With a 47-19 record, the Celtics sit comfortably in second place in the Eastern Conference after Wednesday’s 118-112 loss to the Thunder. Boston has just 16 games remaining before playoff basketball begins.
Jaylen Brown is putting up 20+ points per game for the sixth straight season. While he earned another All-Star nod this year, there’s a glaring issue in his game that has fans concerned.
His three-point shooting has fallen off a cliff.
Brown is hitting just 31.6% from beyond the arc through 55 games this season โ by far the worst mark of his career.
This slump couldn’t come at a worse time as Boston gears up for another championship run.
“Jaylen brown bummed it all game smh,” one frustrated fan tweeted after the Thunder loss. “OKC can probably beat us 4 times… i guess we’ll see if thats the finals.”
The four-time All-Star is normally a reliable shooter. Throughout his nine seasons with the Celtics, Brown has averaged about 35.6% from three-point range โ right around the league average for small forwards.
Last season, he shot 35.4% from deep.
What’s concerning is that Brown isn’t shying away from taking threes despite his struggles. He’s still launching nearly 6 attempts per game from distance.
Even during Boston’s championship run last year, his three-point shooting wasn’t great at 32.7%. But this season’s 31.6% mark represents a new low.
The shooting woes are affecting his overall efficiency too.
Brown’s effective field goal percentage sits at 50.9% โ the second-lowest of his career. Only his rookie season (50.8%) was worse.
At 28 years old and in his prime, this unexpected shooting slump raises questions about what’s changed in his game.
With the playoffs fast approaching, the Celtics need Brown to rediscover his touch from downtown. Championship teams typically need reliable outside shooting, especially in today’s NBA.
Can he turn things around in these final 16 games, or will his three-point struggles become Boston’s Achilles heel when the games matter most?
