Jayson Tatum Makes Expectations Clear to Celtics Locker Room as Jaylen Brown Responds to 29 NBA Teams’ Goal

You have to stop at some point and ask yourself, why is the entire league so focused on the Boston Celtics?

Beating them isn’t the only thing anymore. In fact, it’s much deeper than that. They are literally making unprecedented moves reshaping their roster that doesn’t just make their entire team better on the court, but better equipped for playing Boston. Contenders are chalking up wins on wings, bolstering defensive depth, and plotting out game plans with one thing in mind: How do we stop Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown?

And the Celtics? They know exactly what’s happening.

Boston’s 118-105 win over the Knicks on Saturday was just another reminder of why they’re the team to beat. At one point, they were up by 27. Tatum was everywhere—a near triple-double, dictating the pace, doing whatever he wanted. Meanwhile, their defense completely suffocated any hopes of a Knicks comeback. It was the kind of game that sends a message—a performance that reminds the league: Yeah, we’re still that team. New York’s head coach Tom Thibodeau acknowledged the challenge of facing this Celtics squad, saying, “We have to be at our best to compete with teams like Boston. They set a high standard with their play.”

But Tatum? He’s not soaking it in. He’s not caught up in the moment. Instead, he understands the weight of it all.

“I mean, it’s just the responsibility you have when you win the championship,” he said post-game. “When the Warriors were going on their run, teams were building their team to compete with them. When Denver won, Minnesota built their team to beat Denver. So there’s a responsibility that comes with being the standard.“

Jayson Tatum with some great perspective when @GwashburnGlobe asked about teams building their rosters to beat the Celtics (I.e. Knicks adding OG Anunoby and Mikal Bridges):

“There’s a responsibility that comes with, you’re the Champs, and you’re the standard.” pic.twitter.com/EW6c0OHAhA

— Jack Simone (@JackSimoneNBA) February 23, 2025

That word—responsibility—carries a lot of weight. The Celtics realize their success is not all individual things they do. Instead, it’s about how others treat them. Now, teams are adjusting, obsessing, and scrambling. But Boston? They’re staying the course. They’re not overthinking. Instead of retaliating, they are focusing on their strengths and not letting themselves get entrapped into unreachable moves.

They’re just playing their game. A 41-16 record. A top-three defense. Elite two-way play. None of this is a fluke. Instead, this is what happens when a team really takes its place at the top. And that’s why the rest of the league is panicking. At this point, it’s not about winning anymore. But what it’s about is finding some way, any way, to take Boston down.

Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown Brace for the Playoff Battles Ahead

There’s got to be something satisfying about knowing the entire league is scheming against you. But for Jaylen Brown? It’s not just satisfying. It’s fuel.

When he is asked if it motivates him that teams are actually stacking up on wings, just to slow him and Tatum down, he doesn’t hesitate. “Absolutely.” That’s it. That’s all he said. In fact, he didn’t have to say more. He understands, and he has thought it through—and he’s ready.

But he’s not getting ahead of himself too. Instead, Brown knows better than anyone that the playoffs- they’re a different beast. “Just the playoffs, just want to be healthy, you know, the Cavs and Knicks, they’re good teams. So anything can happen. We got to, you know, focus on the details, but, you know, I’m looking forward to it.“

This isn’t just about staying healthy. Rather, it’s about recognizing the sheer chaos of the postseason.

And Cleveland? They’re real. Right now, they’re 46-10. They’ve turned Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse into an absolute fortress, going 26-4 at home. On top of that, they’ve already handled the Knicks twice—once in a 110-104 battle in October and then in a 142-105 beatdown on February 21.

And what does history tell us? The playoffs never go as planned. Think back to the 2007 “We Believe” Warriors stunning Dirk’s 67-win Mavericks. Or the 1994 Nuggets, the first No. 8 seed to take down a No. 1. The postseason doesn’t care about records. Instead, it thrives on unpredictability.

So when Brown talks about staying locked in? He’s not just throwing out cliches. Instead, he knows what’s coming.

Feb 23, 2025; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown (7) passes the ball on an alley oop attempt to forward Jayson Tatum (0) during the second half against the New York Knicks at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-Imagn Images

With upcoming battles against the Cavs, Nuggets, and Sixers, they’re about to get a preview of what’s waiting for them in the playoffs. Every team they face has been preparing for this moment—studying film, making moves, obsessing over how to take them down. But it seems like Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown are both prepared to face what’s coming.