‘I think some people have got it backwards’: Jaylen Brown focused on playoffs, not All-Star snub
By Alex Barth, 985TheSportsHub.com
After a 32 point, nine rebound performance Saturday night, talk once again turned to Jaylen Brown’s absence from the 2020 NBA All-Star Game roster. While there are those still vouching for his candidacy, Brown has moved past the snub, or so he claims.
Following the All-Star roster announcements on Thursday, Brown spoke about how being left off the All-Star roster is just another thing he can use as “motivation” as the NBA season rolls on. Fast forward two days, and he appeared to take out any frustration he had on the floor, leading the Celtics to a 116-95 win over the Philadelphia 76ers, a team they hadn’t previously beat in three tries this season.
After the game, however, Brown downplayed the narrative telling reporters that in his mind, he’s already past the mid-February festivities in Chicago.
“It is what it is. Ain’t no reason to cry over spilled milk.”
Celtics head coach Brad Stevens was impressed with how Brown has shaken off the disappointment.
“He’s been really good,” Stevens said to reporters Saturday night. “I said the other day, we’ve talked all along, it’s more important to be playing like an All-Star than to be named one. And nobody exemplifies that better. He’s done a great job. I think that he played really well the other night, but tonight he was – he was really good. Very aggressive, very good at picking his spots. But he came out – even on that first possession you knew he was going to be ready to roll.”
Feb 1, 2020; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown (7) dunks the ball during the second half against the Philadelphia 76ers at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports
While Stevens mentioned Brown being ready for Saturday night’s game, the former third-overall pick has a different kind of ‘readiness’ in his head.
“I’m getting ready to head into the playoffs. That’s what my mind is on right now.”
Playoffs? Talking about, playoffs?
Brown said something similar after the game on Thursday, but doubling down Saturday left no room for doubt as to what the 23-year-old is focused on after missing out on his first real chance at an All-Star game appearance. With two and a half months left in the NBA’s regular season, Brown seems determined to use that time to make sure he’s ready for round one, game one in mid-April.
“All-Star break? I’ll probably go on vacation, get my mind and get my body right, get ready for the playoffs. Because that’s it, that’s the stage that you want to be on. I think some people have got it backwards. I’m just going to continue and get better.”
With leading scorer Kemba Walker out for the next few games with a knee injury and Jayson Tatum still working his way back from a groin strain, Brown’s continued All-Star level of play (whether he’s in the game or not) is crucial for this upcoming stretch. With 18+ points in six straight games, Brown appears to be up to the task. After all, in a tight Eastern Conference, anything that improves the Celtics final seeding is a great way to ‘get ready for the playoffs’.
Alex Barth is a writer and digital producer for 985TheSportsHub.com. Any opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of 98.5 The Sports Hub, Beasley Media Group, or any subsidiaries. Thoughts? Comments? Questions? Hate mail? Let him hear it on Twitter @RealAlexBarth or via email at [email protected]
