Unexpected Jaylen Brown issue quickly coming to light in playoffs

There weren’t a lot of flaws in Jaylen Brown’s game this season, as he took his game to another level in the absence of Jayson Tatum, elevating to an MVP candidate and a likely first-team All-NBA performer. A big part of his game was his ability to beat defenders off the dribble, create separation, and get into his midrange bag.

At times, it felt like a cheat code, an unstoppable weapon that Brown could bust out when nothing else was working, and the offense was bogged down, or whenever he was feeling himself, which was quite a lot.

But through four games of the playoffs, we’ve been seeing a disturbing trend involving Brown’s driving. Generally, we see physicality ramp up, and referees allow players to get away with a lot more contact than during the regular season.

In JB’s case, for whatever reason, we’ve seen the opposite, as he has already been called for seven offensive fouls - mostly for pushing off with his off-hand while driving. For context, nobody else in these playoffs has picked up more than four offensive fouls of any kind.

Brown will have to adjust to officiating

The sample size is still very small, and the whistle can be volatile from game to game, but if this trend continues, Brown is going to have to adjust his game. His physicality and ability to play through contact are some of his best attributes, but in a way, he can be punished for his own strength when he tries to push back.

Creating that separation has become a huge part of his game, and he has become nearly automatic in the midrange, but if the refs are suddenly going to start going after him for using his shoulders, elbows, and forearms, that’s going to become a problem.

The Celtics’ offense is so heavily predicated on their drive and kick game, and that’s largely fueled by Brown, Tatum, and Payton Pritchard. When all three are on their game, the offense hums, and the team is nearly unbeatable. When two of them are on, they are capable of beating anyone. If only one has it going, they become vulnerable.

Boston can probably get by the 76ers without getting the best version of Brown, and it’s not like he has been bad by any stretch. But he can be better, and will be facing tough, physical defenders in the coming rounds, regardless of which teams advance. 

If the officials aren’t going to allow him to be as physical on his drives, he is going to have to find other ways to create space, because the Celtics are going to need him, and they are going to need to limit needless turnovers.

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