Jordan Walsh’s Defensive Rise Puts Him in Celtics’ Starting Plans as Rotation Stays Fluid

With a pending team option, each stint serves as an audition in Mazzulla’s fluid rotation.

Overview

Walsh has started recently and taken primary matchups against top scorers such as James Harden, Tyrese Maxey and Paolo Banchero.
In Wednesday’s win over the Nets, he logged 11 minutes as Sam Hauser closed and Josh Minott provided a spark, underscoring Boston’s game-to-game lineup shifts.
Joe Mazzulla praised Walsh’s growth, saying he is becoming a defender who can guard anyone on any night, while stressing that roles do not change even when minutes do.
Jaylen Brown encouraged Walsh to embrace the nightly top-assignment role, a conversation Walsh said helped pave the way for more trust and minutes.
Xavier Tillman dubbed him “The King of the Lockdown,” and with the team option on Walsh’s deal unexercised, his modest but efficient early-season stats take on added weight.