A tough stretch of play had some questioning the contending legitimacy of the Boston Celtics. Of their first 13 video games popping out of the All-Star break, they went 7-6, and in 4 of these video games, they blew double-digit leads. However of their final three, they’ve turned a nook.
Boston appears to be again on observe, selecting up massive wins over the Sacramento Kings and Indiana Pacers in back-to-back video games. Nonetheless, with Jayson Tatum sidelined for his or her Sunday night tilt towards the San Antonio Spurs, they wanted somebody to step up.
Enter Jaylen Brown.
“Whenever you get the chance to be the man that everyone’s sort of leaning on, it’s a privilege and an honor,” Brown mentioned post-game. “So, I don’t take these moments with no consideration. I come out every night time, I strap my sneakers up, and I get my guys able to go.”
Brown placed on a grasp class of a efficiency towards the Spurs, dropping a game-high 41 factors to associate with 13 rebounds and three assists. He shot 18-of-29 from the sphere and 2-of-10 from behind the three-point line.
For the whole thing of the sport, Brown took it upon himself to create possibilities and bully the Spurs on the offensive finish. He received to any spot on the ground that he needed to, masterfully selecting aside the protection each likelihood he received.
“He’s at all times had the power to attain, however now he has the power to interrupt defenses down,” mentioned head coach Joe Mazzulla. “To know how the protection is guarding him. To anticipate the place the assistance is coming from, after which to make the fitting play. And so, to me, his scoring is clearly large for us, however his decision-making and his reads have gotten quite a bit higher. It’s a credit score to him as a result of he works at it each single day.”
Brown was a +28 towards the Spurs (second on the Celtics), and each time Boston wanted a bucket, he delivered. His capacity to get comfy, discover his rhythm, and rating at will is a ability he’s fastidiously curated all through his profession. Over time, Brown has modified roles time and time once more, however for the previous two seasons, he’s been in a position to hone in on his craft and refine his recreation.
“I’ve, one, gotten higher and improved by means of expertise,” Brown defined. “Simply maturation as a basketball participant and as a person. Two, I’ve cultivated the model of play that I really feel like is conducive for me but additionally our workforce. “
For almost all of the season, Jayson Tatum has dominated the highlight. His early-season MVP marketing campaign made headlines, however since All-Star Weekend, it’s been Brown making a robust case for All-NBA consideration.
He leads the Celtics in scoring because the break, however his shot profile has modified. Brown is taking much less threes, specializing in attending to the basket extra, and his effectivity is thru the roof — 51.4% from the sphere and 38.8% from distance. Solely two gamers have made extra discipline objectives than Brown because the break: Joel Embiid and Devin Booker.
With the playoffs inching nearer by the day, Brown’s dominance has the Celtics in a great spot, and he’s set to reap the rewards of his elite play by season’s finish.
“He’s the perfect capturing guard within the league,” mentioned Malcolm Brogdon. “He’ll be All-NBA. He’ll make one of many groups this yr. And his recreation actually speaks for himself. When JT is out, he’s a #1 choice, and he’s displaying that he will be that. He’s put within the work. He’s advanced since we got here to the league collectively. He’s advanced and brought large steps ahead yearly. He’s enjoying at a particularly excessive stage.”
