Jaylen Brown headlines Team USA victory over Canada 84-68

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.

Brown also picked his spots to shot from deep, something he has done pretty effectively, this exhibition series.

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.

Jayson Tatum

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.

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.

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.