Milwaukee Bucks Game Preview: Oct. 26 vs Boston Celtics
By Adam McGee
Celtic to watch – Jaylen Brown
There were some raised eyebrows when the Celtics selected Jaylen Brown with the third overall pick of the 2016 NBA Draft, and although he had a solid rookie season, his somewhat modest contributions weren’t enough to instantly change that narrative.
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If Brown can continue to build on his red-hot start to the 2017-18 season, all of his and Boston’s doubters will be proven wrong, though.
Positionally, there’s perhaps been no player who the Celtics needed to step up in Hayward’s absence more than Brown, and with averages of 18.8 points, 5.8 rebounds and 1.3 steals on 47.6 percent from the field and 36.4 percent from behind the arc, he has certainly delivered.
Just trailing behind Kyrie Irving in scoring, it’s not a reach to say Brown has been the Celtics’ best player so far this season. The 21-year-old looks more efficient than he was in his rookie season, and he still possesses the ability to lock in and cover some of the league’s toughest matchups, while he’s always just a couple of moments away from breaking out a display of incredible athleticism.
Brown is a certainty to guard and be guarded by some of the Bucks’ best players, and his performance in those matchups could be decisive in the final outcome of the game.