Hardwood Houdini
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Jaylen Brown learning how difficult it is to win in the playoffs

By Joshua Bateman

MILWAUKEE, WI - APRIL 20: Jaylen Brown #7 of the Boston Celtics drives to the basket against Matthew Dellavedova #8 and Malcolm Brogdon #13 of the Milwaukee Bucks during the first half of game three of round one of the Eastern Conference playoffs at the Bradley Center on April 20, 2018 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
MILWAUKEE, WI - APRIL 20: Jaylen Brown #7 of the Boston Celtics drives to the basket against Matthew Dellavedova #8 and Malcolm Brogdon #13 of the Milwaukee Bucks during the first half of game three of round one of the Eastern Conference playoffs at the Bradley Center on April 20, 2018 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) /
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Jaylen Brown was superb, but it was still not enough to get the Boston Celtics a victory in game four

The Boston Celtics fell just short of a 20 point comeback to take a commanding lead on the Milwaukee Bucks, but they not have to head back home with the series tied at 2-2. The Celtics had a disastrous start to the game, and Jaylen Brown‘s heroics fell just short of their most important comeback of the season.

Consistency has been a problem all season long for the Celtics, and this game was as good of an example of that as you will find. They could not get anything going to start the game, they were forcing the issue with everything, and had no answer for Giannis Antetokounmpo and Khris Middleton.

As they have done many times this season, the Celtics found a way to bounce back, and the game came down to their final shot. The Celtics put together a great second half effort, but playing one good half is not enough in the playoffs.

For Brown, this game must be particularly frustrating. He gave a career performance, hitting a new high with 34 points, and hitting all kinds of massive shots to will the Celtics back into the game. It looked like he was going to do everything that was needed for a comeback, but all it took was one swipe as his arm in transition leading to a Malcolm Brogdon three to make it all for nothing.

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The Celtics knew they were going to need their young talent to step up in a special way in this series, but game four is an example of how that is not enough. Brown got a nice lesson in that you cannot expect to put everyone on your back and get a win in the playoffs, unless you are ready to have the kind of production and impact that is expected of LeBron James on a nightly basis.

Brown had one of the best games of his career, but it was clearly not enough, and that will leave Brown thinking about the slow start. Brown was a part of the reason why the Bucks got such a huge lead, but he cannot expect to bring the team back by himself.

Brown is starting to separate himself from the other young players as the number one option on this team, and this game is a great example of how hard it is to bring your team back as the number one, especially when you are expected to be just as good on defense as you are on offense.

Watching Brown grow like this might end up being the most important part of these playoffs, and even after a career game, he knows how much more he still needs to grow. Brown is establishing a new standard for what is expected of him on a nightly basis, and he is quickly taking on the most difficult role on this current team.

It might be unfair to hold Brown to the standard he is now setting, but that is clearly the role he wants. Brown has taken the initiative of putting that extra pressure on him, and he has done a great job in that position so far.

None of this is ever going to be easy for Brown. The more he shows the more the Celtics will expect from him, and the more difficult things become on a regular basis. For this Celtics team, however, they need it. The Bucks are getting stellar performances from their top players, and Brown is the only one that has kept up with them, at least on the scoreboard.

Next: Brown and Tatum too valuable

The Celtics should still feel great about their ability to win this series, but it will not be without the most impressive effort of Brown’s young career, both on offense and on defense.

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