Malcolm Brogdon reflects on his season-high 30-point effort against Hornets: "I purposely was not trying to force it"
Malcolm Brogdon was a huge contributor towards the Boston Celtics' winning effort against the Charlotte Hornets on Saturday night. With Brogdon putting up 30 points off the bench, the Celtics highlighted how the team functions with a next-man-up mentality at all times.
The Boston Celtics are widely regarded as one of the best teams in the NBA this season. After an impressive playoff run last season under head coach Ime Udoka, the Celtics certainly had a lot of expectations to live up to this year.
However, due to severe internal strife leading to major personnel changes, Boston fell upon a bit of a rough patch prior to the start of the season. However, the Celtics are a tight-knit group with impressive depth. The depth only improved with further transactions in the offseason.
The C's acquired Malcolm Brogdon from the Indiana Pacers via trade. Although Brogdon was closely linked with the LA Lakers and the New York Knicks, the Celtics made a huge splash by acquiring the talents of the young guard.
Brogdon's arrival brought up a lot of positives for Boston's guard depth and rotation. With Marcus Smart and Derrick White at their disposal along with Brogdon, the Celtics featured a lot of talented players. However, this also means that these talented players wait for their chance to shine.
Fortunately, Brogdon's chances came in the game against the Charlotte Hornets. The former Pacers guard made a massive 30-point contribution to the team's winning effort. When asked about his performance and how it impacted the win, Brogdon said:
"I think it's just this team's depth, man. We got a lot of good players on this team. It's the next man up mentality when someone goes down. I think that's what we've been experiencing since JB's been out, when I've been out, you know. Whoever's out, someone steps up."
He added:
"I knew I would have to take more shots, but I purposely was not trying to force it. I was just trying to get good shots and play in the rhythm of the offense."
"I knew I would have to take more shots, but I purposely was not trying to force it."
Malcolm Brogdon talks 'next man up mentality' and his season-high 30 points vs. Hornets https://t.co/10SWtOHAHh
Complimenting his teammates for making good plays and finding him open, Malcolm Brogdon offered a humble response to his season-high 30-point night.
The Celtics' team play has certainly been paying off. With Boston notching wins even in the absence of core players, the C's continue to hold onto the top spot in the East.
Malcolm Brogdon contributes to Boston's sixth-straight win
The Boston Celtics roared past the Charlotte Hornets to notch their sixth straight. With Malcolm Brogdon and Jayson Tatum combining for 63 points on the night, the Celtics notched an impressive 122-106 win on the road.
While Tatum has been an absolute load on the offensive front this season, Brogdon made a huge and necessary contribution to the winning effort. Brogdon's season-high performance was particularly impressive due to his efficiency. Shooting 11-17 from the field and 4-6 from the perimeter, the guard did well to make the most of his opportunities to score.
In Jaylen Brown's absence, the Celtics have seen several players step up to contribute as well. With Boston's forces rallying together in this difficult time, the Celtics appear to be a tough unit to defeat.