Celtics’ Jayson Tatum: After Ring Night, We Have To Put Title Behind Us

It was utter domination for the Boston Celtics on their way to the championship. But that’s ancient history, star wing Jayson Tatum suggested.

“I’m of the mindset that after ring night, in a weird way, we got to put that behind (us),” Tatum told Jared Weiss of The Athletic. “Last year was last year. We did it. It was a dream come true. We worked our ass off for it. But after ring night, we gotta move on. We gotta get ready for game two.”

The Celtics now own 18 banners as a franchise. They are favored by most to win a 19th.

Still, Tatum’s take echoed those spoken earlier this month by fellow Celtics star Jaylen Brown.

“Last year is over, to be honest. We celebrated, we had a good time. It’s been an awesome summer,” Brown told Monte Poole of NBC Sports Bay Area, via RealGM. “I’ve been having a great summer, by the way. But it’s over with it.”

The Celtics are one of three teams to not sign any outside free agents to standard contracts (the Los Angeles Lakers and Cleveland Cavaliers are the others). But that’s OK. Boston has plenty as is.

Along with Tatum and Brown, guards Jrue Holiday and Derrick White played like true champions. The same goes for big men Kristaps Porzingis (when healthy) and the ageless Al Horford.

And Joe Mazzulla proved to be the perfect coach to pull it all together.

Thanks to their overall length, athleticism and depth, the Celtics may be the best defensive team in the league. We all know what they say about defense and championships.

So the Celtics likely enter the season as favorites with a great chance to repeat. However, as Tatum and Brown eluded, it will only get tougher from here.

“Now we got the target on our back,” Brown said. “Everybody’s trying to come after us and I’m like, ‘Come on.’ It’s back to work. And I’m looking forward to next season.”