Stephen A. has a BIG-TIME ISSUE with Jaylen Brown’s comments: It’s an AWFUL LOOK! | First Take

Hello everyone.Welcome to first take it is Monday.I am Shea Cornette.Jay Williams back in the building.It's been a minute.Hello.

I'm here.Stephen a good morning to you.How are you?

What's up, baby?Shea Shea.I hope you had a wonderful marvelous weekend.My brother.What's up, baby?What's up?

You know, it's been a minute.Yeah.Oh, yeah.It's been a minute, but you know, we all been watching the games and all of that other stuff.I was gonna text you over the weekend, but I said, you know, I see my man Monday morning, you know, same fresh and all of that stuff.We heat good.

We're here and we're going to dive right into it.Let's start with a couple game sevens from yesterday.We begin with the 76ers and Celtics Saturday night epic night after being down three nothing in the series.Philadelphia pulled out that nine -point win Joel Embiid at 34 points 12 rebounds six dimes to send the Sixers to the semis in the Eastern Conference.The Celtics did not have Jason Tatum and they were sent home yesterday.Jalen Brown did not hold back talking about Embiid on his live stream.

Listen to this.

Flopping has ruined our game.Joel Embiid is a great player, one of the best bigs in basketball history.Flops.He know it.This ain't breaking news.You know what I mean?

It is what it is.

OK.And he wasn't done after that.Brown also took issue with the officiating, adding this on his live stream.Listen.

Our team finished dead last in getting calls.And I was vocal about it.I got thrown out some games or et cetera.And they keep saying like this push off and stuff like that.You know how many players do that?That is such the common play, a basketball play.

Every player does it.So why are you targeting me?It clearly had an agenda, like maybe because I spoke in those critical letter reps in the regular season.So you know how they responded?Like, we're going to call every, we're going, you're going to lead the play.in offensive fouls.

They clearly had an agenda.Okay, lots to unpack their Stephen a any issue with what Jalen Brown had to say yesterday big time issue big time issue.

And let me be let me say this.There is no issue because he lied certainly Joel and be flopped sometimes but consider considering his considerable injury history.You know what?It's not hard to imagine.Joel Embiid falling to the floor, even though he's 7 '1", 270 pounds.I mean, considering the weaknesses of his hips, his legs, his knees, his ankles, his feet, everything.

I mean, this man has had every injury known to man.We expect Joel Embiid to be on the floor more often than not.It's just the way that it is and the way that it has been.I understand where Jalen Brown is coming from, but here's why.It's just an awful, awful look for him.Bruh.

You get paid over 300 million hours, Benjamin House.You were an MVP candidate.You were up 3 -1 in this series.Did you say anything when you were up 3 -1?Did you say anything then?No, you did it.

And the fact of the matter is Joel and be Mr. First, we gave to the series came back and gave for drop 26 and the sixes still got blown out.You said nothing.and then all of a sudden, here you are after blowing a 3 -1 lead, you know, say for the first time in Celtics history, and you're going to sit up there and and do a I don't know whether it was a video or podcast or whatever complaining about him flopping.How about all them damn missed jump shots?Your teammates made wide open J wide open.Okay, I don't even want to count the amount of times these cats and mystery points.

How about how paper would have put the game away if he had hit a three from the left corner late in the game that would have sealed Philadelphia's fate, but it didn't happen.How about thefact that y 'all were up 20 and the sixes and you know, y 'all were down 20.I'm sorry and you pull to within one and then over the last two minutes, the Boston Celtics launched six straight threes.didn't even try to get to the hole.We're talking about Jalen Brown here.

We're talking about a cat 6667 MVP candidate average damn near 30 a game without Jason Tatum and at least 25 with him there who can get to the hole anytime.He wants to who can finish above the rim at the basket.Damn near anytime.He wants to against anybody even though Paul George was doing his thing defensively this series.The point is is that when something like that happens, you cannot have the residue of that experience you griping about Joel and be flopping.That is not why the Boston Celtics lost Boston Celtics lost because they live and die with the three because they play dumb basketball down the stretch.

They did X. They did exercise any kind of intelligence whatsoever.They just launched three after three after three and missed six to seven straight threes in the last two minutes.They didn't they blew this opportunity.They hit with three one and you lost.This is not the time.to be talking about Joel and be flopping damn sure not doing a damn show about it a podcast show or video show about it.

