BOSTON – After a miraculous buzzer-beater in Recreation 6, the Boston Celtics had an opportunity to make NBA historical past on their house turf on Monday evening.
However they didn’t.
“We failed. I failed. We let the entire metropolis down,” mentioned Jaylen Brown.
The Celtics went down 0-3 to the Miami Heat however ripped off three-straight wins after that, forcing a Recreation 7 at house. TD Backyard was buzzing from the soar, however on the primary play of the sport, your entire course of the evening was modified.
Jayson Tatum went down with an ankle damage. And whereas he did his greatest to play by means of it, he was clearly not himself for the rest of the competition.
In flip, the burden was positioned on Brown to hold the Celtics’ offense.
“He couldn’t transfer on the market. It was robust for him,” Brown mentioned of Tatum. “And my workforce turned to me to make performs and etcetera, and I got here up quick. I failed. And it’s robust. I give credit score to Miami, however only a horrible job.”
Brown fought again his feelings post-game whereas breaking down his efficiency. His whole press convention was crammed with lengthy pauses, deep breaths, and the determined must struggle again tears.
The 26-year-old star was named to his first All-NBA workforce this 12 months, incomes All-Star honors as effectively. However within the Jap Convention Finals, he shot simply 16.3% from distance, and in a pivotal Recreation 7, he recorded a career-high eight turnovers.
Every thing that might have gone improper did for Brown and the Celtics, as Miami cruised to a 103-84 victory and their second NBA Finals look in 4 years.
Now, heading into the offseason, the main target will shift to Brown’s potential contract extension, as his All-NBA distinction makes him eligible for a supermax deal. However Brown hasn’t even begun to consider the long run but.
“I anticipated to win right this moment and transfer on. That’s what my focus was on,” Brown mentioned when requested about this summer time. “That’s what my focus has been on. We failed. I failed. And it’s arduous to consider anything proper now, to be trustworthy. We’ll cross that bridge after we get there.”
Throughout their time collectively, Tatum and Brown have reached the Jap Convention Finals in 4 of six years, together with a Finals berth final season. They’ve been competing on the highest degree for six years and are nonetheless simply 25 and 26 years outdated.
That being mentioned, there comes a time when each championship-caliber core ceases to exist or, on the very least, makes main changes. Brad Stevens could have some robust choices to make this offseason in that regard, however Tatum desires Brown to be part of them.
“It’s extraordinarily essential,” Tatum mentioned of Boston re-signing Brown long-term. “He’s the most effective gamers on this league. Performs each ends of the ball and [is] nonetheless comparatively younger. And he’s completed lots to date in his profession. So, I feel it’s extraordinarily essential.”
In the meantime, Brown was too heartbroken to kind a cohesive considered his extension.
He was requested about his thought course of surrounding a possible deal this offseason however paused for almost a minute earlier than responding.
“I don’t even actually know how you can reply that query proper now, to be trustworthy,” mentioned Brown. “My thought course of is to take it sooner or later at a time. Deal with getting higher. Deal with what the long run holds and see the place we’re from there, I assume. I don’t actually know how you can reply that.”
Sitting in shocked silence, Brown tried to ponder his Celtics future, nevertheless it was clear his brutal evening was nonetheless doing laps round his head.
On the most important stage with the brightest lights shining down, Brown was introduced with a chance to step up. Not solely that, however his workforce wanted him. Their season trusted it. However he merely fell flat.
And now, there’s nothing left to do however transfer ahead.
“You are taking it on the chin. You study from it,” mentioned Brown. “As arduous as this one is to swallow, you get higher. Robust one. Robust one. Robust one for me. Robust one for our workforce. Robust one for our group. Extraordinarily unhealthy timing. You simply study. And it’s a part of the journey. This isn’t the tip. We received lots higher to get. Quite a lot of higher basketball to play. And also you simply received to have a look at it like that. However robust evening.”
