Entering the 2025-26 NBA Regular Season, the Boston Celtics were in ‘Survival Mode’. Three games later, the situation seems to be more of an ‘Emergency Mode’. Jayson Tatum’s absence, Kristaps Porzingis’s, Al Horford’s, and Jrue Holiday’s voids everything that has seemingly summed up into three consecutive losses. Meanwhile, Joe Mazzulla’s strongest soldier, Jaylen Brown, is singlehandedly putting up a show for the Cs. However, he’s taking matters seriously and carefully, as his health is on the line as well.

But the Detroit Pistons pinned down the Celtics 119-113 at Little Caesars Arena, ending the night on a sour note for Boston. However, JB outshone everyone, playing a 41-point game with 6 rebounds and 4 assists. Now, the problem that Brown & Co. is facing is the Celtics’ habit of winning. They are new to losing consecutive games. Therefore, these games are about to turn into growth lessons for the new team. So, what would be something that the 29-year-old would like to address heading deeper into the regular season?

“I think rebounding for one. I’m just trying to make sure my body is ready to go each and every night. Starting the year off with a hamstring strain was not ideal. Those first two weeks, which we’re in, are high risk,” Jaylen Brown told the media in the locker room after Sunday’s loss. “I just need to make sure I’m getting my recovery and taking care of my body. Other than that, just continue to find ways to make my teammates better and be aggressive. That’s what my response would be.”

JB’s start to the season feels like a comeback story fans didn’t see coming. After tweaking his left hamstring in a preseason clash with Toronto, his availability for the opener against Philly hung in the air. But he suited up, played through, and cleared the injury list before the New York game. Then suddenly, before facing Detroit on Sunday, his name popped back up: hamstring reconditioning, round two. But, guess what? He suited up. Again.

Now, coming to rebounds. Well, yes, that requires some reworking. The Celtics lost their grip on the boards, and it cost them the game. Meanwhile, the Pistons crushed them 55 to 38 in total rebounds, snatching 19 offensive boards to Boston’s 12 and converting second chances into daggers. Even the defensive glass told the same story, 36 to 26.

To be honest, even the Boston Celtics‘ head coach, Joe Mazzulla, believes that rebounds are something his team needs to work on. At the same time, he believes that such losses are part of the game; his boys need to shrug it off like dust and look ahead towards execution and wins. And Jaylen Brown? He’s Mazzulla’s wingman in tough times.

Joe Mazzulla addresses Jaylen Brown and team concerns before Monday’s Pelicans game

A 41-point night for Jaylen Brown, but a defeat for the Celtics. Undoubtedly, Sunday was a series of mixed emotions for the 2024 NBA champions. Amidst the chaos, the Cs’ head coach, Joe Mazzulla, is trying to find the rhythm. Speaking to the media after the loss, he talked about JB. “I thought he was physical. I thought he did a great job with his shot selection,” Mazzulla said. “He was simple, pulled up at the elbow, two dribbles, got into the paint, played off pin-downs. I thought he did a great job of just playing at his pace, not getting sped up, and getting to the spot that he wants.” 

Now, the 2025-26 Celtics roster is a list of new faces. JT is out with his ACL injury. Jrue Holiday is in Portland, KP is in Atlanta, and Big Al has landed himself in San Francisco. So, what is the new team adjustment like for Jaylen Brown, according to Joe? “I think just trusting that we can get shots for him out of the offense and then picking and choosing where to get the right shots,” he said. Meanwhile, talking about the impact of losses, the 37-year-old clarified that it doesn’t matter.

“What matters is making sure we continue to stick to the process of trying to win. We had a 17-point lead today. We have to close the second quarter better. Obviously, the fouls and the rebounds at certain times hurt us,” Joe Mazzulla clarified. He praised the team’s effort but stressed the need for better execution. Tough times came earlier than expected, so the team must stay united and keep building.

At the same time, no one could ignore the Celtics’ disastrous defensive rebounds on Sunday. They went 26 against the Pistons’ 36. Thus addressing the matter, Boston’s HC said, “Those are difficult. We have to, one, it’s a three-step process like we talked about. There are ones we have to get. We have to be physical, we have to be tougher, we have to get those. We have to do a better job of creating turnovers and getting offensive rebounds to combat that.” 

The Celtics are limping through growing pains, but this chapter feels like the kind that forges legends. Jaylen Brown is fighting through the fire, carrying the load while keeping one eye on his health. Joe Mazzulla is steady at the helm, demanding grit over glamour. Together, they’re rebuilding rhythm, rebound by rebound, loss by loss, turning every bruise into belief and every setback into something stronger. How far will they go this season? Well, that’s a bigger question staring them.