The Boston Celtics struggled to overcome a tough shooting night from Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum.
The Boston Celtics saw the best versions of Jamal Murray and Nikola Jokic. Both scored at a high clip, made quick reads, and manipulated Boston’s defense. Sometimes, star players get hot, and nothing you do can throw them off. When that happens, all you can do is try to make life as difficult as possible and live with the results.
Murray hit 15 of his 21 shots. Jokic hit 14 of his 22. It’s not like they were finding easy lanes and facing a sagging defense. This might sound dismissive, and it’s not intended that way, but it is what it is at that point. You turn your attention to the role players and look to limit their impact, hoping you can outscore two star talents.
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The Celtics did nullify the rest of Denver’s rotation. Aaron Gordon went 0-for-6. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope went 2-of-6. Reggie Jackson was 2-of-4. Peyton Watson was 4-of-11. Michael Porter Jr found ways to get his buckets.
He wasn’t awful. He just wasn’t the version of Jaylen Brown we’ve become accustomed to over the last few months. Credit to the Nuggets defense, they found ways to limit his athleticism and pressure his shot attempts. Still, it’s games like this where Brown will be judged. Against elite competition, playing on your home floor, you’ve got to find ways to make a difference.
That can be on the glass, as a cutter, being more active off the ball, or taking on a bigger role defensively. At times, Brown was a spectator in the game. That’s not all on him, though. Joe Mazzulla made multiple alterations during the game, and none of them specifically featured Brown. Nor did his teammates look to put him in better positions.
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