“That Wasn’t Mental Warfare”- Jason Kidd Took a Stand on His Jaylen Brown Remarks

Jaylen Brown, Jason Kidd (Image Source: Getty Images)
Coach Jason Kidd of the Dallas Mavericks created a stir on social media before Game 2 of the NBA Finals. He made it clear to reporters that, in his opinion, Jaylen Brown is a better player for the Boston Celtics than Jayson Tatum. Most admirers and several pundits were sure his remark was a calculated attempt to rekindle a long-simmering story.

Kidd proved his assertion by pointing out how Brown’s outstanding performance on the floor enabled the Celtics to win the Eastern Conference. The Hall of Fame point guard also believed that because of Brown’s two-way ability, Brown should have won the ECF MVP award.

When questioned by SiriusXM NBA Radio, Jason Kidd reaffirmed his position to elaborate on his remarks: “My comment about Jaylen Brown was from watching tape and Game 1. Again, he was the best player. … Everybody thought it was mental warfare [but] that wasn’t mental warfare. That was just my opinion.”

In Game 1, Jaylen Brown outperformed the Dallas Mavericks with 22 points, six rebounds, three steals, and three blocks. Jason Kidd was probably pleased with the shooting guard’s defensive play.

Brown impacted as Dallas narrowed the lead from 29 points to eight. He made significant blocks against Kyrie Irving and Derrick Jones Jr. Right from the beginning of the playoffs; it was the same superb two-way performance.

Jason Kidd Could Be Concerned About Boston’s 2–0 Advantage Despite Tatum’s Difficulties

According to the NBA website, Jayson Tatum is averaging 17.0 points on 31.6% shooting, including 28.6% from outside the three-point line, entering Game 3. The dip is notable, given that he averaged 30.3 points per game in the Eastern Conference finals against the Indiana Pacers. On the other hand, Tatum was a terrific facilitator in the final round, even when Jason Kidd threw everything at him.

Despite Tatum’s dismal shooting, the Boston Celtics still lead the series 2-0. The East champions may be missing Kristaps Porzingis in Game 3. But Tatum might be in for a breakout huge scoring game. If the All-NBA forward achieves that, Porzingis’ projected absence may not matter much.

Jaylen Brown has been performing admirably for Boston. Jason Kidd has to be concerned that Jayson Tatum will find his rhythm in Dallas. The Mavericks’ defense has been excellent against Tatum, but he has also missed wide-open jumpers. Watching how Jason Kidd’s defensive strategy stands up if the series moves to Dallas will be intriguing.