Jaylen Brown, Kristaps Porzingis Discuss Their Quickly Cultivated Chemistry: 'An Automatic Connection'
There's no teammate affected more by the arrival of Kristaps Porzingis than Jaylen Brown.
Having a seven-foot-three center who's a knockdown shooter and punishes switches creates easy reads for Brown out of the pick-and-roll, elevating his impact as a facilitator.
"I tell KP all the time, 'I'm going to you early; I'm looking for you early,'" Brown told Inside The Celtics earlier this season.
"Get him feeling well because we need him on defense, too, as well as offense. He's important to everything that we got going over here. So, I'm going to make sure to get him going."
As highlighted in the Boston Celtics' opening-night win over the New York Knicks, the duo have instantly developed an impressive chemistry that's already paying dividends in the most crucial moments.
Wednesday night's 119-116 victory against the Milwaukee Bucks, a potential Eastern Conference Finals preview, offered two more examples of their cohesion and the evolution of this on-court partnership.
"It's great," Brown said after registering a team-high 26 points, eight assists, leading all participants, and only one turnover in the win.
"And we're still early -- only what, 15 or so games in, not even. And I think we're still building chemistry, still just developing. We talk to each other. I don't know what it is; it's just like an automatic connection right now. As soon as KP got here, as soon as he got to Boston, it was just a connection automatically. So, I'm looking forward to just getting better and growing."
It was one of the two-time All-Star's best performances as a facilitator in his career. As much as that had to do with him making the right reads as he came downhill, the pick-and-roll with Porzingis also had a lot to do with it.
"(When) me and him (are) in the action, you've got to make a choice. And the way he can shoot the ball is a threat, and his athleticism, his height is a threat, and it definitely accentuates my game a lot, so, (I'm) looking forward to many lobs between me and KP."
Porzingis, who finished with 21 points and six rebounds and was at the root of the Celtics' balanced attack against the Bucks, also took a turn at the podium post-game, where he discussed the synergy between him and Brown.
"I absolutely love playing with JB. I think (that) we're starting to connect more and more, and it's becoming natural for us. And I'm learning his game. I'm learning his game. I'm learning the situations he likes to be in, and as you can see, we're having some success with it, and it's really fun."
Further Reading
Here's What Stood Out as Celtics Best Bucks to Stay atop East at Thanksgiving
Jrue Holiday Shares His Perspective on First Matchup vs. Bucks Since They Traded Him
Kristaps Porzingis Explains Why Celtics Have NBA's Best Clutch Record
Here's What Stood Out as Celtics Weather the Storm to Prevail vs. Raptors
Jaylen Brown Blasts In-Season Tournament Court After Injury in Celtics’ Win vs. Raptors
Celtics Discuss Significance of Rivalry Win vs. 76ers for No. 1 Seed in East
Joe Mazzulla Believes Celtics' Second Unit is 'Starting to Develop an Identity'
Kristaps Porzingis Discusses Chemistry with Jaylen Brown: 'I Love Playing with Him'
Kristaps Porzingis Gives Glimpse of How He'll Boost Celtics Late-Game Offense
Under Joe Mazzulla, Celtics Rebuilding Brotherhood Between Past and Present