Jaylen Brown confirmed relentless effort each in rebounding and within the paint towards the defending champs, showcasing why he was named Eastern Conference Player of the Week.
Brown delivered an excellent offensive efficiency, nevertheless it wasn’t sufficient to beat the Denver Nuggets. Regardless of the Celtics’ 115-109 loss, Brown’s particular person efforts considerably influenced the sport, particularly on prime-time tv. With Jayson Tatum struggling, Brown’s contributions prevented what may have been a a lot bigger deficit.
Quite a few errors occurred, notably ones involving Brown, which included seven free throw misses and several other missed inside seems. However it’s unfair to put all of the blame on him, even when he did miss an open dunk alternative. Dwell turnovers, missed photographs, blown defensive coverages have been all components within the loss.
Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla praised Brown for his aggressiveness and assertiveness that propelled the offense a majority of the night time.
“That’s the kind of physicality wanted,” coach Mazzulla instructed CLNS on Brown’s aggressiveness. “I assumed he introduced that on each ends of the ground.”
As a pacesetter on the workforce, Brown took final duty for the loss, even going so far as guilty himself. He additionally conveyed a message to the Nuggets that in the event that they have been to fulfill once more, issues could be totally different.
“Too many errors,” Brown instructed CLNS on what value the Celtics the sport towards the Nuggets. “It’s workforce, we’ve to take benefit. Turnovers. Free throws. Lacking the defensive assignments. All of that stuff we’ve to be higher at, and it begins with me, begins with the highest, begins with Jayson [Tatum].”
Regardless of totally different coverages thrown as Nikola Jokic, he nonetheless managed to place up a triple-double. Brown, at all times keen to protect the very best opponent, “felt like he ought to’ve guarded Jokic slightly bit.”
Because the postseason nears, this sport had a playoff ambiance. By the top of the sport, Brown recorded a powerful efficiency, tallying a season-high 41 factors together with two steals and 4 assists. He shot 16-29 from the sector, together with 2-7 from past the arc. Moreover, Brown secured a season-high 14 rebounds, marking a career-best six offensive boards. Scoring 37.6 p.c of Boston’s whole factors, the wingman accounted for 25 of the Celtics 54 factors contained in the paint.
After placing up seven first quarter factors, the dynamic dramatically shifted with 10 minutes to go within the second quarter. It initially began after Brown was known as for a weak tech name after a bucket simply minutes into the primary quarter.
Trailing 36-30, Brown acknowledged redemption was wanted after a missed mid-range jumper over Jamal Murray. On the subsequent possession, he shifted into overdrive. Realizing nobody else was seizing management, Brown determined to take cost himself.
Jaylen Brown, that includes the caption “vitality shifter” in his Instagram bio, lately shared that his weight has elevated, suggesting a corresponding enchancment in his energy as we’ve seen. Brown, with a wingspan of seven ft, grabbed a colossal offensive rebound all the best way within the nook over Peyton Watson, Zeke Nnaji, and Justin Vacation, after a Derrick White missed shot.
Afterward, he executed a spin maneuver within the paint, dealing with not one, however two defenders. Regardless of lacking the layup, Brown demonstrated his energy whereas contending with Vacation. Following a number of touches, Xavier Tillman tipped the ball again to Brown, who then capitalized on the chance, finally changing it into an and-1 scoring alternative regardless of dealing with two defenders.
After that, Brown was visibly energized, receiving quite a few cheers from Celtics followers in attendance at Ball Area for the numerous sport. With the absence of Jokic from the lineup, Brown appeared to capitalize on the scale differential, notably whereas taking part in alongside the experimental lineup adjustments orchestrated by Coach Mazzulla.
Though his again was stiff going into the second half, Brown credit the adrenaline rush to his success on the court docket.
“Earlier than the sport, my again was fairly sore,” Brown instructed CLNS post-game. “As soon as I obtained within the sport, the adrenaline form of stored going. Began getting sore in the direction of the second half. Outdoors of that, the gang, the adrenaline, all of the ache and stuff goes away.”
From right here on out, Brown completed with 15 second quarter factors, together with six rebounds. Whereas Brown and the C’s have been genuinely chilly from downtown, he realized to assault down hill, together with over Jokic within the paint along with his left hand.
“Jaylen had an incredible sport,” Mazzulla instructed CLNS. “I assumed he answered the bell so far as the offensive physicality and the flexibility to get to the free-throw line. And, the flexibility to complete by way of contact.”
Following defensive stops, Brown was already sprinting down the court docket, able to obtain an outlet cross from Jayson Tatum. Regardless of the end result not favoring the Celtics on this occasion lots, I strongly wished that they had been in a position to exploit extra alternatives in transition, an space the place Denver has traditionally struggled.
Talking of transition, Brown spoke on the significance of capitalizing off such alternatives and staying aggressive, particularly the best way the Nuggets stored Tatum out of sync.
“We’ve obtained to search out totally different spots to assist him [Tatum] out, but in addition while you do get these alternatives, you bought the be extra aggressive. Transition, alternatives after they do get the mismatches, stated Brown.”
Above all, it was Brown’s hustle and aggressive play contained in the paint that left probably the most vital impression on me. Regardless of the Celtics typically being criticized for his or her reliance on three-point photographs, Brown stood out by continuously driving coast-to-coast, making the most of defensive stops. Actually, 58.8 p.c of his factors got here contained in the paint, during which 65 p.c got here from unassisted two-point makes an attempt.
Regardless of lacking a number of free-throw makes an attempt, Brown assured he felt nice in his taking pictures rhythm that led to a season-high in factors.
“I felt good,” Brown instructed the Celtics reporter Abby Chin. “I obtained up there and shot it. I felt rhythm. Generally it’s slightly quick and possibly the elevation. I felt positive taking pictures the ball, and I stand up there and shoot it the identical manner.”
A notable occasion occurred with 4:16 remaining within the ultimate quarter when he powered by way of Michael Porter Jr. for a basket and one alternative.
A sport with such highs and lows, Brown and the Celtics minimize the deficit to 109-106 within the fourth quarter, regardless of being down a sport excessive 12 factors earlier. Though the Celtics misplaced the common season sequence towards Denver 2-0, is Jaylen Brown’s emergence a cause to not panic? I imply, he’s been masterful during the last video games, averaging 26.3 factors on 53.2 p.c from the ground.
If the remainder of the workforce was on level, and maybe there weren’t so many errors, this sport may’ve regarded lots totally different. There’s no have to panic, this sport may’ve been received, and was misplaced with a number of missed photographs and alternatives. Above all, Boston are nonetheless the favorites to win all of it.
