Jaylen Brown made a big play Wednesday when the Celtics needed him most. With roughly 5 seconds remaining on the clock, he intercepted the inbound pass from Spurs forward Jock Landale, and had a clear path to the basket for the game-tying layup.
The All-Star charged to the hoop, switched the ball to his right hand, and threw the rock up where it … clanked off the side of the rim. The Celtics lost 99-97.
Brown's missed layup embodies the Celtics' maddening play over the last two seasons. They constantly tease us before letting us down in spectacular fashion. Brown is just one game removed from a career-high 50-point effort against the Magic. On Wednesday, he led the Celtics with 30 points, yet only scored two in the fourth quarter.
The Celtics can't finish games. Over the last three weeks alone, they've collapsed in the fourth quarter against the 76ers, Bucks and woefully undermanned Timberwolves. Jayson Tatum added just six points in the final period Wednesday. He and Brown were 4-for-11 from the field in the fourth with zero assists. The Celtics had just three assists on 10 baskets over the final 12 minutes.
Those numbers indicate the Celtics aren't moving the ball when the game is on the line. They devolve into hero ball, and defenses know to seize on Brown and Tatum, forcing members of the supporting cast to make big shots.
They're simply not up to the task. Marcus Smart, for example, went 1-for-4 in the fourth with no assists. Robert Williams and Al Horford didn't attempt a single shot.
Despite that, Brown's defensive prowess gave them a prime opportunity to take the mediocre Spurs into overtime. And he missed.
This putrid season can be summed up in just one missed layup.
