Guard points out mistakes in All-NBA voting after Jaylen Brown is snubbed

Boston Celtics player Jaylen Brown (7) leaves the court with high fives from fans as the Celtics face the Pacers in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals at the Garden on May 21. (Staff photo by Stuart Cahill/Boston Herald)

BOSTON – The Celtics were the best team in the NBA this season, but you can't tell by the results of the All-NBA voting.

Jaylen Brown, who was named to the All-NBA Second Team last season, was denied that honor this week.

With 50 third-place votes and no first- or second-place votes, Brown was the first player not to be named to the media-voted All-NBA teams.

Guard Payton Pritchard objected to the vote because the Celtics are the best team in the league.

“JB, that's definitely an insult,” Pritchard told reporters Thursday. “I don't understand how you can be No. 1 by a wide margin and only have one guy. JB has been great all year. A player that plays both ways. He definitely deserves to be there.”

Brown had a poor season statistically, averaging 23 points with 5.5 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game, but he also took fewer shots than in previous seasons. He said he is playing the best basketball of his career.

Head coach Joe Mazzulla is not concerned about Brown's reaction.

“He's a very mature guy, so I don't have to talk to him about it,” Mazzulla said Thursday before the Celtics face the Pacers in Game 2 of the East Finals. “But he has a great outlook on life. He knows what's important and what's not. He works really hard and he knows who he is as a person and as a player. That's the most important thing.”

Mazzulla was asked about the criticism the players have received this season due to their statistically poor performances and responded by commenting on the selflessness of some of the team's best players.

“I haven't paid much attention to it, but I know it's there, obviously,” Mazzulla said. “For me, at the end of the day, this is a group of guys that just want to win. It's time to do whatever it takes. Up to this point, everyone on the team has developed the physical and mental mindset to do whatever it takes to give us the best chance to win. That's all you can ask of a team: that everyone brings the mindset that we're going to do whatever we need to do to win, whether it's blocking, passing, rebounding or defense. And I think that's one of the biggest strengths of this team so far. We'll see how it plays out. The most important thing should be that it's just a group of guys that want to win.”

And they've won a lot. The Celtics lead the NBA with 64 wins this season and have lost just two playoff games in two series. They beat the Pacers 133-128 in overtime of Game 1. Brown sent the game into overtime with a three-pointer with six seconds left. He scored 26 points with seven rebounds, five assists, three steals and a block in the win.

Porzingis is still out

Kristaps Porzingis continued to sit out due to a calf strain, but the Celtics had a frontcourt player back in his jersey on Thursday night.

Xavier Tillman, who was signed during the season, was available to Boston after he had to sit out Game 1 for personal reasons.

Porzingis has missed the last eight games and reportedly won't suit up for Saturday's Game 3 in Indiana. However, the Celtics may not have to wait much longer for the return of their big starter, as ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported that Porzingis could return as early as Game 4.

Al Horford's playing time has increased with Porzingis out of the lineup. He has started every game since his injury. The 37-year-old played 40 minutes in overtime on Tuesday, his most playing time since March 2023.

Tatum “is getting better and better”

Tatum was named to the All-NBA first team for the third year in a row, and Mazzulla sees a player who is continually improving in many ways.

So what do the Celtics need from their top star as the series against the Pacers continues?

“Every series is different. The last game was a balance between handling and blocking. It's always going to require defense,” Mazzulla said before Game 2. “We'll see if there are any adjustments. I think it's like that every year, you try to improve, and I think he's gotten better because we have that kind of team. He's been covered in different ways over the course of the season. He's been able to solve the puzzle as the game has gone on, so to speak, and he continues to deliver a high level of defense. He's just getting better as a player.”

Tatum scored a game-high 36 points, 12 rebounds, four assists and three steals in the Celtics' first game victory over the Pacers, and scored 10 points in overtime alone.

Carlisle screams BPD

Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle thanks the Boston Police Department for the police escort to Game 2.

Carlisle said the bus ride to TD Garden took 50 minutes on Tuesday. On Thursday, it was shortened to “about seven.”

“These guys are incredible and a bunch of tough guys who are very well respected there,” Carlisle said.

Carlisle, a third-round pick of the Celtics in 1984 who played at Worcester Academy and the University of Maine, knows New England well.

Guard points out mistakes in All-NBA voting after Jaylen Brown is snubbed – Boston Herald

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Guard points out mistakes in All-NBA voting after Jaylen Brown is snubbed – Boston Herald

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