Was a tweet responsible for the Celtics’ turnaround last season? Likely not, but the timing of Jaylen Brown’s now-famous “the energy is about to shift” tweet certainly got the attention of fans.

When Brown sent that tweet on the morning of Jan. 31 last year, the Celtics were just 27-25. That night, they’d win the second game of what ended up being a nine-game winning streak, propelling them towards the top of the Eastern Conference and a playoff run. From the tweet through the end of the season, the Celtics’ record was 38-16 including the playoffs.

• While the Celtics aren’t exactly scraping for a playoff spot right now, they did hit a bit of a lull over the last month. The team lost four games in a row in early March, then did go 4-2 on a West Coast road trip but lost to two lottery teams in the Houston Rockets and Utah Jazz.

  The Celtics return home from that trip Friday night, when they’ll host the Indiana Pacers to begin the stretch of their final nine games of the regular season. Sitting 2.5 games out of first place in the East and half a game up oh Philadelphia for third place, will another ‘energy shift’ come to propel them into the postseason?

  After the Celtics’ win over the Sacramento Kings on Wednesday night, Brown brought back the now-famous line. Asked by NBC Sports Boston’s Abby Chin about the team’s “energy” after hitting the 50-win threshold, Brown replied, “we’re going into the spring. Winter is over. So there’s definitely an energy shift on the way.”

• "That looks like the team I recognize"@tvabby talks with Jaylen Brown on the big win. He says there's "an energy shift on the way" pic.twitter.com/vfqamieiCN

  — Celtics on NBC Sports Boston (@NBCSCeltics) March 22, 2023

• “We’ve just got to take advantage of our opportunities and do what we do best,” he continued.

  For Brown, the energy seems to already have shifted. He’s played some of the best basketball of his career over the last month, or in the 13 games since returning from that facial injury. In that stretch he’s the team’s leading scorer averaging 27.7 points per game while shooting 50.9 percent from the floor and 40.2 percent from three. He’s also averaging 6.3 rebounds and 4.0 assists, and 1.4 steals per game in that time.

  Brown and the Celtics will look to continue the energy shift Friday night against the Pacers. Coverage of the game begins at 6:30 p.m. on 98.5 The Sports Hub and the BetMGM Sports Hub Celtics Radio Network.

• Alex Barth is a writer and digital producer for 985TheSportsHub.com. Any opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of 98.5 The Sports Hub, Beasley Media Group, or any subsidiaries. Thoughts? Comments? Questions? Looking for a podcast guest? Let him know on Twitter @RealAlexBarth or via email at [email protected].

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