The Celtics dominated last season like it was their destiny—blew through the playoffs and came out champs without breaking much of a sweat. But heading into this postseason, there’s one thing that might not be so smooth: Jaylen Brown. This time around, the road to the Finals is bumpier. The Eastern Conference isn’t handing out any freebies, and the Orlando Magic aren’t just a warm-up act.

They’ve got a top-tier defense and enough length and energy to frustrate anyone. So if you’re expecting the Celtics to waltz past them in four, you might be in for a surprise. Boston can’t afford to mess around. No slow starts, no “we’ll fix it in Game 2” mindset. They’ve got to be locked in from the jump.

But the reigning Finals MVP is not painting a clear picture. Brown doesn’t want to talk about his knee after Joe Mazzulla told the media Brown had been getting injections during that time off, and honestly, he couldn’t have made it any clearer. When reporters brought it up ahead of Game 1 against the Magic, he shut it down fast. “It is what it is. I’m focused on Orlando,” he said, and that was that.

But let’s rewind a bit. That same knee kept him out of action for half of Boston’s last 16 games. When he did suit up, he wasn’t playing heavy minutes. Against the Knicks late in the season, he logged just 22 minutes and didn’t play in the fourth or OT. Then he missed the Celtics’ final three games entirely.

For someone who usually brings intensity to both ends, it was hard not to wonder what was going on. But while Brown didn’t open up much about his knee, he did give fans something reassuring—his confidence in the Celtics’ entire system. When asked about the importance of individual roles heading into the playoffs, Brown didn’t hold back.

“Very important. So, this all, like, uh, a puzzle piece that gotta come together at the right time in the right place,” he said. “So, everybody’s important, even the guys are not playing it, you know, um, just stay ready. You know anything can happen. We’ve seen guys get injured, and you got to be ready to be available and add value to the team. Even if you’re not, you know, or whatever.”

He didn’t just stop with the players. Brown made sure to shout out everyone who keeps the Celtics machine running: “And coaches everything, you know, training staff, people in the kitchen—everybody plays their role.”

You could tell he wasn’t just being polite. Brown meant it. In a long postseason run, it takes more than just star power. And if Boston’s going anywhere, it’s going to be because the whole squad, from starters to staff, shows up locked in.

That said, all eyes are still on Brown himself.

The Celtics’ provide a huge relief to the fans regarding Jaylen Brown

Here’s something Celtics fans can finally breathe easy about—Jaylen Brown is all set for Game 1 against Orlando. No restrictions, no holding back. After a nagging bone bruise on his right knee sidelined him for chunks of March and April, he’s back in action and looked sharp during practice all week.

Joe Mazzulla had nothing but praise. “He’s been great, physically, mentally, really preparing himself, ready to go,” the coach said. “So, love the week that he had.” And honestly, that’s big.

Now, sure, Brown hasn’t played since April 8. He hasn’t logged 30 minutes in a game since March 12. And yeah, his return last month didn’t exactly scream “All-NBA form.” He wasn’t attacking the rim like usual—those thunderous dunks turned into careful layups, and he was noticeably more passive in transition.

So while he’s cleared, it’s totally fair if you’re watching closely to see if that bounce is back. Boston may not need him at full throttle to beat the Magic, but we’ll find out quickly where he’s at—especially with Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner coming right at him.

Mentally, though? He sounds dialed in. “Just preparing your mind, more than anything, to expect the unexpected…” Brown said.

There were whispers he rushed back in March just to hit the 65-game mark for award eligibility. But after some quiet outings, the team sat him again. This week, though? No holding back. And even Kristaps Porzingis admitted—this time, when JB said he felt good, he actually looked like it.

Bottom line—he’s ready. Now it’s just a matter of whether his game shows it too.