After sweeping the Indiana Pacers in the 2024 Eastern Conference Finals, the Boston Celtics are making their 23rd trip to the NBA Finals and their second this decade. Celtics star Jaylen Brown earned Eastern Conference Finals MVP honors for his sensational play.
The Eastern Conference Finals MVP… Jaylen Brown! https://t.co/WufvMKxUud pic.twitter.com/sWwZShQ2or
— NBA (@NBA) May 28, 2024
Though Jayson Tatum led the team with 30.3 points and 10.3 rebounds per game, it’s Brown’s efficiency, defense, and clutch performance allowed him to edge out his teammate (5-4) in voting for the aptly named Larry Bird Trophy. The three-time All-Star averaged 29.8 points, 5.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 2.0 steals and 0.8 blocks per game against the Pacers, shooting 51.7 percent from the field and 37.0 percent from 3.
As Boston’s most efficient scorer in a series that was closer than the record shows, Brown’s late game heroics are arguably the only reason that they went undefeated this round. In Game 1, Brown had a clutch 3 that pushed the game into overtime, where they outlasted the Pacers. In Game 3, Brown scored 40 points, becoming the first player in franchise history with multiple 40-point games in the Conference Finals.
Jaylen Brown with two huge plays. First the block, then the dime.
And what a shot by Derrick White. It’s actually a game-winning three: pic.twitter.com/WJR6MCAaWx
— Tomek Kordylewski (@Timi_093) May 28, 2024
On Memorial Day, Brown had a night to remember, making plays on both ends down the stretch of Game 4.
Jaylen Brown Honored After Conference Finals Finale
On the podium for his postgame presser, Brown revealed that he didn’t expect to be named MVP.
“I wasn’t expecting it at all,” he says. “You know, I don’t ever win s***.”
Jaylen Brown on winning ECF MVP:
“I wasn’t expecting it at all. I never win s***.” pic.twitter.com/ZbZdcVX3ql
— Noa Dalzell 🏀 (@NoaDalzellNBA) May 28, 2024
“So, I was just happy that we won,” Brown continues. “Give credit to Indiana. They played us tough… I thought they was tough as anybody we played all season. They were physical, they were fast, and they put a lot of pressure on us. So, shoutout to them and respect to them.”
No Haliburton, No Problem?
The absence of All-Star guard Tyrese Haliburton was undeniably a high hurdle for the Pacers to clear. To that point, the 24-year-old averaged 17.5 points, 9.0 assists, and 2.0 steals per game in the two games that he was healthy. He also knocked down 40.0 percent of his 3-pointers on a team-high 10.0 3-point attempts per game.
However, with the way Andrew Nembhard stepped up in his absence, it’s difficult to say the Celtics’ path got much easier. In four games, Nembhard averaged 21.0 points and 7.8 assists per game while shooting 54.1 percent from the field and 47.6 percent from 3. Though Indiana is more formidable with their floor general, Brown’s assessment of their play was spot-on.
