Jaylen Brown calls on Celtics’ crowd to ‘be a little bit better’ in Game 2 of NBA Finals

Jaylen Brown had a good performance in Game 1. He’s hoping that he and the Celtics crowd can be even better in Game 2. Maddie Meyer/Getty Images
Jaylen Brown is issuing a challenge to Celtics fans again ahead of Game 2.

The Celtics star liked what he heard from the TD Garden faithful in their win in Game 1, but he believes that there’s room for improvement as he seems to want everyone in Boston to carry a chip on their shoulder.

“I thought the crowd was good,” Brown told reporters Saturday. “I think we can be a little bit better. So, I expect us to be even louder. Sunday, we are going to need our fans to be hyped.

“It’s not just team vs. team. It’s crowd vs. crowd. It’s gas station vs. gas station. Supermarket vs. supermarket. It’s the whole city vs. the whole city. We need everybody.”

The TD Garden crowd seemed to be energized Thursday, giving Kristaps Porzingis a loud ovation during pregame warmups and roaring when the Celtics went up by 17 in the first quarter.

However, Kyrie Irving felt like the Celtics crowd could’ve been better, too. The Mavericks star, who scored 12 points on 6-of-19 shooting in Game 1, seemed unimpressed with the Celtics’ crowd Thursday, even though he reportedly got in a verbal back-and-forth with a fan.

“It’s basketball at the end of the day,” Irving told reporters after Game 1. “Being in this environment, I’m used to it at this point. Early in my career, it was a different relationship that I had with Boston … Just experiencing the playoffs here, even the regular season, it’s been the same thing. I thought it was going to be a little louder in here.

“But I’m expecting the same things going into Game 2: crowd trying to get me out of my element, my teammates out of [their] element, but the energy’s got to be focused toward the game.”

Irving said Saturday that “engaging with fans here in Boston is always fun” and added that he’s “been able to accept” the past.

“You know, thinking about my time in Boston, I could go down a myriad of things that none of you in here know that I was dealing with, and I don’t think a lot of people would care,” Irving said. “I think a few people would care and want to hear about it, and I would leave that space open in the future if you ever want to hear about it.

“But putting into perspective the blowup dolls and remarks that are getting said, that’s basketball. When I leave out of here and I walk around Boston, I don’t hear a lot of the things that I hear when I’m playing on the court. There’s a lot of mutual respect. There’s a lot of eye-to-eye communication that’s built on just being human, and they appreciate the things I do off the floor, as well.

“So there are a lot of Celtics fans out there that still love me, too, surprising to everybody.”

As for Brown, this isn’t the first time he’s called on Celtics fans to up their game in the postseason. Last year, Brown asked fans to rise to the occasion ahead of their Game 7 matchup with the 76ers in the Eastern Conference semifinals.

“Celtics fans, y’all love to call us out, right? So, I’m gonna call you guys out this time,” Brown said then. “Energy in the Garden has been OK, at best, all playoffs. Game 7, if you’re there or if you’re not there, if you’re in your home, if you’re watching at a bar, if you’re watching down the street at a friend’s house, I don’t care. I need you to be up. I need you to come with the energy, because we’re going to need every bit of it. No excuses.”

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The Celtics won that game, 112-88, and Brown gave the TD Garden crowd its due.

“I called the Garden out last game. Way to respond,” Brown said. “The energy in the building was through the roof. It was amazing.”

Brown is obviously hoping to manifest a similar result this time around. If Game 1 is any indication, he’s in a good spot to follow through on that. He was arguably the best player on the court, scoring 22 points on 7 of 12 shooting with six rebounds, two assists, three blocks, and three steals.

As he hopes for the home crowd to be rowdy, Brown wants the Celtics to be under control, knowing the Mavericks have yet to lose a Game 2 this postseason.

“Yeah, coming out even more aggressive but even more disciplined,” Brown said. “You know, Dallas is a really good team, and they have responded very well to Game 1 losses. They come back in Game 2. So we’re going to get a forceful, more aggressive team on Sunday, tomorrow.

“We’ve got to be ready because they are really good after a loss. So we can’t be surprised, and that’s what I’m preparing my team for.”