This Player Could Be Celtics’ Next Marcus Smart

Scoring on the Boston Celtics has been much easier said than done this season. They sit in second place in the NBA in points allowed, behind only the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder.

Effort on the defensive end is a mindset instilled by head coach Joe Mazzulla, and he, along with several other Celtics, believes one player in particular has really embraced that mindset.

“That’s the role — that’s what you have to become, is a guy that can guard anybody on any given night,” Mazzulla said of third-year guard Jordan Walsh, via CelticsBlog. “And he’s embracing that.”

Walsh is a 2023 second-round pick who saw a significant jump in playing time between his first and second seasons. Now in his third year, Walsh has gained recognition for his relentless effort on defense.

“He’s been doing a heck of a job defending. We need that,” Payton Pritchard said. “He brings the energy guarding the best player every night, and I think that’s his calling card.”

In 10 games played this season, Walsh has already been asked to guard James Harden, Tyrese Maxey and Paolo Banchero. He held Maxey and Harden to a combined 4-of-16 shooting.

Walsh is now playing more than 17 minutes per game and fully embraces his role in drawing difficult defensive assignments.

“I want to shut them down,” Walsh said. “I think that I want to make my mark in the league, and it starts with me defending guys like that.”

Walsh played a season-high 33 minutes on Sunday against the Los Angeles Clippers and recorded three steals, eight rebounds and a block.