1) Jaylen Brown’s unforgettable game-saving three
Celtics fans likely saw this one coming, because it doesn’t get more exhilarating than this shot.
The most important shot of Brown’s career came in Game 1 of the conference finals. The reigning Finals MVP knocked down an improbable corner three with Pascal Siakam in his grill, tying the contest at 117-117 with less than six seconds to go.
JAYLEN BROWN TIES IT. WE'RE GOING TO OT 🚨
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) May 22, 2024
(via @NBA)pic.twitter.com/Eodc4d7Kse
On the very next play, Tatum clamped up Tyrese Haliburton and forced a bad shot to send it to overtime. Tatum eventually dominated the extra period, but none of that would have been possible without one of the most clutch shots of the postseason by any player.
Brown’s unbelievable game-saving three helped him secure Eastern Conference Finals MVP three games later. He averaged 29.8 points in what was undoubtedly the best playoff series of his career. Brown shot 51.5% from the field through four games and even had a 40-point explosion in Game 2.
One could argue Brown’s shot changed the trajectory of Boston’s title run by breaking the hearts of Indy so early in the series. Instead of heading into Indiana tied up at 1-1, the Celtics got to play with house money on the road and gave themselves plenty of rest ahead of the Finals with a rare ECF sweep.
It might be far-fetched to suggest the Celtics wouldn’t have won the championship without Brown’s three, but the road certainly would have been tougher. Fans can only imagine how different that Pacers challenge could have turned out for Boston.
In the words of a post-championship Jayson Tatum, "I guess we’ll never know."