Analytics are a critical tool in the NBA of today, and for the Boston Celtics, they have been and remain an indispensable part of how the team plays and develops their players. But they are also not the only tool in the Celtics’ arsenal, sometimes taking a backseat to lived experience. And we are seeing how that approach has born the fruit that is Boston’s unexpected success on the court this season despite losing star forward Jayson Tatum to injury and the exits of Jrue Holiday, Luke Kornet, Al Horford, and Kristaps Porzingis via trades or free agency.

The man who has been leading the charge for the Celtics this season in Tatum’s absence, his costar on the wing Jaylen Brown, opened up about how Boston has not relied as much on analytics this season ahead of the Celtics’ road tilt vs. the Atlanta Hawks on Saturday (Jan. 17) night. “I think we’ve had a more analytical approach,” said Brown via CLNS Media. “I think that’s where not only our coaching staff, but our front office, we love analytics in Boston, so we’ve had a more analytical approach to our style of play.”

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“I think this year it was just like, get it how you live … the way I play basketball doesn’t jump off the charts analytically to some degree, in some capacity,” he added. “So I can see why people may think that maybe being me put in this role, it wouldn’t be successful, but it’s more than meets the eye.”

Sep 18, 2021; Berkeley, California, USA; Boston Celtics forward Jaylen Brown walks through the crowd during the second quarter of the game between the California Golden Bears and the Sacramento State Hornets at FTX Field at California Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports

Sep 18, 2021; Berkeley, California, USA; Boston Celtics forward Jaylen Brown walks through the crowd during the second quarter of the game between the California Golden Bears and the Sacramento State Hornets at FTX Field at California Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports

“So, I’ve just been playing my game and I play off rhythm, I play off-field,” added the Cal alum. “I play off what I see, and sometimes that doesn’t show up.”

“I think we’ve changed our approach significantly. I was discouraged a lot of times to take mid-range shots at different points in my career. They literally told me not to. So now it’s like, Jaylen, you can take whatever shot you want – I was like, sure.”

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This article originally appeared on Celtics Wire: Jaylen Brown on how Celtics not relying on analytics as much this season