As the Celtics are down 0-3 in the Eastern Conference Finals, there is clear miscommunication and dysfunction from a team that’s been with each other for the better part of six-years now. The main core group of this team has played in 90 playoff games together since 2017, but yet they’re playing as if they’re suddenly strangers with one another.
During his postgame press conference after Game 3, Jaylen Brown was hesitant in his answers to the media, thinking about what he’s going to say and how it’ll sound before he actually says it. You can see a struggle in Jaylen’s eyes when he talks about the lack of “self pride” and what an “embarrassment” the Celtics have been in the Eastern Conference Finals.
As we all know, Brown unlocked a supermax qualifier by making All-NBA this season and there hasn’t been anyone in the NBA to turn down a supermax deal. If all goes well, Brown could be adding $295 million to his wallet over the next five years in his next contract.
At this point, I hate to say it, but Gary Washburn might be right about there being real issues in Boston’s locker room. From the two articles Brown released through The Ringer and New York Times, to subliminal comments and responses to the media, to his most recent press conference, it’s quite evident that Brown is unhappy with the Celtics both as a team and organization.
This season more than most has been odd from the start. With the way former head coach Ime Udoka was canned and then hired by another team, to Brown needing to call Brad Stevens and Jayson Tatum during the season, and even Wyc Grousbeck reassuring Jaylen that he wasn’t going to be traded, I think all of this is combined is pushing Brown out of Boston.
Brown is unhappy and it’s not hard to see.
With the future nearing, it’s going to be fascinating to see how the Celtics maneuver the offseason.
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Photo Credit: Jim Davis, Globe Staff
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