Celtics’ Jaylen Brown Calls Out ‘Unacceptable Performance’ Defensively in Cavs Loss

Julia StumbaughMay 10, 2024

Maddie Meyer/Getty Images

Jaylen Brown said the Boston Celtics’ defense was “unacceptable” during Thursday night’s 118-94 Game 2 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers.

The Cavaliers have now tied the Eastern Conference semifinals series at 1-1.

“It was just a bad game,” Brown said after the loss. “Obviously, we didn’t shoot the ball very well tonight, but defensively, it was an unacceptable performance.

“I think that’s where we look at that, and I’m the most upset. Defensively, we gave up 118 points, and then on top of that we lost the rebound battle, so we didn’t help ourselves tonight.”

Celtics on NBC Sports Boston @NBCSCeltics”Defensively, it was an unacceptable performance”

Jaylen Brown talks about Celtics’ struggles in Game 2 against the Cavs pic.twitter.com/nF9RHVTJyb

After falling into an early deficit, the Celtics came back to tie the score heading into the half.

Cleveland pulled away in the third quarter on superior shooting. They finished the game having shot 54.7 percent from the field, while both holding the Celtics to 41.3 percent shooting and out-rebounding them 44-31.

“Overall, maybe we missed some some shots and we let that translate, and it’s the playoffs, that can’t happen,” Brown said. “I don’t care if you missing shots, you gotta guard a guy on the other end, and that allows you to miss more shots if you’re playing defense.

“But you can’t miss shots, and then allow them to make shots on the other end. That was unacceptable.”

Brown recorded 19 points and four rebounds in the loss, which marked Boston’s second of the playoffs in seven postseason games at TD Garden. The team lost just four home games throughout the entirety of the regular season.

The Celtics will now head to Cleveland, where the team will look to regain the series lead Saturday when Game 3 tips off at 8:30 p.m. ET.