MVP of the Eastern Conference Finals, Jaylen Brown is well on his way to collecting a new award, that of MVP of the Finals. Forgotten by the All-NBA Teams and the All-Defensive Teams, the Celtics winger once again hurt the Mavericks very badly, and Jayson Tatum and he had the good idea to take turns to snatch this Game 3.
If Tatum held the house in the first half with Sam Hauser, it was Brown who took over after returning from the locker room. The first Celtic to accumulate 30 points, 8 rebounds and 8 assists in a Finals match since John Havlicek, Brown scored 24 of his 30 points after the break! He and Tatum are the first duo to each finish a Finals game with at least 30 points, 5 assists and 5 rebounds. Their ability to take turns in attack made the difference.
“We accumulated important actions in the 3rd quarter. The guys that came in were ready, whether it was Sam (Hauser) or Payton (Pritchard). All evening, we played in tune” estimates Brown, author of a monstrous dunk in the 3rd quarter to relegate the Mavericks to 20 units.
And then when the Mavericks signed a 20-2 in a few minutes in the 4th quarter, it was Brown who made the difference. First by causing, in quick succession, the 5th and 6th fouls from Luka Doncic. Each time, it is contentious. In the 5th, Brown rolls up the Slovenian with his elbow, but the referees whistle the foul. On the 6th, we are on the verge of forceful passage, but once again, the referees give the advantage to the attacker.
Keep a cool head
And then, Brown took responsibility. It was he who stopped the bleeding when no Celtic managed to get in there. And it's him again, on an offensive rebound and a tap, who breathes life into “money time” while Dallas had returned to -2. “It’s basketball, nothing but basketball…” he answers about Dallas' comeback attempt. “They signed a big series, and something clicked for them. But we kept our composure, and we scored baskets in the right moments. »
In the end, it's a 10th victory in a row for the Celtics in these playoffs, and they still haven't lost away! On Friday, they can finish the series and win the 18th title in history. “You have to stay in the present moment” repeats Brown several times. “You have to smile, appreciate the moment, and I'm grateful to be here… But you have to stay in the moment. See you Friday ! »
