Jaylen Brown's determination has risen to surface during Celtics' improbable playoff run

PHILADELPHIA -- Jayson Tatum is setting rookie postseason records. Al Horford is providing late-game heroics. Yet, as the Celtics remain on the verge of advancing to the Eastern Conference Finals, Jaylen Brown’s contributions have largely flown under the radar as Boston has sprinted out to a 3-0 lead against the Sixers.

The 21-year-old wing has battled through a strained right hamstring over the last two games, yet a look at his numbers over Games 2 and 3 show a player that isn’t letting one of the most fickle injuries for an athlete slow him down. Brown is averaging 14.5 points and 6.5 rebounds per game while shooting 45 percent from 3-point range in Round 2, despite being limited to 25 minutes per game by team doctors.

“I’m all right,” Brown said Sunday. “I’m not as healthy as I would like to be but it’s a continuous process of trying to get better. The medical staff is helping us out and Brad does a good job of managing the minute restriction and I’m just trying to get better every day.”

As the Celtics continue their Cinderella journey through the Eastern Conference bracket, Brown’s health and grit loom as perhaps the biggest key to extending that run.As one of the four remaining holdovers from last year’s Conference Finals matchup with the Cavs, Brown was one of the few players on the Celtics roster in that series that did not look overmatched in the moment against LeBron James and the Cavs. He averaged nine points in just 17 minutes per game during that series while shooting over 58 percent from the field. More importantly, he went toe-to-toe with James on several occasions and lived to tell about it on plays like this



Twelve months later, Brown is a far superior player compared to the emerging rookie that held his own in that matchup. However, the Celtics need the athletic, explosive version of the second-year guard to re-emerge at full strength this postseason and that’s something that may be slowly happening, according to Brad Stevens.

“He looked way better than the first game, in my opinion,” Stevens said of Brown’s Game 3 performance (16 points, 9 rebounds in 29 minutes). “He was probably tested more in that game as far as his matchups, running around, he was on Redick quite a bit late in the game. I thought he looked better running. We’re encouraged by that. Encouraged by the progress.”

While Brown’s movements were encouraging, it was his grittiness on both ends of the floor that stood out as he managed to make his physical condition an afterthought on several occasions. The 6-foot-7 wing is not known for his rebounding ability, but showed some extra hustle and fight to grab two crucial offensive boards in the fourth quarter against a far bigger Sixer (6-foot-10 Ersan Ilyasova).





Brown’s versatility was also on display as he was posted up by 6-foot-10 Dario Saric in deep position during the first half. The 21-year-old not only held his ground, but his huge block led to fast break going the other way for Boston.



Brown has been recognized for his speed and athleticism since the start of his career, but getting his hands dirty in the trenches with under-the-radar contributions like we saw in Game 3, is a sign of a new version of Brown that has emerged this postseason. He’s becoming more than just a high-volume scorer who relies on finesse and his burst, making the kind of hustle plays that one normally sees Marcus Smart doing.

That type of play made him an integral part of Game 3 and opened the door for Brown to talk his way onto the floor despite hitting his 25-minute playing time restriction at the start of overtime.

“I told (the coaching staff), 'Let's just get this win. I'll rest tomorrow.' That's what I said,” Brown explained. “Brad did a good job of managing it. He pulled me out in overtime and got me back in when it mattered. It's the same way we feel about the next one. It's going to continue to get better, but we have to continue to win games. I can contribute to that.”

Brown’s condition and continued progress is a crucial element that highlights the importance of Game 4 for the Celtics. History says the Sixers are done in this series, but a sweep for Boston would open the door for several days of rest for Brown’s hamstring to heal before the start of the Eastern Conference Finals next weekend.

“That's the key, trying to find some wiggle room for that,” Brown admitted.

For the Celtics to have a chance against LeBron and the Cavs, they need this new version of Brown at his physical peak. He provides an athleticism edge at full strength against nearly all of the Cavs’ shooting guards (J.R. Smith, Rodney Hood, Kyle Korver), a weapon Boston must have if they are going to dethrone James at the top of the East.

If he can combine his newfound grit with that physical edge, it could very well be the key to the C’s improbable run lasting into June.