CLEVELAND – The Cleveland Cavaliers’ title run last season was punctuated by a thrilling Game 7 win on Golden State’s home floor.
Jaylen Brown, a precocious college freshman at Cal at the time with dreams of one day being on a similar stage, was at each of the NBA Finals games played in the Bay Area.
He saw first-hand just how Cleveland’s LeBron James took over by making his presence felt at both ends of the floor.
James will have a similar mindset tonight when the Cavaliers (4-0) look to remain unbeaten against the visiting Celtics (3-1).
Brown has come off the Celtics bench in each of Boston’s four regular-season games, but he will surely play a more prominent role tonight with Jae Crowder (left ankle sprain) out.
Crowder sprained his ankle in the second quarter of the 107-100 win over Chicago on Wednesday night and is expected to be out at least a week.
He joins Al Horford (concussion) who is out indefinitely, and Kelly Olynyk (shoulder) who is expected to be back sometime this month.
Tyler Zeller will get the start in place of Horford, but it’s not totally clear who will start for Crowder.
When Crowder was injured in the second quarter, the Celtics turned to Marcus Smart, who was playing in his first game of the season after being with an ankle sprain of his own sustained in Boston’s final preseason game.
While it’s likely that Stevens will start Smart in place of Crowder, you can expect Brown to see a spike in his playing time.
And that’ll mean more time trying to defend James, a player Brown vividly recalls controlling the action in the Cavs’ title run last spring.
“I’ll watch the scouting report. I’ll prepare for it,” Brown told CSNNE.com. “At the end of the day, he [James] ties his shoes up just like I do. He’s a great player, of course. But I have to come out and do what’s best for team.”
In addition to seeing James in the NBA Finals last season, Brown credits having already played against elite wing players such as the New York Knicks’ Carmelo Anthony and most recently, Chicago Bulls All-Star Jimmy Butler, who worked out with Brown this past summer.
“He’s a true student of the game,” Butler said of Brown. “He’s athletic and he can play and he’s super smart.”
Butler added, “He knows where this game could take him. Like I said, he’s incredibly smart and sometimes he’ll let you know that. The kid is sometimes too smart for his own good.”
As intelligent as Brown may be, he still has a lot to learn about the NBA. And being that he is a rookie, veteran All-Star caliber players have taken advantage of his lack of experience.
When he had to defend Anthony in the preseason, Brown struggled at times which is understandable. And when he had to guard Butler at times on Wednesday night, the results were mixed.
As tough as those assignments were, Brown understands that James is a completely different – and much tougher – player to limit let alone try and shut down.
“It’s a learning experience when you get out there and you see it first-hand, you get a little more comfortable out there,” Brown said. “I’m getting more comfortable with the defensive ending with the defensive assignments, being in the right spot. I have full confidence when I step out on the floor.”
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