was it. Team meeting — just an opportunity to talk as a group, get some communication going in, and move forward.”

“At the end of the day, we’ve been playing basketball together for a long time, all of us, especially our core group. So when it comes down to it, it’s all about trying to find ways to win, and that’s what the conversation was about, et cetera. The last two days, we’ve just been focused on Orlando, and now we’re focused on Miami.”

While both Tatum (14 points, six rebounds, three assists) and Brown’s (team-high 28 points, five boards, three assists) assist’s averages have dropped this season, Brown acknowledges that there are areas he and his teammate could improve in:

“I can do a lot of things better,” Brown says, per ESPN. “Try to find ways to get guys going, talking to Jayson, trying to find ways to get him going. Just making our teammates better. I think that’s part of being a leader and things like that. I still have a lot of growth to do that I’m actively working on. But that’s my challenge, and I’m focusing my energy on that. Just continuing to watch film and get better and see how I can make my teammates better.”

The Celtics look to continue their winning ways Thursday against the Miami Heat (6-1).