Jaylen Brown seems to take dig at ‘seal’ Luka Doncic discussing 2024 NBA Finals win, ‘the weak link…’
Jaylen Brown’s comments about the Boston Celtics’ 2024 NBA Finals win looked targeted at Luka Doncic.
The 2024 NBA Finals pitted the Boston Celtics and the Dallas Mavericks. Both teams had star duos, as they battled to be declared the best in the NBA.
In the end, it wasn’t close, as the Celtics steamrolled past the Mavericks and won the NBA championship, in what turned out to be Luka Doncic’s final Playoff appearance with the Mavericks.
Doncic and Kyrie Irving had a moment after the NBA Finals, and believed in each other’s power to get back to that spot, only for the Mavericks to trade Doncic the following season.
Doncic’s poor performance was the first sign of discontent within the Mavericks organization. And that may have come because of the Celtics’ strategy against Luka Doncic.
Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images
Jaylen Brown says Boston Celtics targeted Mavericks ‘weak link’, alluding to Luka Doncic
Jaylen Brown spoke on his livestream about the Boston Celtics watching nature documentaries about killer whales and their hunting patterns before playoff games.
Much like the killer whales, the Celtics focused on finding their ‘seal, the weak link. And he said that they did that against the Dallas Mavericks, hinting at that being Luka Doncic, given how much he was targeted.
“We will be watching this (killer whales) in our pregame film, because they’re all working together, attacking the weak link.
“And that’s how we were doing that for basketball… Finding the seal. Every team has them, has a weak link… That’s really how we won the NBA Finals, I’m not gonna lie. That was our attack.”
Luka Doncic could spite Boston Celtics and lead LA Lakers to NBA title
Luka Doncic was made to look quite poor in the NBA Finals by the Boston Celtics. So how fitting it is that 8 months later, he found himself traded to their biggest rivals – the Los Angeles Lakers.
Now on the Lakers, Doncic is aiming to land the franchise their 18th NBA championship – which would tie the Celtics for the most titles in history.
That would be the ultimate revenge for Luka, and it would be even better if he were able to do it by beating the Celtics in the NBA Finals.
It won’t happen this season, as Jayson Tatum is out hurt, and the Celtics aren’t expected to contend for an NBA championship next season. But Doncic is going to look for revenge.
It only took 3 games for Cooper Flagg to surpass Luka Doncic in crucial area
The Dallas Mavericks have had a successful preseason thus far. Many players have used the time to take advantage of minutes and showcase their talents. One player in particular is Ryan Nembhard. The Dallas guard performed well in his third preseason game, as he helped lead the Mavs' offense. He dished out 12 assists in 26 minutes and potentially surpassed his name over Jaden Hardy within Jason Kidd's rotation.
Another player who performed well in their third preseason game was incoming rookie Cooper Flagg. He dominated on both ends of the court and looked comfortable in multiple positions. One area Flagg excelled in was his ability to move effectively. He looked comfortable hustling on both sides of the ball, fitting the two-way player standard that Nico Harrison was looking for..
If you recall, Harrison traded Luka Doncic because he felt the former star didn't fit the formula Dallas was looking for. It was believed that Doncic's conditioning became a huge issue. At one point, Doncic reportedly weighed 270 pounds. This led to him struggling on the defensive end and failing to keep up with some of the best players. However, this is something that won't be an issue with Flagg.
Cooper Flagg's relentless motor sets him apart
Last season, many analysts criticized Doncic's defense. They viewed him as a one-dimensional player who excels well offensively but lacks the defensive intangibles that sometimes hinder the Mavs' system. For example, NBA champion Kendrick Perkins shut down Doncic's effort on the defensive end. He explained that it wasn't Doncic's tools or IQ, but rather his lack of effort. Simply put, he believed Doncic didn't try on defense and allowed scorers to run right past him.
This is something the Mavs won't have to worry about when it comes to Flagg. In three preseason games, the rookie has excelled on both sides of the ball and has done an excellent job of hustling on both ends.
In his third preseason game, Flagg proved he can make an immediate impact for Dallas. Defensively, he finished the game with two blocks, two steals, and six defensive rebounds. If you watch the video below, you'll see a perfect example of him moving with the scorer and protecting the rim. His quick feet and aggressive style allowed Flagg to reach in for a block and move from the top of the key to the paint.
— NBA (@NBA) October 14, 2025Coop showing off his defensive skills 🚫
The 2025 No. 1 pick swats away the shot with authority!
Dallas leads by 8 at the break on NBA TV. pic.twitter.com/dhiHUhQeU5
Offensively, Flagg demonstrated more of his high scoring. The Mavs' rookie struggled shooting, as he shot 23 percent overall and made just one 3-point shot. Yet, Flagg still used his fast level of play to get his buckets and did a great job of pushing the pace in transition. He did a great job attacking, as he converted numerous dunks and got himself a couple of attempts at the free-throw line.
Flagg's two-way ability, though, is what distinguishes him from Doncic. In Dallas' third game, Mavs fans saw a glimpse of how athletic and conditioned Flagg is. He started the game handling the ball at the point guard position as he ran the offense. Flagg also covered multiple positions and was aggressive, snatching boards and giving Dallas second-chance opportunities. Basically, his aggressive style demonstrated the impact of his conditioning and versatility.
So, Flagg's presence through three games is something that should excite Mavs fans. He is a young, athletic player who has all the intangibles to succeed in the NBA. Plus, his aggressive tendencies could be the perfect match for a team lacking a two-way presence. Flagg's season debut can't come soon enough.
