Mavs coach Jason Kidd says Jaylen Brown is Celtics ‘best player’

After just one game in the 2024 NBA Finals, Mavericks head honcho Jason Kidd is already breaking out the mind games playbook. Talk about a coach who doesn’t waste any time!

So, what went down? Well, let’s just say the Mavericks got a taste of defeat in Game 1, courtesy of a good old-fashioned routing by the Celtics. Picture this: Dallas trailing by a whopping 29 points before gracefully bowing out with a final score of 107-89. Ouch! It was like watching a rom-com where the protagonist just couldn’t catch a break.

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But hold the phone! Enter Kristaps Porzingis, the Mavericks’ knight in shining armor (or basketball jersey, if you will). His return to the court was like a shot of adrenaline, injecting some much-needed life into Dallas’ performance. With 11 points and two blocks in the first quarter alone, Porzingis was the firestarter Dallas needed, even if it ultimately wasn’t enough to tame the Celtics’ ferociousness.

Speaking of the Celtics, they came to play. Six different players hit double figures, making it rain points like confetti at a championship parade. Jaylen Brown was the man of the hour, dropping 22 points and showing off some defensive flair with three blocks and steals each. Meanwhile, Jayson Tatum, the other half of Boston’s dynamic duo, had a quieter night by his standards, still managing a respectable 16 points, 11 rebounds, and five assists.

Now, let’s talk drama. Kidd, never one to shy away from stirring the pot, decided to toss a little extra spice into the mix. In a move straight out of the coaching playbook, he threw some shade Boston’s way by publicly anointing Brown as the Celtics’ alpha dog in the media before Game 2. Talk about setting the stage for some serious showdown vibes!

Ah, the sweet symphony of playoff basketball. With Kidd pulling strings and the stars of the court dancing to their own beat, the Finals just got a whole lot juicier. Let the mind games begin!

 

Mavs coach Jason Kidd says Jaylen Brown is Celtics ‘best player’

The art of the pre-game mind game. Jason Kidd, the maestro himself, orchestrated quite the symphony of controversy when he declared Jaylen Brown as the Celtics’ top dog ahead of Game 2. It was a move straight out of the coaching playbook—a calculated spark to ignite the fiery debates that have circled Boston’s dynamic duo in the past.

With a mischievous glint in his eye, Kidd fielded the question about the challenge of facing Brown with the finesse of a seasoned pro. “Well, Jaylen’s their best player,” he quipped with a smirk, knowing full well the ripples his words would create. “What he does defensively. He picked up Luka full court, he got to the free throw line, he did everything. That’s what your best player does.”

But did Boston take the bait? Not exactly. Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, the stars of the show, responded with the cool composure of seasoned veterans. “I have no reaction,” Brown deadpanned, his poker face betraying nothing but sheer focus on the task at hand. Tatum echoed his sentiments, brushing off Kidd’s comment with a shrug. “This is a team sport,” he declared, emphasizing unity over individual accolades.

Others in the Celtics camp saw Kidd’s ploy for what it was—a clever attempt to stir the pot. Al Horford chuckled knowingly, recognizing Kidd’s strategic move. Head coach Joe Mazzulla, on the other hand, didn’t mince words, lambasting the media’s penchant for sensationalism with impassioned fervor.

But amidst the storm of opinions, one voice stood out in agreement with Kidd. Jrue Holiday, the sage veteran, nodded in approval, acknowledging Brown’s relentless aggression on both ends of the floor. “JB’s been aggressive in every single way,” he remarked, offering a nod to Kidd’s assessment.

Yet, despite Kidd’s best efforts to disrupt Boston’s focus, it seems the Celtics remain steadfast in their unity and resolve. After all, in the crucible of the NBA Finals, distractions are just noise—easily drowned out by the thunderous roar of the game itself.