The Celtics experienced life without Jayson Tatum for the first time since his season-ending injury. They played with spirit and life as they blew out the Knicks in Game 5 to avoid elimination for at least one game. The path forward will be difficult, but at the very least, the C’s made sure they didn’t lose the East semifinals on their home court.
During a film session Tuesday ahead of Game 5, the Celtics were led by two of their trusty veterans: Al Horford and Jaylen Brown. Those two brought the team together, speaking about how they’re still very much alive in the playoffs. It’s clear Brown will play an important, vital role for the organization during this Tatum-less stretch. He’s a captain and he set the tone for the Celtics early in the blowout Game 5 win.
“Just be who I am — and I think that’s it,” Brown said. “Just be myself, come out, be aggressive and get it done in multiple ways. It’s a team; we’ve always been a team. I’ve always preached team. I’ve done whatever to kind of push this team forward. So whatever is needed on me. I’m excited to be able to facilitate in whatever role, so it could change each game, each night, defensively, offensively. But the goal is to just lead, just be myself.”
Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla had plenty of praise for Brown, who was excellent Wednesday right from tipoff. Brown flirted with a triple-double as he finished with 26 points, eight rebounds and 12 assists. It was a stat-line that showcased Brown’s growth as a playmaker as he dished a career-high in assists.
But Mazzulla pointed to Brown’s defense as a difference-maker. Specifically, Brown’s play saving the ball in front of the Celtics bench was highlighted by the third-year coach. Brown’s work on Knicks guard Jalen Brunson also kept the guard off-balance all night. That’s usually Brown’s role: matching up against the opposition’s best player. Brown hasn’t been at his healthiest in recent weeks, limiting his abilities, though he looked more like himself throughout the victory Wednesday.
“JB was unbelievable, both sides of the ball, the whole time he was out there,” said Derrick White, who poured in a game-high 34 points. “He took it on himself to get us going, and we just followed his lead. Great game for 48 minutes, and he really carried us.”
Life will be difficult and uncertain for the Celtics as an organization beyond this series, however it ends up. That’s what happens when a guy like Tatum goes down before what was already expected to be a transformational offseason. But there is a core, and as the longest-tenured Celtic, Brown figures to be an integral part of the conversation.
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Before all that — the summer is long enough — all the C’s can do is look to Game 6 and try to prolong this series for as long as they can. As Mazzulla put it, ahead of Game 5, their goal was to win one game. After Wednesday, the goal remains the same as the Celtics look to climb out of their 3-2 series deficit.
“That’s just who they are as people, just the character of those guys,” Mazzulla said. “All these guys have been around the league a long time. They’ve seen a lot, and to me, you just rely on the character of the guys, the togetherness, the staff. At the end of the day, you don’t get to pick the test that you have. You just pick how you respond to them, and that’s kind of how life works.”
