Jaylen Brown could be key to corralling Donovan Mitchell, Cavs originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston
When Jaylen Brown publicly declared some lofty defensive goals for both himself and his fellow Boston starters before the start of the 2023-24 season, Al Horford’s ears perked up.
“At the beginning [of the season] you can say something and, for me, I was very observant. [I said,] ‘I’m gonna sit back and I’m gonna see what happens here,’” said Horford. “And I’ve just been impressed with what I’ve seen from Jaylen.”
Brown wanted Boston’s entire core to earn All-Defense votes and pondered the possibility of muscling his own way onto a team himself. That seemed like an outlandish goal on a Celtics squad that already features an All-Defense backcourt in Jrue Holiday and Derrick White.
But Brown’s defensive play really resonated with Horford, who believes it set the tone for the entire group.
“[Brown is] not shying away from anybody,” said Horford, who, despite his own defensive talents, has only earned one All-Defense nod back in 2018. “Any position, 1 through 5, he’s trying to guard. He’s trying to have an impact and It’s been felt. So he’s done it and that inspires the rest of our group. It’s put us in a really good position.”
As the Celtics prepare to tip off Round 2 of the Eastern Conference semifinals against the Cleveland Cavaliers, Brown’s defense could be key to Boston’s success. Brown likely will draw a heavy dose of defending Cavaliers star guard Donovan Mitchell, whose scoring outbursts sometimes feel like Cleveland’s lone road map to making this series interesting.
One year ago, after James Harden’s 45-point outburst helped the Sixers steal Game 1 of an East semifinals matchup in Boston, the Celtics dispatched Brown to defend the former MVP. Brown took on the challenge, attaching himself at Harden’s hip for the rest of the series. What’s more, all that defensive energy expended didn’t impact Brown’s offensive output, with Boston’s All-NBA wing still putting up 22.9 points per game while shooting 54.1 percent from the floor and 43.2 percent beyond the 3-point arc.
The Celtics could use a second-round replay. Mitchell’s scoring helped the Cavaliers outlast the Magic in Round 1. And while Brown and Mitchell are friends off the court — their bubble friendship was a popular storyline back in 2020 — Brown seems ready for the challenge.
“Ain’t no friends in the playoffs,” said Brown. “You got to be ready to play….