The Boston Celtics performed one in every of their finest video games of the season on Friday evening. They dismantled the Indiana Pacers 142-105. It was a match that was not shut at any time. They shot 51 p.c from the sector and ran away from the Pacers after Indiana gained on the second evening of a back-to-back.
One of many predominant causes the Celtics have been in a position to win the sport was Jaylen Brown. He scored a career-high 44 factors on 16-24 capturing. He additionally made six of his eleven 3-point makes an attempt. There was nobody on the Pacers who may defend him.
Brown was additionally the Pacers’ highest kill participant within the Jap Convention Finals a yr in the past. That is why he gained the Jap Convention Finals MVP. That is what sparked a variety of debate about whether or not or not he was the higher participant than Jayson Tatum on the Celtics.
After the sport in opposition to the Pacers, Brown wished to focus on the standard of his protection in relation to his scoring. He thinks he is top-of-the-line defenders within the league and that ought to be credited to him. Brown talked about it instantly after his career-high scoring outburst.
“Folks don’t pay sufficient consideration to it,” Brown mentioned of the overall underappreciation of the protection. “However I really feel like I’m top-of-the-line two-way gamers on this planet. I attempt to place myself on that facet by doing completely different assignments, like choosing up guys everywhere in the area, chasing guys off screens, passing to bigs. It takes a variety of power.
Whereas Brown is lauded as a superb scorer, and he confirmed that in opposition to the Pacers, he thinks he ought to get extra credit score for his capability to defend at an elite degree. He desires to be often called top-of-the-line two-way gamers within the NBA quite than simply an offensive pressure.
When Brown first got here into the league, that is how he made an affect. He was a stable defender who obtained his minutes due to his size on the perimeter as a defender. Brown normally defends the opposing crew’s finest participant due to this size.
The Celtics will play one other recreation in opposition to the Pacers on Sunday evening. They need to count on Indiana to play a a lot more durable recreation than they have been in a position to muster on a brief relaxation Friday.
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