Inside The Celtics

Jaylen Brown Shares His View of What Defines 'Celtics Basketball'

After defining it with his two-way play on the court, Jaylen Brown verbalized his definition of Celtics basketball.

Bobby Krivitsky

Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports
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The theme of the Boston Celtics' two-game sweep of a mini-series with the Orlando Magic, a team that had beaten them four straight times before this, was the former utilizing its speed advantage to register two-straight runaway wins vs. an opposition that recently had their number.

After Friday's 128-111 win, Jaylen Brown said of the C's up-tempo approach, "That's how I want to play all the time. Let's run. On a made basket, on a missed basket, and that's what I've been trying to emphasize for our coaching staff and everybody all year."

The two-time All-Star was the driving force behind Boston's flying around defensively, swarming the Magic, who shot 43.2 percent this series and committed 30 turnovers.

The same goes for the hosts, who improved to 14-0 at TD Garden this season, pushing the pace. By attacking in transition, the Celtics consistently created quality, in-rhythm shots, including a season-high 17 corner threes against Orlando on Friday. That's the most efficient shot from beyond the arc. They knocked down ten of them that night.

And in Sunday's 114-97 victory, that approach led to 44 points in the paint.

Brown had a team-high 31 points in the win. He also tied Franz Wagner for a game-high six assists. He also registered five rebounds, a steal, and a block.

When he took the podium afterward, he pointed to how Boston played defensively and the pace it operated with as what, to him, defines Celtics basketball.

"I think we've got to set the tone on defense first and foremost," voiced the All-NBA Second Team selection last season. "We gotta continue to lay that as the groundwork and the foundation for success, and I think we've got the opportunity and the potential to be really great on that end.

"I think all of our guys are striving to be All-Defense type of guys, and I want to be the head of that snake. I want to continue to push myself but also push our teammates. And I think playing with a pace. I think a lot of times when we get in trouble is when we walk the ball up, (and) we play slow, allow teams to load up.

"I like the version of us when we're getting up and down, we're making the right reads, but we're playing with a little bit more pace. And I think those two, I think are gonna lead us in the right direction. But also taking care of the basketball is important, keeping the turnovers down and not fouling. And I think that contributes to Celtic basketball."

Further Reading

Jaylen Brown Generates 31 Points as Pace-Pushing Celtics Complete Two-Game Sweep of Magic

Celtics Utilize Speed Advantage in Run Away Win vs. Magic: 'It Makes the Game Easier'

Here's What Stood Out as Shorthanded Celtics Throttled Magic to Extend Home Unbeaten Streak

Celtics Evaluate a Key to Mini-Series Sweep of Cavaliers: 'Playing the Right Way'

Derrick White Praises Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown's Impact That 'Doesn't Show Up on the Stat Sheet'

Jayson Tatum Praises Kristaps Porzingis for Allowing Celtics to Spin the Dial Defensively

Wins on the Margins Help Propel Celtics Past Cavaliers

An Empowered Jaylen Brown Strives to Balance Scoring with Playmaking: 'I've Grown A Lot'

Jaylen Brown, Kristaps Porzingis Discuss Their Quickly Cultivated Chemistry: 'An Automatic Connection'

Joe Mazzulla Believes Celtics' Second Unit is 'Starting to Develop an Identity'

Under Joe Mazzulla, Celtics Rebuilding Brotherhood Between Past and Present

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Bobby Krivitsky
BOBBY KRIVITSKY

Bobby Krivitsky's experiences include covering the NBA as a credentialed reporter for Basketball Insiders. He's also a national sports talk host for SportsMap Radio, a network airing on 96 radio stations throughout the country. Additionally, he was a major-market host, update anchor, and producer for IMG Audio, and he worked for Bleacher Report as an NFL and NBA columnist.

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