Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum pushed back on the notion that his team qualifies as a “super team” following a disappointing Game 2 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers on Thursday night.
Despite the Celtics’ regular-season success and formidable roster, Tatum challenged the narrative during his postgame press conference.
Addressing the perception of the Celtics as a super team, Tatum emphasized that such labels don’t align with the team’s actual accolades.
“The idea that we have a super team… It’s twofold, right? We didn’t have the Coach of the Year, we didn’t have the MVP, we only had two All-Stars. They say we’re a super team, but we didn’t get rewarded like we are,” remarked Tatum.
“That’s the narrative you might see on TV, the idea that we have a super team. It’s twofold. We didn’t have the Coach of the Year or MVP. We only had two All-Stars. They say we’re a super team, but we didn’t get rewarded like we are.”
– Jayson Tatum on people saying Boston is a… pic.twitter.com/dCC6gbue6v
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) May 10, 2024
Tatum’s remarks come in response to growing concerns among fans in Boston, who may have developed high expectations for the team’s postseason performance.
While acknowledging the Celtics’ strengths, Tatum also acknowledged their imperfections.
“We know we got a good team. We’re not perfect. We play the right way more often than not. And we know we’ve got to be better,” he stated.
Despite the loss, Tatum delivered a solid performance, scoring a team-high 25 points while contributing six assists and seven rebounds. However, the Celtics ultimately fell short against the Cavaliers, highlighting areas for improvement as the series progresses.
With an impressive regular-season record and a roster stacked with talent, the Celtics have often been touted as title favorites.
However, Tatum’s remarks suggest that internal expectations may differ from external perceptions, emphasizing the team’s focus on continuous improvement rather than resting on the laurels of super team status.
