Ranking the Top 10 players in the Celtics-Heat first round series
By Ben Grunert
No. 2: Jaylen Brown
While his raw numbers look less impressive than last season, Jaylen Brown has arguably had the best season of his career. Like Tatum, the three-time All-Star sacrificed touches and shot attempts to allow his talented counterparts to thrive.
Brown shot a career-high 49.9% from the field and posted a career-high 3.6 assists per game. After struggling with his efficiency as a playmaker throughout his career, Brown took perhaps his most important leap yet with a career-best 1.5 assist-to-turnover ratio.
Brown made a strong case for his second-straight All-NBA team with averages of 23.0 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 1.2 steals. He also guarded the best opposing player on most nights, emerging as a dark-horse candidate to make his first-ever All-Defensive team.
JJ Redick and Tim Legler recently praised how Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown have played together this season:
— Noa Dalzell 🏀 (@NoaDalzellNBA) March 22, 2024
“The partnership between them is so solid… there’s a self-confidence and a comfort level with the partnership. You feel it watching the game.”
(via @OldManAndThree) pic.twitter.com/tgDfcinSuG
After producing the worst playoff series of his career against Miami last year, Brown may have more to prove against the Heat than anyone else.