76ers Star Jaylen Brown Has a Simple Message Before Facing His Former Team

When the Philadelphia 76ers take on the Boston Celtics, it’s sure to be pure chaos. Not only will it be two storied rivals going at each other, but there’s some added juice to this, as Brown will have a chip on his shoulder against the team that traded him away.

This may be the focal point, but it shouldn’t be the story of this game. This game should be about who could be the team who comes out of the East. The 76ers have to remain focused and think about the goal of getting to 10 wins on the season. Brown has already done his part in putting down the idea that he’s concerned about Jayson Tatum and the Celtics. When asked about the team and whether he will talk to Tatum, Brown kept it simple.

"It's nothing to talk about. I mean, he's on his side, and I'm on my side," Brown said. "Both of us are trying to win, so it's nothing to talk about. Just check the ball up." 

That is the kind of mindset the entire team needs to have. The 76ers should really focus on how similar the two teams are, and they need to exploit some of their weaknesses. Boston has trouble on the interior, as their bigs are susceptible to getting into foul trouble. That’s where the 76ers need to feed Embiid the ball early and often, and it needs to be within the paint. Embiid is going to be the key player for the 76ers in this matchup. If he can get going early, it’s going to open up everything for this struggling offense. 

The bright spot for the 76ers is that their defense could be the neutralizing factor, as they do a phenomenal job at forcing turnovers and getting out in transition. Philadelphia ranks 11th in forced turnovers, as they average 18.7 opponent turnovers a game. Brown could also be one to show up in forcing turnovers. He averages a steal a game, and when going against your old team, it could be a huge turning point for the 76ers.

The biggest problem Philadelphia faces is the three-point shooting of the Celtics; Boston averages 15.6 made three-pointers a game. A statistic that can force a team out of the game early. Which is why it’s a good thing that the 76ers have some of the best wing defenders like Brown and VJ Edgecombe. Throw in Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and you’ve got yourself a three-headed monster on the wing. 

There’s no doubt this game is going to be huge for both teams. But it's going to be about who can stand strong the longest and not crumble under the pressures of this massive rivalry matchup.