I mean, it would have been bad if he was sitting up there just answering a question from the media.Jay.He didn't do that.He went out made a video in the locker room.Yeah, extensively getting into his flopping.Is that that I can't believe that Jalen Brown decided to leave that as a memory.

as to why y 'all lost a 3 -1 lead in the aftermath of blowing at and losing in the first round as a number two seed in the East Coast.That is the memory you've left us all with.I can't believe he did that.I can't believe it.

I say, I think two things here.You just made mention of the residue of the experience, right?Well, I often see you on the show.We talk about things being fluid, right?The residue of the experience is fluid and is different when it is fresh as opposed to it being 40 hours later.Very different, right?

So this residue was fresh because he's coming off the game and he's speaking very emotionally, which to me is kind of like a PR nightmare.Because that's not the only thing he said.He said a lot of other things, too, about this being the best season.And I think it's a lot of things that you just say emotionally.You don't really think about the ramifications of what you're saying, because it may not sound as serious to you.But it can lead people down roads of saying, oh, your best season came without Jason Tatum being there, leadership -wise.

And you're so proud.All these things that they could be accurate, but why say them now?And the second thing is, how many times in our life when you have conversations with people, there are things that you know are true inside your brain, but the timing of when you say them is not correct.And that's why I think Jalen Brown is almost like that was an opportunity.There's so much growth for him.He is a brilliant leader.

He is one of the smartest people we have in the game of basketball.The job he's done this year has been incredible, right?Multiple things can be true at the same time, but I still think we're watching Jalen Brown continue to find himself As he's navigating a lot of things, especially trying to do that.So fresh after a loss.That was the only thing for me.Like why then at that time you can say things later, but why then so fresh off after a loss?

Let me just clarify really quick.This this live stream was done yesterday.The stream ended on Saturday, right?So it wasn't in the locker room wasn't immediately after the game.He did take 24 hours.or so to process it.

I don't know if that changes anyone's opinion, but I just want to point that out 48 hours for me.

Okay, it needs to be at least for I didn't realize that I'm glad I'm glad because you know, you got my ear.That was a clarification that he did it yesterday.I was after the game.Well, you know, some people might think that's even worse.I don't but some people might think that's even worse in the end.What it comes down to is this.

Did y 'all know during the regular season?that the Boston Celtics were dead last.They ranked dead last and free throw attempts dead last and out of the 16 playoff teams this year.They ranked 14th in free throw attempts.Come on, man.Come on.

The fact is, is that you're down to damn near 20.You pull within one within one.And all y 'all did was launch three -pointers and I understand that from a Peyton Pritchett.I understand that for some of these other dudes who are clearly out there to defend rebound and shoot went open and absolutely nothing else because they don't have that skill set.But that ain't Jalen Brown's issue.This is an all -world player who is one of the most brilliant people, not just brilliant basketball player, one of the most brilliant people you'll ever find.

Smart as hell.Okay, how the hell you go out on that basketball court and all you doing, when it counts most, it's a one -point game, is launching three -point shots.How do you do that if you Jalen Brown?You know better than that.and he did not attack the basket.He didn't do what he was supposed to do when it really really counted.

And by the way, you're not sharing the wealth with Jason Tatum.It's yours.It's right there for the taking.You understand?With the Knicks flopping last year, when they took y 'all out in six, okay, they go up 3 -1, Jason Tatum tears his Achilles near the end of the game.Game five in Boston, you blow the Knicks out of the building.

Game six, they come to the garden and they blow you out.Okay, so you end up you got not one but two opportunities as a 300 million dollar player as an all -world player as an MVP candidate.take the bull by the horn.And if you were good enough to get him there, you were good enough to close the deal, especially against a Philadelphia 76 is team that you were up 3 -1 on even with and be still not healthy giving it to y 'all.Bottom line is you had three chances to win one game and you couldn't do it.You do not go home the next day.

and stream and stream a show talking about he's flops.He flops.He flops that can't happen because now that's what everybody remembers and you know, and that's a shame because ultimately it's going to highlight the fact that Jalen Brown didn't get it done.

When we all believed he could, you know what?I'm torn.All the things that you just said are correct.The one thing I would push back on you against is I think it's been one hell of a year for the Celtics and I'm not up here saying that.Hey, look, you blow a 3 -1 lead.You got to close that one out.

