Through three games, young veterans Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum have displayed an encouraging sense of commitment to the defensive backboard ... the flashy Jay Team has nitty-grittied its way to 41 of the squad’s 98 defensive rebounds.
Though plagued by a few too many unfavorable whistles, Brown -- who looks to have added some bulk and strength for this campaign -- is playing with a confident and purposeful assertiveness. Knicks' colorman and NBA Hall of Famer Walt Frazier gushed over JB's Q4, blow-by three-point-play last night ... then scolded old pal Marcus Morris for an unnecessary foul.