Jaylen Brown named MVP of Eastern Conference Finals

BOSTON — Jaylen Brown was practically unstoppable in the course of the Jap Convention Finals, main the Celtics to a sweep of the Indiana Pacers and again to the NBA Finals. He hit clutch photographs, dished out key assists, and locked down on protection for Boston, and now has a brand new trophy for his mantle.

After dropping 29 factors on the Pacers in Boston’s comeback win in Recreation 4, together with 10 factors within the fourth quarter, Brown was named MVP of the Jap Convention Finals. He was mobbed by teammates as he accepted the Larry Chook Trophy on the podium inside Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indiana.

“I wasn’t anticipating that in any respect,” Brown stated after the sport. “I by no means win [expletive]. I am simply pleased we received.”

Brown is contemporary off being snubbed for an All-NBA workforce after his best season within the league. He additionally did not make an All-Defensive workforce regardless of his stellar play on that finish of the ground whereas constantly guarding the opposite workforce’s greatest participant. He stated the All-Defensive snub burned him greater than not getting any All-NBA recognition.

“I feel I am top-of-the-line two-way wings/guards on this recreation,” stated Brown. “I really feel like I ought to have been All-Defensive, and that damage me essentially the most. That is one thing I set out to do that season and needed to be. However I ended caring and I simply embrace it. I do not care who sees what, so long as my workforce, my metropolis and my household see my worth.”

Boston followers definitely see Brown’s worth, although they’re probably hoping that the NBA continues to snub Brown. Whereas it irritates him, it additionally brings out the very best in him on the ground.

Brown was completely cash for the Celtics within the Convention Finals, averaging 29.8 factors off 51.7 p.c taking pictures all through the sequence. He added 5.0 rebounds and a couple of.0 steals per recreation for Boston.

The sequence began with the Pacers practically stealing Recreation 1 in Boston, however Brown hit a game-tying three with 5.7 seconds left to convey the Celtics again. Whereas Jayson Tatum’s 10 factors in additional time capped off that Recreation 1 victory, Brown went out and scored 40 factors to steer the C’s to a 126-110 win in Recreation 2.  He had 24 factors in Boston’s comeback win in Recreation 3 on Saturday night time, after which fueled one other comeback in Recreation 4.

Whereas he scored 10 factors within the fourth quarter on Monday, Brown’s two largest performs down the stretch did not contain placing the ball within the hoop. He blocked Andrew Nembhard with 1:04 on the clock to maintain the sport tied 102-102, after which made an unimaginable learn to search out Derrick White within the nook for the go-ahead, game-winning three with 44 seconds left.

“He is unreal,” White stated of Brown. “I knew he was unreal once I bought right here, however the wonderful thing about JB is he is gotten higher each single yr he is been on this league. That is a testomony to his laborious work and dedication. He was unreal this complete sequence on each side of the ball, an entire participant that you do not actually see as of late.”

“You possibly can’t shake him,” head coach Joe Mazzulla stated. “He has an ideal short-term reminiscence, if he misses a shot it by no means results the subsequent one. I really like his poise and his potential to assault. He simply makes performs. Not being outlined by scoring. It was a hell of a move and I had full religion he was going to make that learn. It was an ideal learn.”

Brown felt loads of strain heading into this season after signing the richest contract in NBA historical past over the summer season. However he not solely introduced his recreation to a brand new degree in his eighth NBA season, he additionally turn out to be a way more vocal chief on the ground and within the locker room.

“We had some guys depart, so I needed to be sure that void was stuffed. Marcus Good, one in all my brothers, was traded and was one of many voices of our workforce. When he wasn’t right here I needed to ensure I stepped in and everybody felt me and knew what the usual is,” stated Brown. “We did not skip steps all season; I felt like we performed each recreation the correct method, held everybody accountable, and that is the byproduct.”

Now Brown and the Celtics are again within the NBA Finals for the second time in three years. This has been constructing for the workforce all yr, and now it is time to end the job.

With over per week off till the Finals, Brown’s doubters will discover one thing to nitpick about his unimaginable Jap Convention Finals. As at all times, Brown says convey it on.

“You simply embrace it. I am at that part of my life the place I embrace types of negativity,” he stated. “Some stuff I do not perceive, however I do know who I’m and what I stand for. Typically it makes folks uncomfortable and generally I miss out on issues, alternatives, awards, advertising offers. At this level, I simply embrace it. I’m who I’m and I will stand on my beliefs. I’ll die for what I imagine in.

“I am grateful to have the ability to be on this place, and the power is about to shift,” Brown added.