Jaylen Brown was none too pleased with the Celtics’ effort level following their Game 2 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers. He often used the word “unacceptable” to describe the loss, publically holding his teammates accountable and stressing the need to move on and bounce back.
“This was an unacceptable performance,” Brown said. “We need to be ready to respond.”
After morning shootaround prior to Game 3, Brown spoke with the media. With determination in his eyes, he faced the array of wine-colored seats at the Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse and delivered a resolute message to his teammates: raise the effort level.
“We’ve gotta establish what we want,” he said. “We gotta come out and be the harder playing team.”
Brown’s words weren’t just fluff to the media; he took on the responsibility of making sure everyone was on the same page entering Game 3.
When the Celtics took the floor about 15 minutes before tip-off, Brown grabbed a few of his teammates by the shoulder in layup lines, encouraging them to lock up on defense.
“I said, ‘Just guard.’ Nothing too complicated about it,” Brown said on his message. “Play defense, and I think the rest is self-explanatory.”
The Celtics did just that.
Boston’s defense held Cleveland to just 93 points on 42.9% shooting from the field and 33.3% from three-point range. It was the sixth time this postseason that Boston held their opponents under 100 points, maintaining a perfect 20-0 record when achieving this feat.
The Cavaliers were just 3-of-12 shooting (25.0%) when Brown was the primary defender in Game 3. In this series, Cavs shooters are shooting 6.3 percent below their expected output against Brown.
“I think we guarded pretty well,” Brown said after the game. “I think they made some tough shots, and we could have been even better, but we still kept them under 100, with that being said. So, much better defensive effort tonight.”
The effort, or lack thereof, wasn’t the only thing that stood out to Brown on film. Regarding his own game, Brown knew he could be better with his decision-making and shot selection. In Game 3, he came out with more purpose, getting to the bucket in transition and with powerful drives, resulting in 28 points on a very efficient 13-of-17 (76.5%) shooting from the field. Eight of Brown’s 13 makes came in the restricted area. Brown was a team-best plus-18 in plus-minus.
After his impressive shooting display in Game 3, Brown’s postseason field goal percentage now stands at 55.6%, the highest among all wings and guards. Among players with at least 40 made shots inside the arc, only Anthony Davis (67.0%) surpasses Brown’s remarkable 64.3% shooting accuracy on two-pointers.
“Just picking and choosing his spots really well,” Joe Mazzulla said on Brown after the game. “One of the best things he’s doing is even if he scores two or three times in a row, the next play is the right play. It’s not a play for him. It’s a play to make the right one. I think that’s huge growth.”
Brown currently ranks ninth in total points scored by any player this postseason. Among the top 10 scorers, he has attempted the third-fewest shots.
“Just being aggressive. I watched the film last game, and I saw where I feel like some of the times when I was driving, I should have shot. Or, some of the times when I went to the basket, I should have drove the ball. It was just -- the rhythm was off. So, tonight, I watched the film, and I was able to apply it.”
The 27-year-old is --and has been -- playing some of the best basketball of his career, undeniably a driving force behind Boston’s NBA-best 11.5 margin of victory this postseason.
Equally as significant as his on-court performance has been his leadership, a role he has embraced since day one, particularly in the aftermath of Marcus Smart’s departure. This trait proved to be a game-changer in Game 3.
“Just being a leader. Expressing his feelings and just kinda pouring out his knowledge on the game,” Jrue Holiday said.
“Telling us to be aggressive, telling me to be aggressive. ‘If you get tired, then I’ll switch onto Donovan.’ Just being a leader in that way. Talking to us defensively, especially down the stretch —’ no threes,’ ‘rebound the ball.’ He’s sitting there yelling at us. So, just being the leader that he is.”
From the onset, Brown has ensured everybody is connected, especially on the defensive end. The All-NBA wing has implored his teammates to fight against complacency and simply take care of business.
“We got enough talent in the locker room to beat teams,” Brown said. “But if we’re not on the same page and we’re not playing hard, those are when we get ourselves in trouble. So making sure before the game, at film and shootaround, talking to everybody, touching everybody, letting everybody know that, ‘Hey, we’re not here to play around.’ We didn’t come to Cleveland for the weather, so let’s go.”
Brown recognizes the significance of the moment. Driven by the disappointment of a tough loss in the Eastern Conference Finals to the Miami Heat last May, he has stepped up, asserting himself as a leader. His influence has been instrumental in cultivating a fresh attitude and identity for the Celtics.
“I’m just trying to take all of it. I think that’s what we need. I think we just need everybody to be on the same page, and everybody to come out with the right effort,” Brown said on how much ownership he’s taking as a leader. “That’s 85% of the battle right there. We come out, we play hard, and we’re on the same page, and the rest will take care of itself.”
Success starts with great leaders, and the Celtics are fortunate to have Brown at the helm as they strive for Banner 18.
Related
