Jaylen Brown took a victory lap previous his doubters Monday after main the Boston Celtics to their twenty ninth win of the season.
Most anticipated the Celtics to flounder this 12 months with Jayson Tatum sidelined by damage and Jrue Vacation, Kristaps Porzingis and Al Horford all carrying totally different uniforms. As a substitute, Boston has flourished with Brown on the helm. The Celtics sit second within the East halfway by the season, the identical place they have been on this time final 12 months.
Brown spoke to reporters after the Celtics’ 102-94 win over the Portland Path Blazers and was asked whether he took offense to those that doubted Boston would succeed with out Tatum and the remaining.
“I take every thing personally, lowkey. I’m at all times in search of one thing,” Brown stated. “However yeah, I felt like I’ve sacrificed through the years to ensure that us to be a championship-caliber crew. And I feel now, we’re attending to see that a bit of bit. What precisely I used to be able to, and what I used to be sacrificing.
“I feel, earlier than, possibly it wasn’t so apparent. I feel now, having the ability to be on the helm of issues, and us being the second seed within the east, versus final 12 months we completed second seed within the east. It’s nearly been no drop off with 4 gamers, 5 gamers which might be basically gone. The work from the teaching workers. The work from our management has has been nice. And you understand, I simply attempt to make myself obtainable each single night time.”
Brown has regarded each bit the dark-horse MVP candidate that Tatum has been over the previous a number of seasons. The Cal product leads the NBA with 22.5 shot makes an attempt per recreation and has thrived whereas carrying the heavier offensive workload. By way of 46 video games, Brown has averaged profession highs in factors (29.6) and assists (4.9) whereas capturing 48.3% from the ground.
Joe Mazzulla additionally deserves loads of credit score for empowering among the Celtics’ newer rotation items, similar to Neemias Queta, Luka Garza and Hugo Gonzalez. Nevertheless it’s Brown who’s been the stabilizing centerpiece for the Celtics all 12 months.
