{"id":139695,"date":"2025-05-15T12:44:57","date_gmt":"2025-05-15T16:44:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/?p=139695"},"modified":"2025-05-15T12:44:57","modified_gmt":"2025-05-15T16:44:57","slug":"jaylen-browns-pippen-impersonation-is-basically-celtics-plan-b","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2025\/05\/15\/jaylen-browns-pippen-impersonation-is-basically-celtics-plan-b\/","title":{"rendered":"Jaylen Brown\u2019s Pippen \u2018Impersonation\u2019 Is Basically Celtics Plan B"},"content":{"rendered":"<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><a  href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/b\/brownja02.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Jaylen Brown<\/a> delivered a performance that mirrored his MVP-level stretch during the Celtics&#8217; 2024 title run. In Game 5 against the Knicks, Brown recorded 26 points, 12 rebounds, and 8 assists. His presence dominated both ends of the floor. Brown offered a glimpse of how impactful his leadership can be if the Celtics move forward with Plan B. The team now faces three primary options as it prepares for life without <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/t\/tatumja01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Jayson Tatum<\/a> for the first time. <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2025\/05\/13\/celtics-rebuild-after-jayson-tatum-injury\/\" target=\"_self\">With Tatum sidelined <\/a>for at least a year due to a ruptured Achilles, Boston must adapt without one of the league\u2019s top five players. Plan B involves keeping the core intact and making another run at Banner 19 \u2014 this time with Jaylen Brown leading the charge.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Jaylen Brown\u2019s Pippen \u2018Impersonation\u2019 Is Basically Celtics Plan B<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Brown opened the game by guarding <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/b\/brunsja01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Jalen Brunson<\/a> full-court. He pressured him for all 94 feet, setting a defensive tone early. Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.celticsblog.com\/2025\/5\/15\/24430597\/jaylen-brown-leads-the-boston-celtics-in-their-game-5-win-new-york-knicks-jb-joe-mazzulla\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">praised<\/a> Brown\u2019s intensity: \u201cHis physicality and presence really changed the game. He took on the challenge of guarding Brunson and led on both ends.\u201d<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">shout-out to Jaylen Brown because yeah they were not going to lose tonight with that kind of heart and hustle <\/p>\n<p>GONNA NEED MORE OF THAT IN GAME 6 \u2618\ufe0f <a  href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/gCB6lfUscf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">pic.twitter.com\/gCB6lfUscf<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Tomek Kordylewski (@Timi_093) <a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Timi_093\/status\/1922831724590875119?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">May 15, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p><a  href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/w\/whitede01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Derrick White<\/a> <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.celticsblog.com\/2025\/5\/15\/24430597\/jaylen-brown-leads-the-boston-celtics-in-their-game-5-win-new-york-knicks-jb-joe-mazzulla\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">echoed<\/a> the praise. \u201cJB was unbelievable. He took it upon himself to lead. We just followed his energy.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Brown didn\u2019t just play hard\u2014he led with purpose. After losing Tatum to a torn Achilles in Game 4, the team could\u2019ve folded. But Brown refused to let the Celtics quit. \u201cWe didn\u2019t want excuses,\u201d he <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.celticsblog.com\/2025\/5\/15\/24430597\/jaylen-brown-leads-the-boston-celtics-in-their-game-5-win-new-york-knicks-jb-joe-mazzulla\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">said<\/a>. \u201cWe didn\u2019t want to just give up.\u201d<\/p>\n<h3>The Evolution Of Brown\u2019s Game<\/h3>\n<p>Brown\u2019s passing reached another level in Game 5. He almost had more assists in one game (12) than he did in the first four games combined (13). Even more impressive, he only committed two turnovers. He made quick, smart reads and slowed the game down when needed.<\/p>\n<p>He consistently found open teammates, avoided forcing plays, and made the game easier for everyone. That control showed growth. Brown let the game come to him. And when it did, the Celtics reaped the benefits.<\/p>\n<p>Brown also hit tough shots and stayed aggressive on offense. His shot-making looked effortless. And defensively, he turned Brunson\u2019s night into a grind. The Celtics needed a new identity without Tatum. Brown gave them one.<\/p>\n<h3>Celtics Face A New Reality Without Tatum<\/h3>\n<p>Tatum\u2019s Game 4 was a masterpiece\u201442 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists, and elite defense. He\u2019s been the Celtics\u2019 engine for years. His absence changes everything. Tatum always improved. He never complained. He embodied Celtic pride. But now, he\u2019s out for the foreseeable future.<\/p>\n<p>This is the first true crisis of the Brad Stevens era. When Danny Ainge ran the team, he dealt with playoff injuries too. Tatum, in his rookie year,helped the team reach game 7 in the Eastern Conference finals against <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/j\/jamesle01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">LeBron James&#8217;<\/a> Cavaliers without <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/i\/irvinky01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Kyrie Irving<\/a>. But now Stevens must figure out how to lead through one of the franchise\u2019s toughest stretches.