Celtics Beat – Episode 658: "Tatum WILL Adjust to Brown's New Role"

Host: Adam Kaufman | Guest: Dan Greenberg (Barstool Sports) | Cohost: Evan Valenti

Date: January 10, 2026

Overview

This episode of Celtics Beat dives into the Boston Celtics’ remarkable first half of the 2025–26 season, thriving despite Jayson Tatum’s absence. Adam Kaufman, Evan Valenti, and guest Dan Greenberg (“Greenie”) of Barstool Sports reflect on the team’s historic offense, surprising depth, and Jaylen Brown’s MVP-level leap. A central theme is the looming return of Tatum: how will he fit into a team that’s forged a new identity, and what might change? The trio also analyze trade deadline considerations, celebrate unsung contributors like Peyton Pritchard, and indulge in some Celtics memorabilia nostalgia.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Midseason Check-In: Celtics Enter Rare Territory

Time: 02:00–07:30

• Team record: 24–13, second in the East, third-best net rating, “greatest offense in NBA history.”
  • Evan: “I don’t even know if Cloud 9 is the right way to say it... It’s literally unbelievable.”
  • Greenie: “It’s a different guy seems to emerge like every month to be awesome.”
• Celtics have highest point differential in the East and are on 50+ win pace vs. both conferences.

2. Jaylen Brown’s Ascendancy

Time: 07:30–13:45

• Jaylen Brown is having a career year (nearly 30 PPG, 6.5 RPG, 5 APG, 50/37/55 shooting splits).
  • Adam: “We’re seeing him take that leap to becoming no worse than like the seventh best player in the NBA this season… That shouldn’t be possible with people around. He’s not playing with another All-Star.”
• Brown is top 3 in MVP ladders, potentially first-team All-NBA.
  • Greenie: “To the point where Jalen is now top three MVP candidate… This is the tippity, tippity top of what it could look like.”

3. Coaching Recognition and Media Perception

Time: 09:28–12:20

• Joe Mazzulla is outperforming expectations but was not recognized as a Coach of the Year candidate by ESPN.
  • Evan: “That’s how you know the Celtics are back in my opinion once ESPN starts being weird… Jalen was the only first-team selection not in the MVP part of that story.”
  • Adam: “Joe Missoula has moved [up in betting odds] and I'm proud of us as a show…”

4. Integrating Jayson Tatum Upon Return

Time: 13:49–22:49

• How does Tatum fit into Brown’s new role? Historically, “Brown bends to Tatum,” but do roles shift now?

  • Adam: “How does Tatum bend to what’s working so well in this offense?”

• Evan: “You don't even have to worry about it… The way his role has expanded is not something you have to change once Tatum is back.”

  • Data: Brown’s only getting ~7 more frontcourt touches per game; most change comes from other roles vacated by Porzingis, Horford, Holiday.

• Greenie: “Tatum’s like queen of the chessboard, can kind of do whatever you need… He'll figure it out.”

• Cautious optimism: Integrating a star can have hiccups but floor is incredibly high.

  Notable Quote (Dan Greenberg, 21:15):

  “Tatum's like queen of the chessboard, can kind of do whatever you need to do. He could be a center, he could be a point guard, he could be a wing player. He'll figure it out.”

5. Trade Deadline & Roster Strategy Without Tatum Certainty

Time: 24:21–30:02

• Challenge: Deadline (Feb 5) may arrive before Tatum’s status is clear.
  • If operatives can’t count on Tatum, what do they prioritize?
• Focus on: What to do with Anfernee Simons’ contract (assets or extension?), need for another big.
  • Evan: “If there is no future with [Simons]… you almost have to trade him at the deadline because you then cannot lose that asset for nothing this summer.”
  • Adam: “This team... looks like a contender in the East at the very least, even without its best player… What is the approach [at the deadline]?”

6. “4020” Principle and Historic Benchmarks

Time: 35:20–42:24

• Celtics are chasing the Phil Jackson “40 wins before 20 losses” magic record, a key historic indicator of title teams.
• With the current trajectory, Celtics could achieve this benchmark even without Tatum—a near-unique feat.
  • Evan: “Only two teams in history to win the title and NOT win their 40th game before losing their 20th… The fact that that’s even on the table without Jayson Tatum and with this roster is borderline impossible.”

Timestamped Game-by-game Win Projections: 37:17–40:29 (run through the upcoming schedule)

7. Is “This” Real? Is Contending Legit?

Time: 42:24–45:08

• At nearly the midway mark, is this performance sustainable?
  • Evan: “If it looks like a duck and it sounds like a duck, it's a duck… when you’re 40 games into a season, what you're seeing is not a fluke.”

Highlighted Player: Peyton Pritchard’s Surprising Leap

Time: 45:08–52:26

• Pritchard: NBA’s assist-to-turnover leader, among best mid-range shooters, thriving as starter.
  • 17.2 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 5.3 APG, 45% FG, 34% 3PT, 87% FT
  • Growth discussed:
    • Ability to finish in paint despite size: “He is able to use his strength, because you would think at his size once he gets into the paint, like how does he not just get dominated by bigger players?”
    • Smart dribble usage, three-level scoring, increased confidence.
    • Next evolution: continued growth vs. length, further improvement as a pick-and-roll creator, “therapist for the entire roster.”

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Celtics' “magic” (Evan, 08:57): “Every button that they seem to press seemingly works, and at some point, you're like, this luck's gonna run out. And then they just keep doing it and keep doing and keep doing it.”
• Trade Deadline Dilemma (Adam, 24:53): “If you know that [Tatum] is coming back, well, then you know all the different things that he is able to do in the middle, offensively, defensively…But by February 5, they may not even know with certainty.”
• On Tatum’s Return “Downside” (Adam & Evan, 22:49–24:21):
  • Dan Greenberg: “The worst possible outcome is... he comes off the bench and is like the best sub you've ever seen.”
  • Evan: “No team in the NBA is adding a top five, All-NBA player at the trade deadline, you as the two seed... I sleep so awesome and so well knowing that Jayson Tatum is going to be back in my life.”

Fun Segment: Celtics Memorabilia & Autograph Rabbit Hole

Time: 52:26–58:58

• The crew show-and-tell quirky Celtics collectible items, including an autograph book filled with obscure 2000s-era signatures.
• Discussion about the all-too-relatable challenge of deciphering old player autographs (Tony Allen? Marcus Banks? Justin Reed?), with suggestions to crowdsource answers via social media.

Additional Notes & Timestamps

• Historic Offense: The pod repeatedly describes the team’s output as "historic," top-3 all-time, with sustainable indicators.
• Celtics as Title Contender: Every advanced metric and "contender checklist" (top-3 seed, SRS/net rating, record vs. winning teams) validates the belief that this Celtics team (even without Tatum) is legit.
• Potential Regression: The hosts admit some aspects (offensive record, shooting) may regress, but the core remains undeniably elite.
• Tech Difficulties: Evan drops out near the end of the show (45:08) but continues to “lurk in the shadows” producing behind the scenes.
• Closing Schedule Rundown: Brief look at the next four-game stretch, anticipated tough matchups, and the challenging Miami road trip (“that is a trap game”).

Conclusion

A high-spirited, in-depth episode capturing why the Celtics’ current run is as surprising as it is exhilarating. The analysis remains optimistic but cautious about integrating Tatum, and everyone agrees: this roster, this offense, and this “luck” are for real. With trade deadline decisions looming and the return of a franchise star imminent, Boston fans have plenty to dream about.

Most Memorable Quote:
Evan Valenti (24:21)

“Adding a top five player is basically the best thing you can do to any roster in the league.”