Our favourite play from the Boston Celtics’ gritty win over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Sunday evening?
Early within the fourth quarter, with Boston clinging to a four-point lead as Cleveland whittled away what had been a 21-point benefit, Anfernee Simons misfired from the wing and De’Andre Hunter appeared to safe the rebound from the mosh pit of our bodies in entrance of the Boston basket.
A fast swipe from Payton Pritchard pressured Hunter to fumble the ball, and Jordan Walsh pounced from the alternative facet. Walsh’s aim, he later advised, was to pressure a tie-up. As a substitute, he principally wrestled the ball away from Hunter and instantly acquired fouled making an attempt to go up for a layup.
Coming off his first actual dud since elevating to the beginning lineup when he struggled to make a constructive affect in Saturday’s loss in Minnesota, Walsh posted profession highs on Sunday evening whereas piling up 14 factors and 11 rebounds.
Nevertheless it’s Walsh’s protection that continues to tell apart him.
Earlier than the Celtics chosen Walsh with the thirty eighth choose within the 2023 NBA Draft, Arkansas coach Eric Musselman routinely described his teenage ahead as a “violent defender.”
Musselman later told NBC Sports Boston: “It’s about violently leaping in passing lanes, violently going after rebounds, and rebounding the ball exterior of his space. He can crash into our bodies, he is not afraid of contact. And therefore the phrase, ‘Violent defender.’”
With Walsh lastly breaking down the door to constant enjoying time this season, we’re beginning to see the violence that was promised. Walsh has been an elite defender — we’re resisting the urge to begin the All-Protection marketing campaign that can ultimately arrive if he maintains his on-ball affect — and he’s routinely embraced the challenges of defending the opposing staff’s prime offensive risk.
On Sunday, Walsh logged six minutes, 47 seconds of matchup time in opposition to Donovan Mitchell, defending the Cavs star for a game-high 43 whole possessions. Mitchell scored 4 factors on 2-of-8 taking pictures with two turnovers when Walsh was his major defender, per NBA monitoring knowledge.
Walsh’s defensive metrics have been glorious, at the same time as Joe Mazzulla dispatches him in opposition to among the NBA’s elite. Among the many 78 gamers 6-foot-7 and underneath who’ve defended no less than 9 photographs per recreation with 10-plus video games performed, Walsh ranks second within the NBA whereas holding opponents to 7.2 % under anticipated output.
Opponents are taking pictures simply 40.2 % in opposition to Walsh (47.4 % anticipated). He sits one spot forward of All-Protection stalwart Draymond Inexperienced (-7.1 %), and solely Derrick Jones Jr. (-10.8 %) has a greater mark from that group.
That 7.2 % under anticipated discipline aim share quantity isn’t simply good amongst high-volume gamers; it slots Walsh within the 96th percentile amongst all gamers. Sure, he must drive down his foul totals, however that may merely be a byproduct of his defensive tenacity.
Walsh is producing 3.8 Shares (steals + blocks) per 100 possessions this season. Amongst all wings, he ranks within the eighty fifth percentile in block share (1.2 %) and 88th percentile for steals (2.4 %), per Cleansing the Glass knowledge.
Maybe most significantly for a Celtics staff skinny on dimension, Walsh has been relentless chasing rebounds. He ranks within the ninety fifth percentile whereas chasing down 15.3 % of opponents’ misses when he’s on the ground, per Cleansing the Glass knowledge.
On Sunday evening, when the Celtics had been enjoying with out heart Neemias Queta, Walsh was credited with a staggering 25 rebound probabilities (primarily based on proximity to an out there rebound). For context, Domantas Sabonis lead the NBA with 22.9 rebound probabilities per recreation, and Queta tops the Celtics at 16.7. Walsh is throwing himself into the fray at each probability recently.
Rebounding may need opened the door to Walsh gaining extra enjoying time when he first got here off the bench and acquired energetic on the glass in opposition to Washington in early November. Walsh shuffled as much as the beginning lineup per week later and has confirmed no indicators of giving up that spot.
The Celtics are 6-2 in Walsh’s eight begins this season. Skinny on dimension, the C’s have typically utilized Walsh in small-ball lineups the place both him or Josh Minott is principally the middle on the ground.
Cleansing The Glass knowledge recommend Walsh has logged 11 % of his minutes on the energy ahead spot, and the Celtics have outscored opponents by a staggering 38.9 factors per 100 possessions throughout that admittedly small pattern. What’s extra, opponents are taking pictures 13.9 % under anticipated output on the rim when Walsh is the first defender, which is a center-like quantity.
If growing youthful expertise and figuring out gamers who might be key contributors long-term was a major aim for the Celtics, then tapping into Walsh’s violent defensive tendencies this early was an enormous win within the Jayson Tatum-less portion of the season.
Walsh wants to stay a keen shooter, particularly when he will get open appears to be like from the perimeter. He additionally must be extra cautious with the ball. He pickpocketed Mitchell at one level early in Sunday’s recreation however turned it proper again over making an attempt to push a go forward.
Walsh received’t flip 22 till March 3. The Celtics have him on the books for affordable cash subsequent season and might ponder a possible price range extension down the street.
Walsh’s power and defensive grit has helped regular this staff after a rocky begin to the 2025-26 season. His skill to persistently affect the sport like he did on Sunday would possibly assist the Celtics discover much more consistency shifting ahead.
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