Jaylen Brown’s protection on Damian Lillard shows ‘highly effective’ Celtics management

On Wednesday night time, Damian Lillard scored 32 factors, capturing 11-of-21 from the sector and 6-of-10 from behind the three-point line. He was environment friendly, and he nearly led the Milwaukee Bucks to a powerful comeback over the Boston Celtics.

A box-score look at his stat line would conclude that he picked the Celtics aside. And in the previous few minutes of the competition, he performed effectively.

That doesn’t inform the entire story.

Not seen on the stat sheet is the full-court press Jaylen Brown performed towards him. The ball denial on inbounds performs. Brown’s chase-down, unrelenting protection hounded Lillard all night time.

“I believed Jaylen’s mindset and depth to start out the sport was sort of what stored us related all through the sport,” Joe Mazzulla mentioned. “And he set the tone so far as our defensive depth for the sport. And the remainder of the fellows picked up on that.”

Brown guarded Milwaukee’s star guard for a team-high 6:16 of recreation time, but solely 4 of Lillard’s 21 photographs had been towards him. He shot 2-of-4. One make was instantly off a Brook Lopez display screen, and the opposite, Brown obtained punished for taking part in too excessive up within the pick-n-roll and Lillard blew by him.

As a substitute, Lillard did his finest to keep away from going up towards Brown. He took 15 photographs towards Al Horford and Kristaps Porzingis mixed. The Bucks regarded to get him switched onto a giant anytime they might.

Photograph by Brian Babineau/NBAE through Getty Photos

Lillard’s effectivity was spectacular, however within the case of Brown, his significance goes past the opponent’s capturing proportion. His eagerness to protect the very best gamers on opposing staff sends a robust message to his Celtics brothers.

“It’s highly effective. What that does for our staff,” mentioned Jayson Tatum. “How significantly better it makes us. Seeing him take the problem of guarding the very best guard on the staff, selecting them up full courtroom, [and] chasing him round all night time, it has an affect on the remainder of the staff and actually provides everyone else no excuses, proper? If he can do that every one night time whereas nonetheless making an attempt to be efficient on the offensive finish. It’s nothing wanting particular.”

Brown spent the complete night time discovering Lillard within the backcourt after a Celtics bucket and trailing him all the best way up the ground. He didn’t give Lillard any house to breathe.

Initially of the season, Brown made it his mission to make the All-Defensive First Crew. All yr lengthy, he’s embraced the problem of guarding opposing stars each night time. It will get him fired up.

Requested about his matchup with Lillard post-game, Brown cracked a smile.

“It’s enjoyable. It’s like a recreation of chess,” Brown mentioned. “A man has it happening, they wish to be aggressive, they’re going to him each possession. Choose him up, be aggressive. Typically you bought to be again. It’s good. At all times provides you good info.”

With all the brand new additions Boston made this summer time, sacrifice was inevitable. Fairly than taking a step again, Brown merely adjusted his focus.

He’s nonetheless a high scoring choices on the Celtics. Because the All-Star break, he’s been some of the dominant scorers within the league. However he’s put extra effort into the defensive finish this yr than ever earlier than.

“Our guys should not simply outlined by one factor, and we perceive that, so as to win, we have now to play well-connected basketball, and it begins with depth and physicality,” mentioned Mazzulla. “Jaylen has finished an excellent job of that.”

The Celtics love protection. That breeds profitable. And Brown is on the forefront of that cost.