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Each time he touched the ball, Jaylen Brown bought raucously booed by the Cleveland crowd. The boos — a results of a second-quarter entanglement with Max Strus — by no means wavered, all the best way till the ultimate buzzer.
Fortunately for the Celtics, neither did Brown’s offense, nor his confidence.
“I embraced it,” Brown stated of his newfound villain standing at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse.
Jaylen Brown was known as for a standard foul after grabbing Max Strus’ ankle.
Ought to this have been upgraded to a flagrant? pic.twitter.com/baIkjY19ik
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) May 13, 2024
Brown had simply completed a layup when Max Strus landed on prime of him. Brown reacted by grabbed Strus’ leg, an act that was reviewed for being a hostile act however was in the end deemed a standard foul, a lot to the disdain of the house crowd.
“I drove to the basket, felt like there was some contact, completed the play, touchdown on the bottom, and I really feel like any individual kicking me at the back of the pinnacle,” Brown stated, recounting the incident.
“I really feel like I bought the precise to take away or not less than attempt to defend that. I wasn’t making an attempt to do nothing there and making an attempt to journey no one up, however on the identical time, you’re not about to only kick me within the head. It’s what it’s. I believe they made the precise name, and we moved on.”
Brown definitely moved on from the incident: He completed Recreation 4 with 27 factors on 9 of 15 capturing, together with 2-3 from three. All night time, he relentlessly attacked the basket, growing his aggression within the second half, specifically, when he put up 16 factors and regularly exploited Darius Garland as a defender.
“I simply get into the paint, take my time, and I really feel like that’s what I’ve been doing, not simply within the playoffs however all season lengthy,” Brown stated. “So, I simply get to my spots and simply do what I do.”
In 4 convention semifinal video games towards Cleveland, Brown is averaging 26.5 factors and capturing 61.2% from the sector.
Brown comes by means of within the clutch – and sure, the Celtics lastly performed clutch time minutes
For the primary time since April fifth, the Celtics performed clutch-time minutes, formally outlined because the final 5 minutes of a sport that’s inside 5 factors.
Seeking to go up 3-1 on the sequence, the Celtics led by 5 with simply over a minute to play when Tatum discovered Brown on the wing for an open three-pointer. Swish.
Tatum, who was ecstatic, hit Brown’s chest so laborious that Brown recoiled in ache.
“I didn’t notice how laborious I hit him,” Tatum stated with a smile. “I’ve been lifting so much recently. Excessive depth sport, I drove, they helped, he hit the massive shot. I used to be hype.”
Jaylen Brown on Jayson Tatum unexpectedly hitting him after his made three:
“I’m gonna get Jayson again for that. I wasn’t paying no consideration, and he simply comes out of nowhere with a left hook straight to the chest, I am gonna get him again for that.” https://t.co/0KI3aTtlKj pic.twitter.com/OWPAgMXzik
— Noa Dalzell (@NoaDalzellNBA) May 14, 2024
“I wasn’t paying no consideration, and he simply comes out of nowhere with a left hook straight to the chest, I’m gonna get him again for that,” Brown stated, laughing.
The three-point shot was a clear search for Brown, who’s now capturing 44% from three on the sequence. It was additionally a mirrored image of the kind of gravity Tatum carries – the Cavaliers’ protection was keen to break down onto him and conceded an open three-pointer for Brown.
Jaylen Brown famous after the sport that referee Tyler Ford was standing in his means on that momentous possession.
“I needed to push him out (of) the best way, then catch the ball (and) then capable of knock the shot,” Brown stated. “However he was like an additional defender proper there as a result of he was in the best way. In order that’s what I used to be telling him, that I have to get his @$# out of the best way.”
Provided that the Celtics bought the win, Brown acknowledged the referee mishap in the end didn’t matter: “It’s all good, the shot went in, we win the sport, so most likely a non-story.”
There is a narrative right here, although, and it’s that of the dominant play of a three-time All Star who’s having an enormously environment friendly sequence on the heels of a career-best season. Even his free throw capturing – a degree of inconsistency all season lengthy – is as much as 80% in 4 video games towards the Cavs.
The nationwide focus will stay on Jayson Tatum, and he’s enjoying some nice basketball, too; Tatum completed with 33 factors, 11 rebounds, and 5 assists in Recreation 4.
However Jaylen Brown’s effectivity is a key a part of the Celtics’ success up to now this postseason. Of all 20 level per sport scorers nonetheless within the playoffs, Jaylen Brown has the very best capturing share — 56% from the sector. On Saturday night time, to assist energy the Celtics to a 2-1 sequence lead, Brown had 29 factors on 13-17 capturing.
On Monday, he ran it again for a 28 level within the 109-102 Recreation 4 win.
Requested what’s allowed him to be so efficient on this sequence, Brown didn’t mince any phrases.
“I don’t assume anyone over there may actually guard me.”
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