<\/p>\n<h3>Jaylen Brown\u2019s Plan B In Full Effect<\/h3>\n<figure id=\"attachment_139725\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-139725\" style=\"width: 800px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-large wp-image-139725\" src=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/05\/USATSI_26162235_168415934_lowres-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"Jayson Tatum's injury could force the Celtics to utilise plan B - Jaylen Brown\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" srcset=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/05\/USATSI_26162235_168415934_lowres-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/05\/USATSI_26162235_168415934_lowres-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/05\/USATSI_26162235_168415934_lowres-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/05\/USATSI_26162235_168415934_lowres-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/05\/USATSI_26162235_168415934_lowres-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/05\/USATSI_26162235_168415934_lowres-1200x800.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/05\/USATSI_26162235_168415934_lowres.jpg 1706w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-139725\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">May 12, 2025; New York, New York, USA; Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) is helped off the court by after an injury in the second half during game four of the second round for the 2025 NBA Playoffs as New York Knicks guard Josh Hart (3) gestures at Madison Square Garden. Tatum would leave the game with an injury after this play. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Boston\u2019s playoff hopes now rest on Brown. Jaylen Brown is the logical choice as the team\u2019s primary option \u2014 the centerpiece of Plan B. He is the reigning Eastern conference finals and NBA Finals MVP. The Celtics scored 127 on the Knicks without Tatum. Brown looked like the focal point of a playoff offense. And the Celtics still have the depth to support him in a weaker Eastern Conference.<\/p>\n<p>The Bill Chisholm-led Ownership must decide if they want to invest heavily in a team led by Brown. They paid $6.1 billion for the Celtics. Competing without Tatum would require major financial commitment. But with Plan B, there&#8217;s still a path forward with Jaylen Brown.<\/p>\n<h3>The Celtics\u2019 Financial Crossroads<\/h3>\n<p>Boston faces three choices. First, tank the 2025\u201326 season and try to land in a lottery spot. Get a top prospect. Add a key rotational piece on a team friendly deal. Second, go all-in on Brown, keep the core, and hope to stay competitive. Third, split the difference\u2014shed salary by trading players like <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/p\/porzikr01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Kristaps Porzingis,<\/a> <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/h\/holidjr01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Jrue Holiday,<\/a> or <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/h\/hausesa01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Sam Hauser. <\/a>All of these plans revolve around the same central figure: Brown.<\/p>\n<h3>Echoes Of Scottie Pippen\u2019s Moment<\/h3>\n<p>This moment mirrors a famous chapter in NBA history. When <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/j\/jordami01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Michael Jordan<\/a> left to play baseball in 1993, <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/p\/pippesc01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Scottie Pippen<\/a> stepped up. Many doubted the Bulls could remain competitive. But Pippen led Chicago to 55 wins and pushed the <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/category\/knicks\/\" target=\"_self\">Knicks<\/a> to seven games in the second round.<\/p>\n<p>He averaged 22 points, 8.7 rebounds, and 5.6 assists that season. He was an All-Star and finished third in MVP voting. Pippen proved he could lead. Brown faces a similar opportunity now.<\/p>\n<h3>Final Thoughts<\/h3>\n<p>The Celtics didn\u2019t expect to lean on Brown this heavily. But circumstances forced their hand. Plan B offers the Celtics the opportunity to use Jaylen Brown in a Pippen-esque role.<\/p>\n<p>Boston fans saw what Brown could do when asked to lead. He has answered the call with energy, poise, and grit. If the Celtics are going to stay relevant without Tatum, they\u2019ll do it on Brown\u2019s back.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">And so far, he\u2019s proving he\u2019s ready.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><label>Credit: <\/label>\u00a9 Bob DeChiara-Imagn Images<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Jaylen Brown delivered a performance that mirrored his MVP-level stretch during the Celtics&#8217; 2024 title run. In Game 5 against the Knicks, Brown recorded 26 points, 12 rebounds, and 8 assists. His presence dominated both ends of the floor. Brown offered a glimpse of how impactful his leadership can be if the Celtics move forward [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5018,"featured_media":139732,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[62,1608,5],"tags":[50041,1090,450,798,50109,239,138,4745,596,3851,894],"class_list":["post-139695","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nba","category-basketball","category-celtics","tag-2025-nba-playoffs","tag-derrick-white","tag-jaylen-brown","tag-jayson-tatum","tag-joe-mazzula","tag-jrue-holiday","tag-kristaps-porzingis","tag-nba-injuries","tag-nba-playoffs","tag-sam-hauser","tag-scottie-pippen"],"modified_by":"Frederick Okocha","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/139695","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5018"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=139695"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/139695\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":139738,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/139695\/revisions\/139738"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/139732"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=139695"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=139695"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=139695"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}