Boston Celtics: 3 studs in team’s revenge victory over Knicks

Jaylen Brown

After missing the last three games, Jaylen Brown was back and ready to take on any role Brad Stevens gave him.

That role was coming off the bench and Brown answered the call with 21 points on 7-for-10 shooting and overall aggressiveness.

He asserted his effort right away in the game by completing a three-point play against Knicks big man Enes Kanter.  The play set the tone for the rest of the game for Brown.  He continued to drive to the hoop, which is when he is at his strongest.

https://twitter.com/celtics/status/1070853304609996800

Accepting his role off the bench, this version of Jaylen Brown makes the Boston Celtics very tough.  It was just one game, but his contribution in helping the team win may have been the spark of confidence he needed.

Brad Stevens was certainly upbeat about the performance.

"“I thought he was really good,” Stevens said following the game.  “I thought he played with great pace and purpose and made really good decisions.  I didn’t think anything was forced, which sometimes, when you come off the bench, that’s one of the things you try to catch up to the game quickly.  He just played the right way and (the way) we needed.”"

More impressive was how well he and Gordon Hayward played together.  With both players accepting roles off the bench, the second unit of the Boston Celtics is going to be a force to be reckoned with no matter who is coming off the bench on any given game.