Morning Sports Update

Jaylen Brown echoed a Bill Belichick mantra with Celtics up 2-0 in NBA Finals

Brown added that Jayson Tatum "has a gravity to him that has allowed others to be successful, and help our team win."

Jaylen Brown
Jaylen Brown dunks during the Celtics' Game 2 win in the NBA Finals. Maddie Meyer/Getty Images

By Hayden Bird

3 minutes to read

Jaylen Brown’s perspective: Jaylen Brown and the Celtics head into Wednesday night’s Game 3 of the NBA Finals with a 2-0 series lead.

So far, Boston has prevailed thanks to superior team play, relying on big moments from multiple contributors to win both games at TD Garden.

Among the group of primary contributors, inevitably, is Jaylen Brown. The 27-year-old has averaged 21.5 points and three steals per game.

Yet despite playing some of the best basketball of his career during the Celtics’ postseason run, Brown has had to answer questions about various narratives surrounding him as a player. He recently sat down with ESPN’s Malika Andrews, clarifying exactly how he feels about the discussion.

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Asked if it would mean something to win Finals MVP, Brown was blunt.

“A championship, that’s more like a team accolade and that’s what we play the game for,” said Brown. “The discourse around myself, that’s what I don’t give a f*** about. What you do as a team, that’s what I do care about and that’s what I want to achieve, that’s what I want to be a part of, and I think that’s what we’re here for, but anything that’s personal, that’s the stuff that’s rolled off my shoulder through time.”

Brown did admit that he’s thought in the past about wanting to get more credit in his role with the Celtics.

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“Everybody who is aspiring in their career has the want and the desire to be acknowledged for their skill-set, or whatever they do in their craft, especially if they feel like their the best,” he said.

Over time, the Celtics forward maintained that he’s moved past it.

“You don’t need someone’s outside validation. I don’t need the acknowledgement from others,” he added.

Brown also credited teammate Jayson Tatum for his performance in the Finals despite some shooting struggles. Tatum finished Game 2 with 18 points, 12 assists, and nine rebounds in a Celtics win.

“I think he’s been fine. I think JT’s at it to win it,” said Brown. “He’s helped our team get to this position. He draws a lot of attention. He has a gravity to him that has allowed others to be successful, and help our team win. I think that’s what it’s about. It’s a team game.”

Of course, the Celtics are only two games away from their first championship since 2008.

Brown was asked if he’s caught himself thinking about winning a title.

“Yes, and you have to pull it back as much as possible,” he said. “When that drifting starts to happen, that’s where the door starts to open, and you have to close that door.”

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As for how the Celtics can stay locked in, he explained it in phrasing that would be familiar to Bill Belichick.

“Stay in the moment. You have to finish the job, you have to do your job every single day,” said Brown. “You have to lead your team, guide your team, make sure everybody’s prepared and ready. That’s what’s most important.”

Trivia: Jaylen Brown was picked third by the Celtics in the 2016 NBA Draft. Can you name the two players selected ahead of him?

(Answer at the bottom.)

Hint: Both have made NBA All-Star teams. One did so in the East, the other in the West.

Scores and schedules:

The Red Sox lost 4-1 to the Phillies on Tuesday. The two teams play again at Fenway Park tonight at 7:10 p.m.

Tonight, the Celtics are in Dallas to play the Mavericks in Game 3 of the NBA Finals. The game tips off at 8:30 p.m. Boston holds a 2-0 series lead.

More from Boston.com:

It’s time to play dodgeball: Patriots rookie Drake Maye took part in the team’s community day on Tuesday, showing off his arm to the chagrin of one unfortunate dodgeball opponent.

On this day: In 2010, Daniel Nava hit a grand slam for the Red Sox in his first MLB at-bat. Boston went on to win the game over the Phillies, 10-2.

Daily highlight: Nolan Arenado made this incredibly difficult double play look easy in Tuesday’s Cardinals-Pirates game. Pittsburgh won in the end, 2-1.

Trivia answer: Ben Simmons, Brandon Ingram

Hayden Bird

Sports Staff

Hayden Bird is a sports staff writer for Boston.com, where he has worked since 2016. He covers all things sports in New England.

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