So far Jaylen Brown is Celtics' Finals MVP

[iamgine]

Wonder if they'll give it to him considering this team is so balanced.

[bdonovan]

He deserves it for his defense on Doncic alone. The Wolves took out the Nuggets and there was every expectation the Wolves would get to the Finals and good chance of winning it. Until Doncic. Doncic was responsible for 60-70 pts game for breaking down the D and dishing it. Gafford and Luckey were stars for a moment because of his distribution.

Wolves had no defender for Doncic. And most teams don't. He's too big, too strong, and if you finally get the right guy on him (Edwards) he just steps back and hits 3's all day. Inevitably Wolves doubled and Doncic tore up their vaunted defense by distributing wisely.

That was going to happen again in the Finals except Brown has been able to contain Doncic. Doncic is still scoring 30 a game but he's not get 60-70 points from breaking down the D. (some will argue it's not 60-70; he doesn't have that many assists. Once you break down the D, you get an easy basket eventually even if it's not the player you passed to who scores).

The primary difference: The Celtics have never had to double team. They would rather Doncic score than have him break the defense down and get everyone else involved. Brown has been key to that. Not just making Doncic work on the 2, but contesting 3's.

Anything Brown adds on offense is a bonus. His defense kept the Celtics from becoming the Wolves. And btw, Tatum can't do it. Everytime Doncic switches on to Tatum he gets a better look.

[sdot_thadon]

They should, he's earned it so far. His ppg is close enough that if Tatum has a bigger game 4 and they win, maybe he steals it. If the series gets extended it could be up in the air quickly.

[gengiskhan]

Wonder if they'll give it to him considering this team is so balanced.

Game 3......

1:02 left in regulation time......

Mavs AT HOME only down by 2 points (98-100)

Brown nails a mid-range, contested Jumper....

Makes it a 2 possession game for Mavs to win at home.

Brown Jumper and giving that 4 pts breathing room going into last 60 seconds won Celtics game 3.

Thats Michael Jordanique finals stuff if you ask me (because it is ON THE ROAD. in front of the hostile crowd).

2024 NBA Finals MVP belongs to Brown until we see 2024 NBA Finals, Game 7.

[GimmeThat]

Pace on all 3 games:
JB: 94.75 95.62 94.92
JT: 93.38 93.55 94.64

if suicidal thoughts fade away, and the idealogy of optimum health catches on, JT can still have a monster game and take home the trophy

[Carbine]

It is so very clearly Brown that it's not even up for debate.

He is playing better defense and playing much better on offense. He's shooting 63 TS to Tatum's 42 and is leading the team in scoring.

Jrue is #2. His 16 a game on 70 TS to go along with his all around game, it has been an Iggy esque FMVP run for him.

You can't give it to Tatum. I would venture to say he has the worst scoring numbers by a "#1 option" first team all NBA type player since 07 Lebron in the finals. It was be a disgrace towards Bill Russell to give it to such an understanding player.

[rawimpact]

who would have thought Tatum is the actual 2nd option...

but this makes sense with how often Tatum stinks it up

[90sgoat]

It's Brown for sure.

It's a Kawhi FMVP in itself, just containing Luka/Lebron is enough.

Would he have deserved it on a less stacked team? Probably not. Same with Kawhi on Spurs, that FMVP should probably have been Duncan's, but Spurs would have lost without Kawhi's defense on Lebron.