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 Warmth 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, the whole course of the evening was modified.
Jayson Tatum went down with an ankle harm. And whereas he did his greatest to play by 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 powerful for him,” Brown mentioned of Tatum. “And my group turned to me to make performs and etcetera, and I got here up brief. I failed. And it’s powerful. I give credit score to Miami, however only a horrible job.”
Brown fought again his feelings post-game whereas breaking down his efficiency. His total press convention was stuffed with lengthy pauses, deep breaths, and the determined must struggle again tears.
The 26-year-old star was named to his first All-NBA group this 12 months, incomes All-Star honors as nicely. 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 would have gone unsuitable 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 as we speak 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 onerous to consider the rest proper now, to be sincere. We’ll cross that bridge once 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 previous.
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 can have some powerful selections to make this offseason in that regard, however Tatum needs Brown to be part of them.
“It’s extraordinarily necessary,” Tatum mentioned of Boston re-signing Brown long-term. “He’s top-of-the-line gamers on this league. Performs each ends of the ball and [is] nonetheless comparatively younger. And he’s achieved so much to this point in his profession. So, I believe it’s extraordinarily necessary.”
In the meantime, Brown was too heartbroken to type a cohesive thought of his extension.
He was requested about his thought course of surrounding a possible deal this offseason however paused for practically a minute earlier than responding.
“I don’t even actually know tips on how to reply that query proper now, to be sincere,” mentioned Brown. “My thought course of is to take it in the future at a time. Concentrate on getting higher. Concentrate on what the long run holds and see the place we’re from there, I suppose. I don’t actually know tips on how to reply that.”
Sitting in surprised silence, Brown tried to ponder his Celtics future, but it surely 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 possibility to step up. Not solely that, however his group wanted him. Their season relied on it. However he merely fell flat.
And now, there’s nothing left to do however transfer ahead.
“You’re taking it on the chin. You be taught from it,” mentioned Brown. “As onerous as this one is to swallow, you get higher. Robust one. Robust one. Robust one for me. Robust one for our group. Robust one for our group. Extraordinarily dangerous timing. You simply be taught. And it’s a part of the journey. This isn’t the top. We obtained so much higher to get. A whole lot of higher basketball to play. And also you simply obtained to have a look at it like that. However powerful evening.”
