Jaylen Brown or Jayson Tatum need to be taking the final shots at the end of close games. They just do.

The Celtics’ end-of-game approach needs to change, and it starts with making it clear that either Tatum or Brown will have the ball last, and will take the last shot in situations that are the difference between winning and losing. Marcus Smart shooting a three-pointer down by one point should never be the plan, yet it basically was, according to Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla.

• It’s easy to heap all the blame on Mazzulla, who needs to start calling more timeouts in these crucial situations, to draw more plays up for his stars. But the onus should also be on Tatum and/or Brown to say, “This is my shot.” “I got this.”

  Tatum obviously did the opposite, passing it off to Smart at the end of regulation AND overtime, with the game literally in his hands. Ideally, Tatum wants the ball in that spot, regardless of whether Smart’s open or it’s the “right decision.”

  Brown, thankfully, said the right thing.

• 

  May 7, 2023; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown (7) slam dunks against the Philadelphia 76ers during the first quarter of game four of the 2023 NBA playoffs at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports

• “I guess I gotta demand the ball a little bit more,” Brown said after the game. “I thought good things happened when I had it in my hands, but I thought our offense was OK. We chipped away, we made big-time shots all game long. We just came up short in the end.”

  Part of the problem may be that Brown is hesitant to “demand” the ball, certainly if he abides by the proper definition of that word. It’s not like Brown can demand that Tatum passes the ball to him. So that’s a tough dynamic that the Celtics are apparently still working through.

  In light of that, the end of Game 4 is more on Tatum. It would’ve been hard to fault him for challenging Joel Embiid at the rim on that last play. He has the ball with a chance to win the game, only needing a two-point basket, and he kicks it out to Smart for a three?

• 

  May 7, 2023; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Boston Celtics guard Marcus Smart (36) shoots a three point basket as time expired over Philadelphia 76ers guard James Harden (1) in overtime during game four of the 2023 NBA playoffs at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports

• Of course, it’s also a problem that Mazzulla was happy with the play and the decision. And while it’s hard to expect Smart to say something different, it’s concerning that he seemingly saw nothing wrong with himself getting the ball there.

  “Good look, great read by JT, made a good play,” Smart said. “Made it, just not in time.”

  There’s a little too much “Oh well what can ya do” from the Celtics after the way that game ended. They need to dial in a little more in these close, late situations. Both the players and Mazzulla. Tatum and the guys on the floor need to play with “more pace,” as Mazzulla put it, but the coach can’t be let off the hook for his own passiveness.

• 

  PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA – MAY 07: Head Coach Joe Mazzulla of the Boston Celtics reacts against the Philadelphia 76ers during the second quarter in game four of the Eastern Conference Second Round Playoffs at Wells Fargo Center on May 07, 2023 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)

• That won’t change until the whole mentality changes for the team. And that mentality should be to step on the other team’s throat, and to do it with their best players. Until Tatum or Brown take that initiative, it’s going to be hard for these Celtics to win the close ones in the playoffs.

  Click here for complete Boston Celtics coverage at 985TheSportsHub.com.

  Matt Dolloff is a writer and podcaster for 985TheSportsHub.com. Any opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of 98.5 The Sports Hub, Beasley Media Group, or any subsidiaries. Have a news tip, question, or comment for Matt? Yell at him on Twitter @mattdolloff and follow him on Instagram @realmattdolloff. Check out all of Matt’s content here.

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