The Celtics changed up their starting lineup for the first time in nearly two months in their win over the Clippers. Jordan Walsh has been the starter when healthy since Nov. 11, enjoying a breakout season. But C’s coach Joe Mazzulla elected to roll with Sam Hauser with the starters facing the Clippers.
Despite losing his starting spot, Walsh responded with one of the best games of his career. While it was the Jaylen Brown show in the Celtics’ blowout win over the Clippers, Walsh was also excellent coming off the bench. It was a huge bounce-back performance for Walsh, whose rotation spot was starting to diminish.
“It’s definitely fuel,” Walsh said via CLNS Media. “I didn’t start tonight after starting for so long. To me, Joe was challenging me to come in and be the guy that I was, whatever a month ago. So I definitely took that on as a challenge. But at the same time, starting, bench, it don’t matter. If I have a chance to come in and make an impact, that’s all that matters to me.”
Walsh finished with a double-double, putting up 13 points and a career-high 13 rebounds. He was at his best Saturday, coming up with high-energy plays for the Celtics. Even though he didn’t get the start, Walsh clearly didn’t let that affect him as he put together one of his best games of the year.
Part of Walsh going to the bench also has to do with Hauser starting to heat up with his jumper. While Hauser finished 2-for-8 on 3-pointers Saturday, he’s climbed out of a slow shooting start to open the year. He has these slumps that last a month or two, but he’s a proven sharpshooter in the league.
“I had to make sure everybody felt me,” Walsh said. “I felt like they felt me tonight. The Clippers felt me. I feel like I came in and was able to impact the game.”
Walsh played with more force as he also grabbed six offensive rebounds. When the 21-year-old is playing well, his activity level is all over the place to impact the game. Walsh can lock guys up defensively while providing endless energy on both ends of the court. He showed more of that Thursday with multiple nice plays.
“I thought he was tremendous,” Mazzulla said. “I think the idea here is he didn’t move to the bench. We went with Sam because we knew what their lineups were going to be and we wanted to get off to a great start on the offensive end.
“I think it’s a testament to the guys. We’re always going to do what gives us the best chance to win, and everyone has embraced that. So for him to understand that and for Sam to come out and play well, and for Jordan to even give us the production that he did just shows the mindset of the team.”