BOSTON — After a shocking defeat to the undermanned Atlanta Hawks, Celtics star Jaylen Brown expressed his frustration during a postgame press conference on Tuesday. Initially in command with a 15-point lead heading into the second half, the Celtics squandered the advantage, allowing the Hawks to rally for a stunning 117-116 victory at TD Garden.

The statistics told a damning story. The Hawks outperformed the Celtics in the paint, scoring an impressive 68 points compared to the Celtics' merely 32, bolstered by an astonishing 20 offensive rebounds. Compounding the issue, the Celtics committed 20 turnovers, granting Atlanta 25 additional shot opportunities. This combination of mistakes proved costly for a team that has prided itself on discipline, particularly in the face of perceived weaker opponents.

Despite scoring a remarkable 37 points, Brown found little solace in his individual performance. "I think mentally we were careless tonight," he stated bluntly. "We expected to win, and our carelessness showed. We had 20 turnovers as a team, which is uncharacteristic of us. It indicates we weren’t in sync." Brown acknowledged his own part in the turnover tally, along with fellow star Jayson Tatum, emphasizing the need for improvement. Together, Brown and Tatum accounted for nine of those twenty turnovers.

"We have to be better securing the ball and getting our spacing," Brown lamented. "Atlanta came out and played physical, and we weren’t up to the challenge tonight."

This loss marked a disappointing turn for the Celtics, who had kicked off the season strong at 7-1 but now find themselves at 2-2 over their past four games. They trail the undefeated Cleveland Cavaliers by three games at the top of the Eastern Conference. While one defeat doesn’t define a team, Brown noted that the Celtics have looked vulnerable recently, especially in their sluggish starts against the Bucks and Nets.

"It’s a mentality issue," Brown reflected about their recent struggles. "We have things to improve on. We aren’t a perfect team. This season is a new journey, and we must embrace these learning moments. We cannot allow this to become a habit."

Looking ahead, Brown expressed hope for a quick turnaround, especially with a demanding back-to-back set on the horizon. "We’ll review the game film and learn from this situation," he said. "We must respond well and move forward."

The Celtics now face a crucial test against a well-rested Brooklyn Nets team on Wednesday night. Fans will be watching closely to see if Boston can bounce back from this disappointing setback and reclaim their winning form as the season progresses. Will the Celtics rise to the occasion, or will they continue to stumble? Stay tuned!