Celtics Discuss Sixth Man Malcolm Brogdon's Sacrifice and What He Brings to the Table
Malcolm Brogdon averaged 14.9 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per game this season and nearly shot his way into the 50/40/90 club for the second time in his career.
The former Virginia Cavalier shot 48.4 percent from the field, knocking down 44.4 percent of the 4.4 threes he hoisted and converting on 87 percent of his free throws.
A starter for most of his career, Brogdon's made the sacrifice of coming off the bench on a championship contender. As the regular season neared its end, after a 97-93 win over the Raptors, the veteran guard conveyed the following about adapting to his role with the Celtics.
"The Celtics, Brad (Stevens), they were very upfront about that, coming off the bench, and I was all for it, am all for it. And I knew it would be a very fluid situation. And for me, it's about understanding that, embracing it, and continuing to embrace it for 82 games and the playoffs. I feel like that's what I've done. That's what I've tried to do to the best of my ability."
The embracing of his role as the leader of the second unit's made him a finalist and perhaps the front-runner for Sixth Man of the Year.
After that victory vs. Toronto, Boston bench boss Joe Mazzulla expressed the following about Brogdon potentially becoming the fourth player in franchise history to win the award.
"It would mean a lot. The humility that he brings to our team. He takes pride in the second unit. And in order to be a great team, you have to have people like that, and we have that from top to bottom, and different guys do different things. Malcolm has come in here with patience, humility, and understanding, and credit to the locker room for embracing and empowering him, and I hope he gets it; he deserves it. When he plays at a high level, we're really good, and our depth is a huge strength of ours."
Two days removed from a 119-106 win over the Hawks that's given the Celtics a 2-0 series lead, Mazzulla praised Brogdon for his two-way impact.
"Just being the spearhead of the second unit, whether it's scoring in early offense, his pick-and-roll threes, his catch-and-shoot threes," then stating of his play at the other end, "Just his ability to adjust to our defensive scheme and really make an impact on that end of the floor has helped us."
Derrick White, who paired 26 points with stellar on and off-ball defense in Tuesday's tilt, earning MVP chants and a film review, said of Brogdon's willingness to sacrifice:
"Malcolm could start on a lot of teams in this league, and he does a lot of great things for us as soon as he comes into the game," adding, "(he's) a big addition for us to have on our team this year."
Further Reading
The Latest on the Celtics' Hopes for a Top 2nd-Round Selection
[Film Room] Derrick White's Assertiveness Leads to 26 Points, MVP Chants as Celtics Take 2-0 Lead
What the Celtics Say They're Focused on as Series Moves to Atlanta
The Celtics Give Their Evaluation of Battle on the Boards in Game 1 Win vs. Hawks
The Celtics Discuss Their Game 1 Win vs. the Hawks: 'We Can't Take Our Foot Off the Gas'
