On Wednesday’s edition of First Take, Stephen A. Smith did not hold back when speaking about the Celtics’ 121-113 loss to the Detroit Pistons. While the Celtics were able to get a 72-50 lead early in the third quarter, the Pistons made a miraculous comeback that ultimately saw them come back in the game and secure a victory.
Despite a stellar effort by Paul George in his debut, scoring 38 points with five rebounds and three assists while hitting seven three-pointers, Jayson Tatum struggled. Tatum finished the game with 13 points, 11 assists, and four rebounds, but only shot 6-for-23 from the field and 0-for-7 from three.
This wasn’t lost on Smith during Wednesday’s First Take broadcast, as he revisited the Jaylen Brown trade to the 76ers and spotlighted what he believes was Tatum’s culpability in it.
“There is no way in hell that Jaylen Brown is gone, let alone traded within the division to the Philadelphia 76ers, if Jayson Tatum cares for that not to happen. If Jayson Tatum stands up, ‘I don’t want to lose him. What do you mean you traded him? He ain’t going nowhere. I want my man here.’ Jaylen Brown is still a Boston Celtic. The fact that he is gone is because they wanted to make it clear it was Jayson Tatum’s team, and Jayson Tatum clearly did not mind.”
In the Philadelphia 76ers’ victory over the defending champion New York Knicks on Opening Night, Jaylen Brown had 19 points, 8 rebounds, and 6 assists on 7-of-14 shooting, and hit two three-pointers while also getting ojne steal and one block.
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