The Celtics finally punched back. After all the noise, all the doubts, and a storm of criticism—especially from voices like Kendrick Perkins—Boston showed they’re not going quietly. Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown had been under the microscope all series, their struggles dissected on every show, with Perk leading the charge.

But after silencing Madison Square Garden and snagging a crucial win, Tatum made sure the message was clear: The Celtics aren’t done yet, and the critics might want to ease up. And yes, that message was aimed squarely at Big Perk.

The thing is, Perk believed this was a legacy-defining series for JT and the crew. “What are we talking about right now? You were up 20 points twice at the crib and blew it. Yes. This is a legacy-defining moment for Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum,” said Perkins, piling the pressure on Tatum. But tonight, on the court, JT looked like he always does — calm and collected as he registered 22 points, 9 boards, and 7 dimes to keep the Celtics’ title hopes alive. After the game, a reporter asked him how he remains so composed when his championship-winning predecessors like Perkins put him on the spot like this. JT’s response oozed class.

” You just understand what comes with being THAT guy. Right? I live a great life. I ain’t gonna lie… But you also have to accept what comes with that. Right? I get a lot of praise, I get a lot of credit, I get a lot of accolades. But I’m not perfect. There’s times where, you know, I’ve needed to play better,” he said. But then JT went on to reveal how he stays levelheaded even as the pressure on him reaches a fever pitch.

“There’s a lot of people that came before me that they criticize, and there’s gonna be people that come after me that they criticize. And for me, it’s just it’s a sense of joy that I play with. Right? Coming into a game, with an angry face and mad at the world. That’s not who I am. That’s not when I play my best. So I always say you gotta be the same person when things are going great,  and when things aren’t going great. You know, you can’t switch up. That’s— it’s the character of a good man,” said Jayson Tatum.

His message is loud and clear. No matter how bright the lights, no matter how many people blast him on TV or online — JT isn’t abandoning who he is. He knows his body of work speaks for itself. And most importantly, he knows the growing pains that players at his level face. It’s not all sunshine and rainbows at the top. And it’s this mindset of Tatum’s that makes him perhaps the most reliable player in the NBA today.

But before tonight’s game, JT did feel like he was at the center of Boston’s failures. After all, they were at risk of getting swept by the Knicks, and after Game 2 at the TD Garden, it caused him a lot of grief.

Jayson Tatum’s mental anguish finally comes to an end

After reading what he said about the criticism and expectations he’s had to face, you probably think the pressure never got to JT. But after giving up two 20-point leads in consecutive games, Jayson Tatum was feeling the heat. But he didn’t shy away from it at all. Fans and analysts noticed that he looked anxious. And Jayson didn’t really take it easy on himself either.

“I just kind of made the wrong read. Went into a crowded area,” Tatum told the Athletic’s Jay King about the final play in Game 2. And he spoke of the loss as a whole, taking full responsibility for it. “I take full ownership on the way I’ve played this series,” he told Brian Robb, reporter for Mass Live. It was clear who Jayson blamed for the two losses — himself.

This mindset did pay off for Tatum. His team did well to grab a convincing win tonight. They showed the world their desire to repeat as champions. So, Jayson can finally cut himself some slack with the noose around the Celtics’ necks being a little looser. The emotional turmoil he was in after Game 2 is finally over.

But that doesn’t mean the job’s done for him and the Boston Celtics. No, far from it. Jayson Tatum and his team are still 2-1 down. And they simply cannot afford to drop another game in this series. But that’s easier said than done against the New York Knicks, especially at MSG. Although, if anyone can do it, it’s the reigning, defending NBA champions!