Jaylen Brown: 'Can't wait for people to see how much better I’ve gotten'

https://www.nbcsports.com/boston/celtics/celtics-jaylen-brown-cant-wait-people-see-how-much-better-ive-gotten



Celtics' Jaylen Brown: 'Can't wait for people to see how much better I’ve gotten'




By Chris Forsberg

November 08, 2019 5:00 PM


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CHARLOTTE — Jaylen Brown didn’t look like a player who had spent much of the past week getting pumped full of antibiotics to battle the illness and infection that forced him to miss three games, especially when he blew past Bismack Biyombo for a left-handed layup early in the second quarter of the Celtics’ win over the Hornets on Thursday night.

Masked by Kemba Walker’s return to Charlotte and Gordon Hayward’s second consecutive 20/10 performance, Brown quietly chipped in 12 points on 5-for-9 shooting and added five rebounds in 32 minutes.

Brown displayed some rust but also picked up where he left off early in the year, aggressively attacking the basket with four of his five makes coming at the rim, including another snazzy left-handed layup after driving past P.J. Washington late in that second quarter.

Always eager for more, Brown confidently declared in the aftermath that it’s just the start for him.

"This is just my first game back. I can’t wait to get it back rolling, and for people to see how much better I’ve gotten,” said Brown. "You see it in spurts but people will see it. I’m sure of it.”

Even after inking a bountiful rookie extension last month, Brown’s remains on an insatiable quest to prove himself. But the Celtics have played some encouraging basketball with him on the court this season.

The Celtics own a net rating of plus-11.4 in Brown’s 118 minutes of floor time in four appearances, which includes a defensive rating of 92.2. Boston’s defensive rating pops to 103 in the 218 minutes that Brown has been off the court.

The Celtics have confidently deployed Brown against some of their toughest matchups. He logged a team-high 5 minutes, 35 seconds of matchup time against Pascal Siakam in the team’s home opener. Siakam put up 12 points on 5-of-12 shooting but all other offensive players are 13-for-35 for 39 points against Brown this season, per the NBA’s tracking data.

On Saturday, the Celtics visit the San Antonio Spurs. Brown will have the opportunity to catch up with Team USA coach Gregg Popovich, who Brown and teammates came away raving about after their experiences overseas.

"He’s a straight-shooter,” said Brown. "Any time you’re in an environment like that, you’re going to get better.”

While Walker, Tatum, and Hayward garner much of the early attention with each player averaging over 20 points per game, Brown is eager to show the strides he’s made as well.

Brown is averaging 10.3 drives per game this season, sitting one spot ahead of guys like Tatum and Siakam (both at 10.1 per game). More impressive, Brown is shooting 56.3 percent (9 of 16) on attempts off those drives. That percentage has him lingering among drive-finishers like LeBron James (57.8 percent) and James Harden (56.9).

His playmaking abilities have often been criticized but Brown has been a willing passer out of those drives, giving it up 46.3 percent of the time. It’s translated to only three assists but he’s limited his turnovers. Those drives are making good things happen, too, like when he passed out of what would have been a tough finish late in the second quarter of Thursday’s game and fed Tatum for a 3-pointer.

Brown’s return will also help drive down the minutes that Boston’s other starters have logged in his absence, something coach Brad Stevens has yearned to do with the Celtics unable to lean heavy on its bench given early-season injuries.

Like his own scouting report, Brown is bullish on the fact that better things are ahead for the C's, even amid a 6-1 start to the season.

"I think we got a nice little groove, for sure,” said Brown. "I think we have another level we can tap into it, making the right reads every single time. But I think we have a nice groove going. Obviously, we want to be better than what we are.

"We have a potential to be a really really good team but we gotta keep taking the steps to get there.”



bob




.

What a great treat, 10 more years of 2 J’s....!!!

Even though this kid is now a rich man, he still sounds just like he did in his rookie year--first class citizen.

It is hard not to like this guy no matter how many points, etc he may accumulate.

He needs to start making his 3 points shots.  He looks pretty awful.  Otherwise he is playing very well at both ends.

dboss wrote:He needs to start making his 3 points shots.  He looks pretty awful.  Otherwise he is playing very well at both ends.

FT shooting too, he’s got some time...keeper

cowens/oldschool wrote:

dboss wrote:He needs to start making his 3 points shots.  He looks pretty awful.  Otherwise he is playing very well at both ends.

FT shooting too, he’s got some time...keeper

Cow he is up to 71.4% from the line. No doubt he is improving.

He is currently putting up career highs in points, rebounds and assist.

Yeah, he's a keeper.

Jaylen is just getting started. Wait until he is 26!

worcester wrote:Jaylen is just getting started. Wait until he is 26!

He’s just starting to roll, he and this team are playing so well, but we can play even better....

Tough to lose GH, he was looking great, I think we’ll still be okay, and he’ll be back and still good as ever....

Might as well put this here.  Same topic.





bob



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https://youtu.be/iryBlnGgb9M

Highlights from the Spurs game.

We talked a lot about his need to improve his handle.  He is taking his time and reading the defense and finding lanes.  He is getting to the rim at will.  Change of pace, stop and go, quick first step, cross over dribbles, finishing at the rim with either hand, the whole nine yards.

His free throw shooting has really improved.  He is easily a 20 PPG guy when he is getting to the line and making his free throws.

Danny Ainge made a great decision to lock him in.  He is blowing up this year.

Jay King @ByJayKing
about 37 minutes ago
Jaylen Brown is shooting 62.5 percent from inside the arc on greater volume than any of his previous seasons. His career high is 52.9 percent. More than 40 percent of his FGA have come from inside of three feet, per @Basketball-Reference.

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bob


.

bobheckler wrote:Jay King @ByJayKing
about 37 minutes ago
Jaylen Brown is shooting 62.5 percent from inside the arc on greater volume than any of his previous seasons. His career high is 52.9 percent. More than 40 percent of his FGA have come from inside of three feet, per @Basketball-Reference.

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bob


.

He’s been doing nice bully ball close to the rim.

cowens/oldschool wrote:

bobheckler wrote:Jay King @ByJayKing
about 37 minutes ago
Jaylen Brown is shooting 62.5 percent from inside the arc on greater volume than any of his previous seasons. His career high is 52.9 percent. More than 40 percent of his FGA have come from inside of three feet, per @Basketball-Reference.

reply retweet like


bob


.

He’s been doing nice bully ball close to the rim.

Cow,

Indeed he has.


bob


.

Dear Jaylen,

I love what I see so far! Go for 40 tonight, please, but let Kemba have 32-34!! If you can make Dallas say, "Gordon Who?" and any point tonight, you can sit out the rest of the game!

db