The Boston Celtics are more than six months gone from their heartbreaking loss to the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference Finals. Despite the passage of time, Celtics star Jaylen Brown hasn’t forgotten what it’s like to fall short when a championship game is on the line.

Brown led the C’s in scoring with 19 points in Game 7 of the Conference Finals, but he also had eight turnovers and a plus-minus rating of -17. Despite his struggles, the two-time All-Star says he’s learned a lot from the loss, according to Jay King of The Athletic.

“For the most part, reading the game,” Brown remarked when asked what he learned from the game.

Brown is averaging 22.2 points and 5.2 rebounds per game so far in the 2023-24 season. While those aren’t career highs, the Celtics are 15-5 and in exclusive possession of the Eastern Conference lead. Furthermore, Brown’s average of 2.5 turnovers per game is his most since the 2019-2020 season.

The 27-year-old guard counts the do-or-die loss to Miami last spring as one of the main reasons he worked harder than ever this offseason.

“It just inspired growth,” Brown explained. “It simply inspired me.” It was motivation to do better. That’s how horrible it felt to fall short the way we did, but I wouldn’t change anything.”

The Celtics and Heat have only met once since the Conference Finals. In late October, Boston won 119-111, and Brown had 27 points and six rebounds in 34 minutes. The two rivals will meet again on Thursday, January 25th, in Miami.