Just a few months ago, Jordan Walsh was seen as an afterthought; just another below-average second-round pick in a long line of dull late selections from the Brad Stevens era.
But heading into December, Walsh is now in the starting lineup and making a difference on not just defense, but offense as well.
Jordan Walsh Has Arrived
So far this season, Walsh is averaging 7.1 points on 58% shooting from the field and 46% from beyond the arc. That’s a huge upgrade from his first two seasons, which saw the forward average below two points, under 40% from the field, and an abysmal 24.5% from three.
Walsh has been playing excellent basketball during Boston’s five-game winning streak. He’s making a case to get serious minutes even once Jayson Tatum returns to the starting lineup, either later this year or next season.
On Dec. 4 against the Washington Wizards, Walsh dropped a career high 22 points. He followed that up with a 17-point performance against the Los Angeles Lakers the next day.
But perhaps more importantly, in the matchup against L.A., when guarding Lakers star Austin Reaves, Walsh held him to just three points while shooting 0-3 from the field.
Defense has always been Walsh’s strong suit, and that’s exactly what got him more minutes in the first place.
“I Think It Could Be You”
Following a blowout win against the Brooklyn Nets on Nov. 18, Walsh shared with CLNS’ Noa Dalzell that it was actually fellow teammate Jaylen Brown that helped to get the developing forward more minutes.
“We were talking about how we felt like we needed a guy who can go in and guard the best player every night,” Walsh said. “He kept saying to me, ‘I think it’s you. I think it could be you.’ I was like, ‘All right. I’m with you. I think so, too.’ So he’s like, ‘ I’m gonna have a conversation with Joe (Mazzulla), and we can go from there.’ I was like, ‘All right, cool.’”
https://twitter.com/NoaDalzell/status/1990849751437246619
That conversation with Mazzulla must have happened, because after that win against Brooklyn, Walsh has seen an increase in not just minutes, but production as well.
The improved offense is great, but it’s the defensive prowess that Walsh has always possessed that’s been a difference maker for the Celtics. With Tatum out for the foreseeable future, Boston’s defense had already taken a massive hit — Walsh solves that problem
Time will tell if the third-year forward will be able to maintain his productivity for the rest of the season, but Walsh has already played more impactful ball in the pros this year than at any point in his NBA career.
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