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With Team USA still trying to gel on Monday vs. a decimated Canada squad at Qudos Bank arena in Sydney, Jaylen Brown was a shining light for Team Shamrock. Team USA was really sloppy in this game tallying 19 turnovers as this was an end to end affair. Prior to the game, Brown spoke to USA basketball’s national website:
“This is a part of our journey,” said Jaylen Brown. “This is part of our process as a team. We’re playing for something bigger than ourselves. Having an understanding of that and a humility of that is something we all have to have. I think we could have showed that a little bit better against Australia. We got to do a better job of having the right mentality, whether it’s an early game, whether it’s a back-to-back, whatever it is. We got to come out and be the aggressors, rather than the one being seeked.”
Jaylen Brown
Jaylen Brown started ultra aggressive taking on the entire Canada squad with an excellent outbreak of drives and fast break buckets. Brown displayed the type of play that will have Celtics fans salivating. Starting from the bench Brown was in control and running hard trying to make good things happen going 8-11 from the field in just 19 minutes of play.
Jaylen killin em with the hesitation too lets gooooooo pic.twitter.com/4zyH9lqls6
— Dan Greenberg (@StoolGreenie) August 26, 2019
Jaylen cannot be stopped pic.twitter.com/xUKwpmthDA
— Dan Greenberg (@StoolGreenie) August 26, 2019
Brown also picked his spots to shot from deep, something he has done pretty effectively, this exhibition series.
Jaylen looking real smooth from deep pic.twitter.com/bvgSJM1W6m
— Dan Greenberg (@StoolGreenie) August 26, 2019
Kemba Walker
Walker played less minutes in this one and finished with 12 points, 5 rebounds and 2 assists. Walker looked like a guy who wanted a day off in this one, no surprise after the heavy minutes and travel so far down under.
Kembaaaaaaa pic.twitter.com/87fRJ4Zkqp
— Dan Greenberg (@StoolGreenie) August 26, 2019
Jayson Tatum
Feed me more Jayson Tatum on the block pic.twitter.com/B3MJ8VSach
— Dan Greenberg (@StoolGreenie) August 26, 2019
Tatum has struggled the past 2 games and was a pretty average on 2-11 shooting as Team USA continued to struggle from beyond the arc. He did however make the highlight reel with a nice finish as he skied for the one handed uncontested windmill jam.
The Jays are at it again!! pic.twitter.com/915nMeAnYH
— Dan Greenberg (@StoolGreenie) August 26, 2019
Marcus Smart
Battling rust Smart was so-so in this one as he works his way back from injury. As ever though Smart was still Cobra-like and effective defensively.
Of course the play of the game so far was started by Marcus Smart doing Marcus Smart things pic.twitter.com/s847EhSY1X
— Dan Greenberg (@StoolGreenie) August 26, 2019
Smart had a few nice assists, and you can tell that overall the Celtics have a fair degree of chemistry, especially in the open court as Smart found Brown on a beautiful bounce pass to for a nice flush in the 3rd quarter.
Team USA will now depart Australia for China and World Cup action on September 1st against the Czech Republic.
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