Celtics' Jaylen Brown will face a new level of pressure

The Boston Celtics are on the brink of postseason elimination. They're down 3-1 to the New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference semifinals. Game 5 is set to be played on Wednesday in Boston.

On Monday, Jayson Tatum suffered what appeared to be a significant leg injury. As such, he isn't expected to feature in the rest of Boston's playoff push. Therefore, all focus will now turn toward Jaylen Brown. 

Brown, 28, is a supermax talent. His salary eats up a significant amount of the Celtics' cap space. He's being paid like a superstar. So, in Tatum's absence, he must step up and help lead Boston toward what Celtics fans hope is a memorable fightback.

The problem is, Brown is nursing his own injury issues. He came into the playoffs with a bone bruise. That's why he's not as explosive as usual and isn't getting downhill with the frequency we're accustomed to seeing. Unfortunately for Brown, the time for excuses is over. The bright lights of the media will begin to hone in on his performances, and Celtics fans will be expecting elite-level production.

Brown has enjoyed big moments before. He won the Eastern Conference Finals and NBA Finals MVP awards last season. He's also played in plenty of games where Tatum has been sidelined. Yet, he's never been tasked with spearheading a playoff push, when facing elimination, with no sign of Tatum in sight.

Tatum's injury has put Brown into uncharted territory. He's about to feel a level of pressure he didn't know existed. How he handles that pressure will likely have a direct correlation to Boston's chances of success. And while it's not fair, Brown will likely be judged by how things go in Game 5 on Wednesday.