Locked On Celtics – Celtics Survive, Win Third Straight | Jaylen Brown’s All-NBA Run

Podcast: Locked On Celtics
Host: John Karalis
Date: November 1, 2025
Episode Theme: The Celtics’ dramatic victory over the Philadelphia 76ers—their third win in a row—highlighting Jaylen Brown’s All-NBA level performance, the team’s strengths, areas of concern, and the impact of Boston’s deep, flexible roster.

Episode Overview

John Karalis recaps the Celtics’ nail-biting win against the 76ers, which marks Boston’s third consecutive victory after a turbulent start to the season. He discusses why this win sets an optimistic tone, analyzes the Celtics' execution, especially in high-pressure moments, and breaks down standout individual performances—especially Jaylen Brown, who continues to play at an All-NBA level. Karalis also examines the contributions of depth players like Ugo Gonzalez and Xavier Tillman, the challenges ahead, and lingering slumps for some rotation pieces.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Big Picture: Season-Saving Streak & Setting the Tone

• Early Struggles, Current Momentum: Celtics bounced back from a three-game losing streak with three straight wins, bringing optimism (03:00).

• "This win, holding on for this win, sets them up, sets the tone for the rest of the season." (13:15)

• Karalis compares the season to flying a small plane through a storm—emphasizing the team’s resilience under pressure (03:39).

• Mantra for the Month: Even if the Celtics lose the next game (vs. Houston), the upcoming schedule is favorable, and they could realistically emerge from their first twelve games at or above .500—crucial for playoff aspirations (05:22).

• "Getting this third win here in the first seven games is just huge… three and four is great. Four and three would be amazing." (08:38)

2. Game Analysis: Celtics vs. Sixers

Dominant First Half

• The Celtics played near-perfect basketball for the first 20 minutes.
  • "First quarter, and up until three and a half minutes to go in the second quarter, Celtics were playing absolutely gorgeous… If last year's team played that style of basketball at that level, that team would have won a championship." (10:22)

The Collapse & Philly Run

• Gave up a full 24-point lead due to lapses and late-game mistakes, but never trailed.
  • "They did never trail. That was a horribly structured sentence. They did never trail. That is just… Wow." (12:46)
• Karalis credits their ability to always have an answer when Philly surged, hitting big shots and regaining composure (13:30).

Late Game Issues

• A nearly disastrous close:
  • "There was execution stuff that really, really hurt them." (13:55)
  • Jaylen Brown admitted postgame: “I lost my poise. I started getting too into it with the refs.” (16:01)
• Turnovers, rushed possessions, and missed open shots allowed Philly back in.
  • "The late game stuff is something that they can improve, obviously. But on the plus side, you get the win. Most important thing is you find a way to get the win." (18:16)

Coaching Philosophy: Early Offense vs. Poise

• Karalis notes the coaching staff’s encouragement to take early shots given full-court pressure, but emphasizes the need for more shot selection discipline to maintain leads (19:49).

3. Standout Performers

Jaylen Brown: All-NBA Level Play

• Stat line: 32 points, 6 assists, 3 rebounds, 5 turnovers.
  • "Jalen's on a heater to start this now. He's not going to keep up 50% shooting from three. That's going to go away. But where does it settle?... If it settles at 38–40% this season, then we're looking at All-NBA Jalen." (23:01)
• Aside from the Knicks game, all performances have resembled All-NBA caliber play. Brown’s ability to draw attention and handle blitzes is evolving, but late-game composure remains a necessity.

Ugo Gonzalez: Gutsy Hustle

• Made a potentially dangerous chase-down block.
  • "[Ugo] is like, nope, I'm chasing this guy down, I'm trying. I'm going after him… He went flying into the stanchion. I thought he was really hurt. And it’s the type of play you can get really hurt on… Like, we all love it. But, oh, my God, you can't do that all the time, buddy." (25:10)
• Provided energy, defense, and key stretches off the bench—a sign of his emerging role.

Xavier Tillman & Depth Performance

• Tillman came in cold late, played tough defense, and hit a major three in crunch time (27:10).
• Likewise, Neemias Queta provided strong first-half defense versus Embiid, before rotations changed due to matchup adjustments.

Anthony Simons: Aggressive Off the Bench

• "Anthony Simons, I mentioned him a little bit in that group… He was a +23, 19 points off the bench. Aggressive. He said after the game, they've been begging me to be more aggressive. This is the most aggressive that I've been. Good. That's great. You need a scorer like that off the bench." (29:45)

Bench Mindset: Next Man Up

• Praised for mental readiness. Players like Minott, Garza, Tillman, Boucher, all stepping in and producing despite inconsistent minutes.
  • "The whole thing that I'm talking about here is all of these guys… they're doing a great job of staying engaged, and when they're called on, they come in and play… This is a really incredible mindset to have." (29:00)

4. Areas for Concern

Shooting Slumps

• Derrick White (2–7 from three), Peyton Pritchard (1–9 from three) continue to struggle.
  • "The crappy part for White, he had a couple of catch and shoots early and I was like, okay, this could be the breakout game. And then he just struggled…" (31:01)
  • Fourth-quarter woes partly attributed to these missed open looks.

Overall Late-Game Execution

• Need for improved shot selection and poise to withstand opponents’ runs and close out games comfortably.

Sustainability of Bench Performance

• Karalis raises the question: Can this edge and top-to-bottom engagement last as the long season grinds on? (30:42)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On early season panic:
  "Getting this third win here in the first seven games is just huge because… 0–7 is not… out of the question. One and six, two and five… Three and four is great. Four and three would be amazing." — John Karalis (08:38)

• On Jaylen Brown’s maturity:
  “I lost my poise. I started getting too into it with the refs.” — Jaylen Brown quoted by John Karalis (16:01)

• On Celtics’ response to adversity:
  "They answered every time. When it got tied, when it got down to three, they answered… They did never trail." — John Karalis (14:00)

• On the value of hustle plays:
  "Throwing your body around like that is awesome. Like, we all love it. But, oh my god, you can't do that all the time, buddy." — John Karalis on Ugo Gonzalez (25:49)

• On the “next man up” culture:
  "They're doing a great job of staying engaged. And when they're called on, they come in and play… This is a really incredible mindset to have. This is all mental game. So, shout-out to those guys." — John Karalis (29:31)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 03:00: Celtics’ three-game win streak and early season outlook
• 10:22: First 20 minutes—best basketball of the year
• 13:30: How the Celtics responded to every Sixers run
• 16:01: Jaylen Brown’s postgame self-critique on poise
• 18:16: Importance of winning despite ugly stretches
• 23:01: Jaylen Brown’s statistical tear and shooting projections
• 25:10: Ugo Gonzalez’s dangerous but inspiring hustle
• 27:10: Xavier Tillman and depth contributions
• 29:45: Anthony Simons’ aggression off the bench
• 29:31: The next man up mindset
• 31:01: Shooting slumps—White and Pritchard

Summary

This episode delivers an insightful breakdown of a season-defining win for the Celtics. John Karalis highlights the controlled chaos of early-season NBA basketball, the Celtics’ ability to surge and come together in moments of adversity, and the growth and contributions from stars like Jaylen Brown and key bench pieces. The show ends with cautious optimism—Boston’s depth and mental resilience are strengths, but continued shooting slumps and late-game lapses are issues to monitor. The host emphasizes both the importance of this win and the road that remains ahead.

Listen if you want:

• An authentic, beat-writer’s insight into the Celtics’ locker room vibe
• Tactical breakdown of the game’s key moments and adjustments
• Candid discussion of slumps, surprises, and the tough path to building a playoff contender