Right?But also, I think there were a lot of things that sometimes happen when you overachieve at this level.Number one, the style of basketball they were playing while they were overachieving was pace and space and create a lot of frenzies, right, with scenarios and matchups.They changed their style when Jason Tatum came back.And then Joe Mazzulla is probably one of the top three coaches in the league, Stephen A., in my opinion.He's absolutely genius.

I think he outsmarted himself with that starting lineup.Luka Garza allows Joel Embiid to play and drop coverage and sit in the paint and conserve all of his injury, all of his energy.If you actually were to go back to the way the Boston Celtics originally played, if it was Cato and keeping him out on the perimeter or keeping him moving around, that's what the Knicks have to do.That would have been to their advantage.So I, it felt like at that moment, Joe Mizzoula outsmarted himself with the lineup change and the style of basketball that changed for the third time, multiple times in a row.course of the season.

But also, when you think about Jalen Brown in that situation as a leader in that moment, like, he just needs to not say that.Like, I almost felt like he was an apologist, and I'm not used to seeing Jalen Brown be an apologist for anything that has happened throughout the course of the season.Well, let me agitate you with the truth.

As you normally do.By bringing something else, as I normally do.I don't disagree with anything that you just said.I want to keep in mind.It's not a Jalen Brown that folded in the game 7.He dropped 33 last.

He got dropped 33 Saturday night.Okay, he averaged 28 .7 the game during the regular season.He was the top five candidate for League MVP honors.The brother is all world.We know what Jalen Brown brings to the table, but he also brought up and he made this stream.He streamed this show to essentially highlight how he's being officiated differently.

He pointed out to a Jalen Brown and a Paul George.I'm sorry, Jalen Brunson rather than a Paul George and doing similar things and getting favorable treatment from the officiating compared to himself.He's not lying.He's telling the truth.He does get officiated differently.Sometimes he isn't treated fairly in my opinion by the officials.

You and I both know this J here's where the agitation towards you kick in.There was somebody that came on national TV.a couple of years ago, and highlighted how he's not particularly liked.He's loved by me, you, and others, but he's not particularly liked.We talked about the absence of a sneaker deal.We talked about the absence of endorsement deals.

We talked about an all -world player who's been in like seven conference finals now, who's been to two NBA finals, who's an NBA champion and an NBA finals MVP.who by the way, humbled Luka by the way, because this brother with, you know, Luka had to contend with him during the finals and stuff like that a couple of years ago.We pointed out all of these things, Jay.There were things that was pointed out and you know who that person is because you're looking at him.And there was a whole bunch of noise that came my way when I said, yo, it's not fair.It's not right.

But this is his reality.You're sick because of his brilliance because he doesn't tolerate fools because he doesn't quote -unquote play that game or whatever.There are people, you know connected to directly or indirectly to Madison Avenue in the world of the NBA.That would be that would be quick to articulate that he's not the most liked dude to deal with when I pointed that out.I got right through the coals.Okay now and he even came in even though we sat down had a nice interview.

Talk about it.He even he even he even had on the shirt reveal your source reveal your source.Do I need to reveal my source now or is it clearly obvious?You understand that this great player?for the Boston Celtics is damn near treated is, is basically saying he's treated like a second class citizen.I wonder where he heard that before.

See, these are the kinds of things that I'm, and I want to say, and I want to point this out and close by saying this, Shay and Jay, as I've said recently on, on, on, on digital, you know, there are influences and then there are journalists.And what happens is, is that you get this Intel and you get this information, And people want to attack the source.And Jay, one of the hardest things that I had to deal with coming up in this industry, writing as a beat writer and an NBA writer before becoming a con artist.before getting really into television, is that you reveal stuff, sometimes it's months in advance, sometimes it's years in advance, and people are going ballistic, losing their damn mind, having a conniption.All of this noise, and then you're proven to be right, and it's crickets.This is one of those moments.

I said it two years ago.I'm saying it now.We know what an all -world player he is.We know he deserves better.We also know he doesn't get better, on the court or off the court.Here's your evidence.

Well, Essay, just to that point, that's why I said earlier, I thought this is, there's still so much room for growth for him as a leader.That's the scary part.But it takes a level of awareness for him to understand that the Petty Label and him from before that made him an NBA, Champion that made him a finals MVP.It's time for him to get to that next iteration of himself as a leader of a team.Yeah.

All right, let's leave this here.We'll talk more about the 76ers a little bit later on.As for the Celtics, yes, they are now at home.They went 60 for 180 on open threes in this series.So live and die by the three.Unfortunately, this series, they died.