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Jaylen Brown called out by NBA host Justin Termine

The Boston Celtics will face the Philadelphia 76ers in a decisive Game 7 on Saturday, with their season on the line after losing two straight games in the first-round series. Ahead of the matchup, Justin Termine delivered a pointed critique of Jaylen Brown, placing the spotlight firmly on him.

Boston had taken a 3-1 series lead and appeared in control before its offense stalled, scoring just 104 points over its last 123 possessions. Now, with the series tied 3-3, attention has shifted to Brown’s role as a primary option alongside Jayson Tatum.

Termine, speaking on “TERMINE CRASHES OUT“, framed Game 7 as a defining moment for Brown, particularly after the forward’s earlier claim about his standing in the league.

Justin Termine calls out Jaylen Brown before Game 7

GettyBoston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown

Termine was direct in his assessment of Brown’s responsibility heading into the elimination game.

“All right, so that’s on Jalen Brown now,” Termine said. “In the past, maybe that would be Tatum… Now it’s Jalen Brown’s turn.”

He referenced Brown’s own statement from earlier in the season, when the Celtics star described himself as the league’s best two-way player.

“Jalen Brown told us earlier this season, I’m the best two-way player in the sport,” Termine said. “All right, you’re the best two-way player in the sport. Then go out and show it.”

Termine added that Brown has not been Boston’s top performer in the series.

“You haven’t even been the best player in the series for your own team. That’s been Tatum,” he said. “Tatum’s been back for a month and a half from an Achilles injury and he’s already playing at a higher level.”

With Boston’s season at stake, Termine emphasized that expectations have shifted.

“No, no, Game 7 it’s not on Tatum to step up and carry the team, it’s on you to step up and carry the team,” he said. “You’re the one… first-team All-NBA… it’s on Jalen Brown in Game 7.”

Boston Celtics offense and Game 7 stakes vs Philadelphia 76ers

GettyBoston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum and Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown

The Celtics enter Game 7 after a sharp decline in offensive efficiency. In their three wins, Boston scored 129.1 points per 100 possessions, compared to just 101.1 in their three losses.

Three-point shooting has been a key factor. Boston shot above 36% from beyond the arc in each of its wins and below 30% in each loss. Game 6 also saw struggles at the free-throw line and on the offensive glass.

The series has largely centered on matchups between Tatum and Joel Embiid. Boston has frequently used ball screens involving Tatum against Embiid, generating 1.14 points per possession when those actions directly lead to a scoring opportunity.

According to the NBA, Philadelphia, meanwhile, has battled inconsistency but shown resilience. The 76ers have struggled early in games, posting just 85.7 points per 100 possessions in first quarters across the series. Despite that, they have managed to win three games and force a deciding contest.

Both teams have relied heavily on perimeter shooting, with only 39.2% of combined attempts coming in the paint. Transition opportunities have also been limited, with both sides averaging just 34.7 transition points per game.

Game 7 marks the ninth time the Celtics and 76ers have gone the distance in a playoff series. Boston will host the game, where it posted a 30-11 regular-season record.

For the Celtics, the focus remains on offensive execution and leadership. Termine’s comments underscore the expectation that Brown, as one of the team’s top players, must deliver in the highest-pressure moment.

With a trip to the conference semifinals at stake, Boston will need a complete performance and, as highlighted, a strong showing from Brown to extend its postseason run.