Celtics’ Jaylen Brown Drops 50, Says Defense Is the Real Story
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Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown scored 50 points and guarded Kawhi Leonard down the stretch in Saturday night’s win over the Los Angeles Clippers, insisting afterward that his focus extends well beyond highlight-reel baskets.
“Y’all focus on the wrong stuff in the media,” Brown said, according to The Athletic’s Jay King. “Basketball is rebounding. Basketball is defense, defensive versatility, making plays.”
Brown backed up that statement on both ends. He asked to defend Leonard in key possessions and, per ESPN’s Bobby Marks, now ranks second in the NBA in opponent field-goal percentage at 39.4%. Only Oklahoma City rookie Cason Wallace sits ahead of him, with Victor Wembanyama just behind.
Inside the Celtics locker room, the performance came as no surprise. “When I saw that Player of the Month, with the stats he put up in December, I knew what was coming,” teammate Luka Garza said. “I didn’t know it’d be 50. But I knew he’d try to prove a point.”
Brown’s season was already strong, but Saturday’s two-way display underscored his determination to reshape how his game is viewed. “No hiding. No shortcuts,” he said after requesting the Leonard assignment. “Just two-way work.”
With Boston chasing the top seed in the Eastern Conference, Brown’s message was clear: scoring is only part of the mission.
Source: Hoops Wire
