One of the highlights of the 2022-23 season for the Boston Celtics was Malcolm Brogdon’s service off the bench. He was one of the league’s top 3-point threats, and his patient resolve gave Boston a steady offensive boost all season long. Brogdon’s excellent play earned him the 2023 NBA Sixth Man of the Year Award, making him the third Celtics player to land the honor.
Fast-forward a few months, and the mood has changed considerably. At the time of this writing, the relationship between Brogdon and Boston is a little unclear in part thanks to an elbow injury suffered in the postseason and an abandoned trade during the offseason.
Buy Celtics TicketsThat said, injuries heal, and Brogdon is as professional as they come. The turbulence of the offseason may quickly become a thing of the past once the 2023-24 campaign begins. Brogdon is, after all, a key piece for the Celtics, and Boston is probably the best spot for the 30-year-old to compete for a title. If Brogdon remains a member of the Celtics, there are a few things he can focus on to maximize his impact next year.
Here are three goals for Payton Pritchard heading into the new season. https://t.co/lSeaXmkIYk
— The Celtics Wire (@TheCelticsWire) September 23, 2023
Become a set up man
While Brogdon indeed provided a big scoring spark off the bench for the Celtics, his production on that side of the ball is a little one-dimensional. Becoming a more reliable playmaker would be a critical asset for Boston.
In 2019-20, Brogdon averaged 8.2 assists per 36 minutes of action (per 36 stats used here to account for fluctuating roles). Last year that number was 5.1 per game, the second-lowest rate of his career.
When Brogdon shares the floor with Robert Williams III, there is an obvious pick-and-roll opportunity that has yet to be explored fully. But there are plenty of drive-and-kick situations that Brogdon could explore as well when he shares the floor with reliable shooters like Sam Hauser or Payton Pritchard. Being a little more deliberate about serving as a playmaker could really elevate Brogdon’s game and Boston’s second unit as a whole.
Here are three goals for Kristaps Porzingis to focus on during the 2023-24 Boston Celtics season. https://t.co/e7gewioqLd
— The Celtics Wire (@TheCelticsWire) September 21, 2023
Finish at the rim
Not only will passing the ball more benefit Boston’s scoring across the board, but it may make life for Brogdon a little easier. Brogdon’s ability to drive and finish at the rim will benefit here as well.
Brogdon isn’t among the fastest or craftiest guards in the NBA. As such, can sometimes be difficult for him to shake a primary defender, especially in a halfcourt set. In opening up his passing game, opponents will be forced to take a slight step back or at least think twice when guarding Brogdon. This small advantage matters.
Brogdon may be able to get to the rim more consistently with that little bit of breathing room, and more offensive diversity is important for the primary offensive bench player. Head coach Joe Mazzulla runs a high-octane scoring approach, something that sometimes falls flat with the second unit, but Brogdon can help change this dynamic.
Here are a few goals for Al Horford so he can maximize his impact on the court while staying fresh for the postseason. https://t.co/QNfNW7Qdwf
— The Celtics Wire (@TheCelticsWire) September 22, 2023
Keep shooting
Boston will benefit greatly if Brogdon becomes more of a multi-level scorer. And there are ways Mazzulla and his teammates can make things easier with the right lineups and right reads. All told, however, Brogdon’s 3-point shooting remains his most important asset on the court.
Last season Brogdon connected on 44.4% of his attempts from deep. Nowadays 3-point shooting is among the most valuable skills in the league, and his deep threat compliments some of Boston’s other offensive players quite well.
In the postseason Brogdon’s shooting nearly collapsed. Injury is likely to blame here, but regardless, it will be imperative for Brogdon to be as consistent as possible from beyond the arc ahead of the 2023-24 NBA postseason.
Here are three goals for Robert Williams to work on during the Boston Celtics upcoming season. https://t.co/MOL4YfM1Nq
— The Celtics Wire (@TheCelticsWire) September 20, 2023
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