As calls for their separation grow louder, Jason Tatum and Jaylene Brown’s Grow Closer: “Two young guys who are very competitive and want to win at all costs.”

As the Celtics struggled in the early months of the season, they dropped to their lowest level outside the Eastern Conference’s top 10, meaning they wouldn’t qualify for the playoffs, let alone the playoffs, and calls to sever the inflated partnership between Jason Tatum and Jaylene Brown.

The team and its first-year coach had to adapt to each other, and injuries and the epidemic often forced Boston to play with short hands. However, those who decided it was time to trade one of the Tatum or Brown put more weight into this sample size than those who lead the Celtics on multiple trips to the Eastern Conference Finals.