Downplaying the significance of a big game less than 48 hours before it happens is one thing.
Jayson Tatum, who has spent his entire career with the Celtics, saying that he doesn’t view the Lakers as a rival is another.
The Celtics and Lakers have played each other in the NBA Finals 12 times, the most in league history. The most recent was in 2010, when Tatum was 12.
Playoff hype is different than regular-season hype. Tatum has a title, but he has never faced the Lakers in the playoffs. His playoff battles have come against teams such as the Bucks, Heat, 76ers, and Mavericks.