Jason Kidd, Dallas Mavericks head coach, spoke ahead of Game 2 of the NBA Finals series, which his team will play against the Boston Celtics.
Jason Kidd ignites discussion by naming Jaylen Brown as the Celtics’ premier player. Ahead of Game 2 of the NBA Finals, Mavericks coach Jason Kidd stirred controversy by declaring Jaylen Brown the top player on the Celtics. Kidd emphasized Jaylen’s prowess as a two-way player as a key factor in his dominance.
“Well, Jaylen Brown is their best player, so just looking at what he does defensively. Picked up Luka Doncic full-court, he got to the free-throw line. That’s what your best player does. Just understand that he plays both sides, defense and offense at a high rate and he’s been doing that the whole playoffs. When you talk about the Eastern Conference MVP, just continue to pick up where you left off,” Kidd said.
Jaylen Brown has indeed been pivotal to the Celtics’ success, earning the Eastern Conference MVP title for his stellar playoff performance. Brown, 27, outscored Jayson Tatum in Game 1, putting up 22 points compared to Tatum’s 16. Over recent weeks, one could argue that Brown, a three-time All-Star, has emerged as the Celtics’ best player, despite often being viewed as Tatum’s sidekick.
Until now, there hasn’t been much focus on a shift in the Celtics’ hierarchy, but it seems Kidd might be trying to exploit the situation for strategic purposes. Known for his cunning tactics—like the time he deliberately spilled his drink to force a timeout—it’s not far-fetched to think Kidd could be attempting to stir up tension in the Celtics’ locker room by playing on Tatum’s ego.
Agree or disagree, Kidd’s assertion puts the Celtics to the test. If Tatum or Brown tries to take on a hero role in the series, it could be detrimental. Fortunately, they are not letting Kidd’s comments affect their game plan.
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