Jaylen Brown Shares His View of What Defines ‘Celtics Basketball’
The theme of the Boston Celtics’ two-game sweep of a mini-series with the Orlando Magic, a team that had beaten them four straight times before this, was the former utilizing its speed advantage to register two-straight runaway wins vs. an opposition that recently had their number.
After Friday’s 128-111 win, Jaylen Brown said of the C’s up-tempo approach, “That’s how I want to play all the time. Let’s run. On a made basket, on a missed basket, and that’s what I’ve been trying to emphasize for our coaching staff and everybody all year.”
The two-time All-Star was the driving force behind Boston’s flying around defensively, swarming the Magic, who shot 43.2 percent this series and committed 30 turnovers.
The same goes for the hosts, who improved to 14-0 at TD Garden this season, pushing the pace. By attacking in transition, the Celtics consistently created quality, in-rhythm shots, including a season-high 17 corner threes against Orlando on Friday. That’s the most efficient shot from beyond the arc. They knocked down ten of them that night.
And in Sunday’s 114-97 victory, that approach led to 44 points in the paint.
Brown had a team-high 31 points in the win. He also tied Franz Wagner for a game-high six assists. He also registered five rebounds, a steal, and a block.
When he took the podium afterward, he pointed to how Boston played defensively and the pace it operated with as what, to him, defines Celtics basketball.
“I think we’ve got to set the tone on defense first and foremost,” voiced the All-NBA Second Team selection last season. “We gotta continue to lay that as the groundwork and the foundation for success, and I think we’ve got the opportunity and the potential to be really great on that end.
“I think all of our guys are striving to be All-Defense type of guys, and I want to be the head of that snake. I want to continue to push myself but also push our teammates. And I think playing with a pace. I think a lot of times when we get in trouble is when we walk the ball up, (and) we play slow, allow teams to load up.
“I like the version of us when we’re getting up and down, we’re making the right reads, but we’re playing with a little bit more pace. And I think those two, I think are gonna lead us in the right direction. But also taking care of the basketball is important, keeping the turnovers down and not fouling. And I think that contributes to Celtic basketball.”
Further readings:
Jaylen Brown Generates 31 Points as Pace-Pushing Celtics Complete Two-Game Sweep of Magic
Jaylen Brown Generates 31 Points as Pace-Pushing Celtics Complete Two-Game Sweep of Magic
They also parlayed five offensive rebounds into an 8-0 advantage in second-chance scoring.
Still, their lack of resistance made it too easy for the visitors to get into the paint, leading to quality, in-rhythm shots that translated to a 31-27 edge entering the second quarter.
3. The Celtics got back to utilizing their speed advantage, the key to Friday’s win, in the second period. They also raised their physicality defensively.
The combination translated to a 12-4 advantage in points in the paint and outscoring Orlando 9-3 on the fast break.
Pushing the pace also got everyone in rhythm, kept the collective involved in the offense, and created quality shots, often around the basket. It also helped the hosts go 6/10 from beyond the arc in the second frame.
4. Payton Pritchard had an excellent first half and was one of the individuals most responsible for Boston picking up the tempo in the second quarter.
He also defended well on the ball, forced a turnover, grabbed an offensive rebound, and converted it into knocking down a corner three over Magic center Mo Wagner.
5. The C’s, who produced 30 points in the paint in the first half, led 61-50 at intermission.
They still struggled to contain Banchero, who paced all participants with 26 points, contorting himself to get around Boston’s centers for layups and drilling a baseline fadeaway jumper with Jrue Holiday draped over him.
But they silenced everyone else, walling off drives, flying around the court, and contesting shots, resulting in the visitors only putting 19 points on the board in the second frame. Orlando made only 27.3 percent of its field goal attempts in those 12 minutes, including faring 2/12 (16.7 percent) from three-point range.
Banchero was the only player on the Magic who scored in double-figures at the break. Conversely, Holiday led the hosts with 14 points, and Tatum and Brown each had 11, as the Celtics entered halftime with a 61-50 advantage.
6. Boston got off to a sloppy start in the third quarter, lacking focus and committing three turnovers by the 8:22 mark. That included Kristaps Porzingis giving the ball away when he didn’t ensure the person he was handing it to behind him was Jaylen Brown. Instead, it was Anthony Black.
7. The hosts had four giveaways by the 5:56 mark. But to their credit, they committed none after that. Taking better care of the ball and hustle plays like the two below helped them hold an 83-74 lead entering the final 12 minutes.
8. The Celtics delivered a haymaker about midway through the fourth quarter: Jrue Holiday blocked Jonathan Isaac at the basket, Derrick White pushed the pace, pitched an entry feed to Al Horford, and the former Florida Gator quickly kicked the ball out to Brown for a three from the right corner.
After a Banchero miss from beyond the arc, the two-time All-Star elevated off the dribble at the left wing and drilled another long-range attempt. That sparked a roar from Brown and the TD Garden faithful as Orlando head coach Jamahl Mosley signaled for a timeout with his team trailing 103-86 with 6:24 left.
9. Jayson Tatum put an exclamation mark on Boston’s two-game sweep of its mini-series with the Magic, rejecting Banchero at the rim.
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