Boston Celtics star Jaylen Brown is scoring the fewest points per game since the 2019-20 season. However, he's shooting 23.2 PPG with 58.3% true shooting, which is his best mark since the 2020-21 season.
That is his best mark since the 2020-21 season.
Even though Brown’s offensive game isn’t the main topic for discussion this season due to more offensive options around him, his defensive efforts have impressed his teammates, says Al Horford.
“Jaylen keeps taking on challenges, Horford informed reporters on April 3.
“It inspires the rest of us because he contributes a lot on offense and then he wants the responsibility on defense.”
It can be hard to use defensive metrics in the NBA.
Brown – a three-time All-Star who received Seconnd-Team All-NBA honors last season – ranks seventh among players who meet the league’s 65-game requirement for postseason awards and play at least 30 minutes per game, per NBA.com.
Three other Celtics rank higher than him: Derrick White, Jayson Tatum, and Jrue Holiday. All three have better defensive ratings than Brown.
“Many people say they want those challenges, but he’s facing all kinds of different players,” Horford said. “He’s guarding Steph Curry, he’s guarding Zion [Williamson], various guys that he has to match up against. And just being very objective, it's very clear he’s First-Team All-Defense.
“You look at what he’s doing individually and the impact that he has on the defensive end. … We’re one of the best defenses in the league, have the best record. He deserves to be in that position.”
Celtics’ Jaylen Brown on Defensive Progress
When asked how the coaching staff has helped him improve his defensive game, Brown instead stated an intentional effort on his part.
“It was more about my emphasis, Brown told media members on April 3. “I believe I’ve always been a good defender. But … over the years, we had some guys that took the majority of the matchups like [Marcus] Smart. And it just I guess allowed a little bit of comfort. So this year, I wanted to reemphasize that I was going to be the one that was taking on those matchups.
“Regardless of how I’m feeling, the defense has always been there for the most part this season. … So, no, I think just this whole season man there just been an emphasis on my on my behalf and it wasn’t nothing the coaches said or did or anything like that. I think it was on me.”
The Celtics were criticized for signing Brown to a five-year, $286.2 million contract.
His continued improvement in his eighth NBA season and the team’s current position – which is thanks in large part to Brown – would seem to justify their decision.
Celtics Face Favorable Closing Slate
The Celtics’ play has them positioned to close the season with the best record in the NBA. They will benefit from the NBA’s second-easiest slate of games to close the 2023-24 regular season schedule, per Tankathon.
All but one of their final six games will be at home in TD Garden Arena. They will also face three playoff teams.
Winners of 60 games, the Celtics have proven capable of winning regardless of locale.
However, they are now in a position to take advantage of rest and recovery without the added concerns of competing for playoff positioning. And history shows that the No. 1 seeds have an advantage, with 89 of them making it to the Finals in the past. per Land of Basketball.
51 of those previous top seeds ended up winning the championship – a .573 winning percentage – with 27 cases where both teams finished first in their respective conferences going into the series.
