Jaylen Brown, Boston Celtics
Getty
Jaylen Brown, Boston Celtics
The Boston Celtics entered Super Bowl Sunday riding a five-game winning streak. They had beaten Miami in comeback fashion two nights earlier, and the atmosphere at TD Garden carried the energy of a team heading into the All-Star break on a roll.
That momentum disappeared quickly. The New York Knicks controlled the game from start to finish, building a lead in the first quarter and never letting Boston back in. Jalen Brunson scored 31 points while dishing eight assists, and New York shot 40 percent from beyond the arc. The final score read 111-89, ending Boston’s winning streak in ugly fashion.
After the loss, Jaylen Brown addressed something that had been building for more than just one game.
Brown’s Message on Offensive Foul Calls
Jaylen Brown was asked about the recent trend of opponents getting into his shooting space and drawing offensive fouls, and he didn’t hold back.
“They call it 50/50, depending on what?” Brown said. “Defensive guys are just putting their face, and I’m allowed to go up into my normal shot motion.”
Brown’s frustration was evident. “Just because their face is in there, they give them the offensive foul,” Brown said. “I disagree, but we’ve sent clips into the league, there’s no.. they call it 50/50 every time, inconsistently. But, a guy shouldn’t be able to put his face in there and get an offensive foul. If I go up into my normal shot motion, if his face is there or not, that’s on him.”
Brown then connected it to what’s been happening on the court. Defenders have learned they can step into his space late and draw fouls even when he’s already committed to his shooting motion. The calls have gone against him, and the pattern continued Sunday.
“They allow guys to do that to me when I got the ball,” Brown said. “It almost cost us the game last game, we ended up winning but it should’ve been an and-one. Tonight, it was the same thing. Hopefully, we find some consistency on it, but Imma just keep playing basketball.”
It was a measured response for someone clearly frustrated. Brown laid out his case, acknowledged the results, and moved forward.
Noa Dalzell 🏀
Asked Jaylen Brown about the recent trend of opponents faces being within his shooting range, and him getting called for an offensive foul:
“They call it 50/50, depending on what? Defensive guys are just putting their face, and I’m allowed to go up into my normal shot motion.
How the Celtics Lost the Game
The officiating frustration is legitimate, but it wasn’t the only problem against New York.
Boston shot just seven of 40 attempts from three-point range. That’s 17.5 percent. The Celtics have now made only 13 of 62 threes over the first halves of their last two home games combined. When shots aren’t falling, everything else becomes harder.
Brown carried the offense with 26 points, but he couldn’t do it alone. Derrick White added 19 points, and Baylor Scheierman contributed 10 points, 13 rebounds, and 5 assists in a strong all-around performance. But the shooting struggles doomed any comeback attempt before it could gain traction.
The Knicks took advantage. They shot 60 percent in the first half and got easy looks throughout the game. Brunson controlled the pace, Josh Hart added 19 points, and New York’s physicality overwhelmed a Celtics team that looked flat from the opening tip.
Jose Alvarado #15 of the New York Knicks
GettyJose Alvarado #15 of the New York Knicks, and Payton Pritchard #11 of the Boston Celtics.
Tatum Update Provides Hope
Sunday’s loss stung, but the Celtics remain well-positioned at 34-19. The bigger question heading towards the All-Star break isn’t about one bad game against New York. It’s about when their franchise cornerstone might return.
And that might not be too far away. According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, Jayson Tatum has begun controlled five-on-five scrimmaging with his coaches.
The development marks progress in his recovery from the ruptured Achilles that’s kept him out all season. But Tatum isn’t rushing back. He’s only willing to return if he’s confident in his physical condition, and he’s determined to avoid coming back as a shell of himself.
That approach makes sense for someone with Tatum’s career trajectory. He doesn’t need to prove anything by playing through pain or risking long-term damage. If he comes back, it will be because he’s ready to contribute at a high level.
The Celtics sit at 34-19 without him. Brown has carried the offense and earned Eastern Conference Player of the Month honors for January. Payton Pritchard has thrived off the bench.
Boston has proven it can win without Tatum, but getting him back healthy would change its trajectory.
GettyBoston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum reacts. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
Final Word for the Celtics
Jaylen Brown’s frustration with the officiating is understandable. When defenders step into shooting space and draw offensive fouls inconsistently, it creates problems that extend beyond individual possessions.
Sunday’s loss wasn’t just about officiating, though. The Celtics couldn’t make shots, struggled with their frontcourt rotation, and got beat by a Knicks team that played with more physicality and organization.
Brown will keep playing basketball, just like he said. The officiating inconsistency won’t stop him from attacking the rim or taking his normal shooting motion. He’s made that clear.
The Celtics will look to bounce back next against the Chicago Bulls.