LATEST: Boston Celtics star Jaylen Brown agrees  to join the Arizona Wildcats

Since the All-Star break, Jaylen Brown has gained the coach of the Celtics’ respect.

Boston — As the regular season draws to a close, the Celtics are enjoying a nine-game winning streak and are playing some of their best basketball. They had to adopt a different strategy in their victory over the 76ers, relying more on free throws and switching from 3-pointers to rim shots.

Jaylen Brown scored 31 points on Tuesday to lead the team to victory. He shot an impeccable 11 for 14 from the field and 8 for 10 from the free throw line, but it was his efficiency that really stood out. Joe Mazzulla, the coach of the C’s, has been praising Brown’s play lately because of this.

“He’s just always in attack mode,” Mazzulla said. “Jaylen does amazing work. I like how hard he’s working, how calmly he plays offensively, and how many different kinds of baskets he can make no matter how he handles the ball. Whether he’s in transition or playing poised in the post, he’s really reading the game and capitalizing on it. As a result, playwriting in general defines him, and he genuinely takes ownership of it.

In the three games following the break, Brown has averaged 27.3 points per game while shooting 62% from the field. He’s been in charge much of the time because he’s been an integral part of the Celtics’ jigsaw, leading them to a league-best 46-12 record this season.

This season, Brown’s counting stats have declined, mostly because of the C’s superior lineup. Despite the fact that it was a sacrifice, Jayson Tatum has seen a little drop in his numbers. As a leader, Brown has purposefully enhanced his performance in other areas of his game this season, especially defense.

“Just coming out and being aggressive,” said Brown. “I was able to recuperate and rest during the break, return, and start making the necessary preparations for the postseason.” Reaching new heights, figuring out our players’ rhythm, and balancing aggression and patience at the same time.

The Celtics had to win on Thursday in a different way than normal. The C’s finished 5-for-22, a season low in both attempts and makes, despite having made a bunch of 3-pointers. The Sixers were going to play like that.

However, the C’s ultimately defeated the 76ers. They outplayed the visitors 64-42 in the paint, outrebounded the Sixers 56-28, and made 37 trips to the free throw line, demonstrating their superiority in other parts of the game. Brown and the crew also gained knowledge because the Celtics achieved their victory in an unusual way.