Jaylen Brown sends four-word warning to Celtics after alarming Game 2 loss
Context:
The Boston Celtics have made an unfortunate mark in history by becoming the first NBA team to lose consecutive playoff games after leading by 20 points, a situation that has cast doubt on their chances of advancing past the Eastern Conference Semifinals. Despite Jayson Tatum's double-double performance, his low shooting percentages were a significant drop from his previous round's average, while Jaylen Brown also struggled with shooting efficiency and turnovers. With a daunting task ahead, the team must win four of the next five games to proceed, prompting Brown to emphasize unity and resilience as their strategy moving forward. The Celtics' ability to recover from this setback will test their character and could potentially reinvigorate their championship aspirations, provided they can improve their shooting accuracy. The series against the Knicks has become a defining moment for the Celtics' key players, especially if they hope to avoid a roster shake-up if they fail to advance further in the playoffs.
Dive Deeper:
The Boston Celtics are facing a challenging situation after losing two consecutive playoff games, each time after holding a 20-point lead, making them the first NBA team to experience such a collapse in history.
Jayson Tatum's performance in Game 2 was underwhelming, with a double-double but a mere 13 points scored on low shooting percentages, a stark contrast to his earlier playoff performance against the Orlando Magic.
Jaylen Brown also faced difficulties in the last game against the Knicks, scoring 20 points but struggling with shooting efficiency and recording six turnovers, which tied his playoff-high.
The Celtics must now win four out of the five remaining games to advance to the Eastern Conference Finals, a difficult task that requires them to rely on team unity and resilience, as emphasized by Brown in a post-game statement.
Their response to these losses will reveal much about their character and could reignite their championship spirit, but success will hinge on their ability to improve shooting performance, particularly in critical moments.
The outcome of this series is particularly significant for key players like Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, as a failure to advance could lead to significant changes in the team's roster.
Lawrence Fernandez, a freelance NBA writer and devoted Celtics fan, highlights the critical nature of the current series and its potential implications for the team's future, both on and off the court.
The Boston Celtics are on the wrong side of history by becoming the first NBA team to squander back-to-back 20-point leads in the playoffs. What’s frustrating for Celtics fans is that they held those big leads in the third quarter.
While the series isn’t over, the Celtics are halfway to an Eastern Conference Semifinal exit, an outcome most basketball pundits never expected. However, to prevent that outcome, the Celtics would need more from their stars, especially Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown.
Tatum finished with a double-double in Game 2 but scored only 13 points on 26.3 percent shooting from the field and 20 percent from beyond the arc. It’s a far cry from his 31.25 points-per-game average in Round 1 against the Orlando Magic.
Likewise, in their last game versus the Knicks, Brown had 20 points on 34.8 percent field goal shooting and 28.6 percent from the three-point area. Last year’s Finals Most Valuable Player also committed six turnovers, matching his playoff-high.
With their backs against the wall, the Celtics have no choice but to win four of the remaining five games (if necessary) to reach the Eastern Conference Finals. Though pulling off this feat won’t be easy, Brown believes that pulling together will help them overcome this obstacle.
Brown summarized the Celtics’ plan of action for the remainder of the series: “We’ve got to respond.” He shared this thought during the post-game press conference after their Game 2 loss to New York.
Jaylen Brown was asked by @BobbyKrivitsky what the Celtics will lean on being down 2-0:
“Each other. Opportunity to show what we’re made of.”
“We’ve got to respond.” pic.twitter.com/lXkTsxt5Aw— Noa Dalzell 🏀 (@NoaDalzell) May 8, 2025
The Celtics’ response after losing the first two games at TD Garden will reveal their character and strengthen their resolve. If they survive this series, it could be a pivotal moment that could revive their championship spirit.
However, in addition to playing as one, the Celtics must convert their shots, especially when it matters. They cannot afford the Knicks pulling the rug on them in Game 3.
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