BSJ Daily Briefing 12.30.20: Celtics to start build identity in Pacers win, Pats ready for season finale

Good morning!

Your daily rundown of what’s going on with the Patriots, Red Sox, Celtics, Bruins and Revolution, and what’s about to happen…

• The Celtics 17-point comeback against the Pacers on Tuesday night was a desperately needed win at the beginning of a five days in seven nights stretch. Pritchard and Tatum deservedly got a lot of the headlines last night, but there were a number of key contributors in the rally.


• Jeff Teague had an awful shooting night (again) but he was very active defensively in the fourth quarter, forcing multiple steals (one was credited as a block) that led to Celtics runouts. He's going to need to keep showing something on that end if he wants to keep regular rotation minutes.


• Jaylen Brown has been an under the radar consistent weapon for this team all year and his growth on the defensive end is showing as well. With 20 points and a game-sealing steal with 20 seconds left, he's settling nicely into a No. 2 role.


• Grant Williams and Semi Ojeleye saw a big chunk of their rotation minutes go away in favor of Javonte Green on Tuesday night. It may be a matchup thing (the Pacers play a ton of crafty wings off the bench) but the success of that energy bench unit with Tatum at the start of the fourth quarter makes me think Green has earned more run for the time being.


• Most of the Bruins roster is back on the ice in Boston with the season less than three weeks away


• Greg takes a second look at the Monday night debacle 

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PARTING THOUGHTS: 

tommy heinsohn would’ve loved payton pritchard

— Michael Pina (@MichaelVPina) December 30, 2020