Cal legend Jaylen Brown says Celtics must let back-to-back 20-point playoff collapses sting

The Boston Celtics are the defending NBA champions and entered the season as heavy favorites. They carried that same momentum into the playoffs, boasting one of the most dangerous rosters in all of basketball.

In the first round, Boston made quick work of the Orlando Magic, finishing the series in five games. Jayson Tatum faced off against former Duke standout Paolo Banchero, a young star who once looked up to the now-Celtics fan favorite. After the series, Tatum reflected on the opportunity to mentor Banchero and see his growth.

“I got to talk to him a little bit in the hallway after the game. I didn't say two words to him during the series… I couldn't be happier for him and the player that he's become,” Tatum said.

However, the second round hasn’t gone according to plan for the Celtics. They’ve now dropped two straight games—both after holding a 20-point lead. It’s a concerning trend, especially in the playoffs. Now, Boston must head on the road and win two games to avoid an early exit.

“Celtics had a 98% win probability in Game 1 and lost. Celtics had a 99% win probability in Game 2 and lost,” Zach Kram posted.

The losses sting, particularly because of how dominant the Celtics looked early in both games. Jaylen Brown made it clear that feeling that sting is necessary to spark a turnaround.

Follow The Sporting News on WhatsApp

“We’ve gotta be better to close games and we’ve gotta learn and respond fast. So that’s the key. Shift your mentality. Shift your focus. It’s in the past. It’s over with. Let it sting a little bit and do whatever it takes in Game 3,” Brown said.

The Celtics have the roster and experience to come back from a 2–0 deficit—but this is the first real adversity they’ve faced all season. Brown is counting on the team to use this pain as fuel to respond and get back into the series.