The Boston Celtics took another tough loss on Thursday night, this one a 120-117 overtime defeat to the New York Knicks, one which saw all-star guard/forward Jaylen Brown miss two free throw attempts which would have given the Celtics the lead with 7.6 seconds left in OT. Jaylen Brown takes blame for the Celtics’ loss to the Knicks, as he made clear in his post-game commentary.
“I’ve just got to be better, to be honest,” Brown, who finished with 22 points on 8-22 shooting, 9 rebounds, and went 5 for 7 from the stripe overall. “Tonight was a rough game, and I’m a better basketball player than I played today.
Unfortunately, Brown’s only missed free throws in the game came at a crucial moment.
“Those two missed free throws kind of embodied the whole game,” Brown added. “I didn’t get it going, didn’t give my teammates enough energy to get the win, and that’s what happens when you don’t come out and give your best. I’ll be better.”
The Celtics, who still sit at first place in the Eastern Conference with a 35-15 record, lost their third straight with the loss to the Knicks. Although Jaylen Brown takes blame for the Celtics’ loss to the Knicks, Brown shouldn’t be the one to shoulder all of the blame. Teammate and fellow all-star Jayson Tatum, who had 35 points, 14 rebounds and 4 assists, had the chance to hit a game-winning jumper but saw his shot rattle in and out.
“I felt like if I would have called a screen, they were going to double,” Tatum said. “So I kind of just waved everybody down and made a move back to my spot, and it rattled in and out. But it felt good and thought it was a good one.”
When asked how a pair of missed free throws in such a crucial point of the game would affect him mentally, Brown said, “I think for your own sanity, just let it go. Come out, keep playing basketball and come out and be a better version of yourself.”
Brown is determined to not let the missed free throws or the Celtics’ third straight loss affect his mentality, however.
“It’s mentality,” Brown said. “Having a tough mind. I think [Celtics interim coach Joe Mazzulla] talks about it all the time, having mental toughness.
“After losing two games tonight would be a great game to show that, and we dropped the ball, and I dropped the ball, as a leader. I didn’t give the energy needed to help my team win and those two free throws just kind of embodied my whole performance tonight.”
Do you think it’s fair that Jaylen Brown takes blame for the Celtics’ loss to the Knicks? How do you think the Celtics have been playing this year so far? Let us know in the comments.
