Oshae Brissett the unsung hero in ‘revenge sport’ vs. Pacers initially appeared on NBC Sports activities Boston
BOSTON — The Boston Celtics appeared sluggish on each ends of the ground to begin Sport 2 vs. the Indiana Pacers. Then, Oshae Brissett checked in.
Brissett changed an injured Luke Kornet (left wrist) because the C’s went small-ball to begin the second quarter of Thursday’s matchup. Down two factors to start the body, they went on a 20-0 run and did not path for the rest of their 126-110 win. Whereas Jaylen Brown (40 factors, 17 in second quarter) rightfully will earn a lot of the credit score for Boston’s turnaround, Brissett’s impression should not be understated.
The previous Pacer’s power was contagious. He grabbed two rebounds in his first two minutes and his stable protection helped to maintain Indiana from making a shot for the primary six minutes of the body. His ultimate numbers do not bounce off the web page, however his contributions went nicely past the stat sheet.
“Simply his presence, his power, his athleticism,” Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla stated of Brissett. “He performs with such a excessive degree of depth and power. It’s huge for us.”
Brissett ended up with two factors, three rebounds, and three steals. He was a +18 in 12 minutes, tying Brown for the best mark within the sport.
Previous to Thursday, Brissett solely noticed the court docket within the playoffs throughout rubbish time and topped out at 5 minutes in Sport 2 of the second spherical in opposition to the Cleveland Cavaliers. So, he knew he want a mindset change when he checked in early to an intense East Finals sport.
“That is very totally different,” Brissett stated of the distinction between the common season and the playoffs. “The preparation, the main focus, the eye to element is certainly one thing that’s heightened in these video games. Apply, movie, simply speaking amongst the blokes, that is positively a few steps up, a pair notches up.
“And, you realize, this could be my first time with a championship workforce. It is superb. I actually really feel like I have been locked in, actual centered in on all little particulars and issues that earlier than I by no means actually paid consideration to, simply because I did not have the expertise. So I really feel like I am in a great place.”
Though Brissett’s efficiency could also be glossed over by the field rating watchers, it definitely wasn’t ignored by his teammates.
“I am completely satisfied to see that,” Vacation stated of Brissett being a +18. “And he stays prepared. He hasn’t seen many minutes this postseason. Most likely did not play as a lot as he wished to throughout the common season. However I simply assume that is part of sacrifice and him staying prepared.
“Him staying prepared, I do know was robust since you’re probably not getting sport reps like that, however the way in which he got here out and performed — I believe in like the primary two minutes had two rebounds and nice stops — simply actually excited and glad to see him do this as a result of for one, it is a confidence booster and two, it is in opposition to his outdated workforce.”
Not solely did Brissett convey the power on the court docket, however he additionally appears to have added a jolt to the locker room. In response to The Athletic’s Jay King, Vacation and fellow veteran huge man Al Horford overvalued Brissett throughout his media availability.
With Oshae Brissett doing media, Jrue Vacation simply shouted out “revenge sport.” Then Al Horford began barking like a canine.
— Jay King (@ByJayKing) Might 24, 2024
Relying on the severity of Kornet’s damage, we might see the Celtics play small-ball extra on this sequence going ahead. Given their success with Brissett within the combine and Tatum on the 5 in Sport 2, they might go for the small lineup even when Kornet is wholesome.
Both means, the Celtics are assured of their capacity to match up in opposition to the workforce of their means of an NBA Finals berth.
“They do an excellent job of getting managed chaos. They transfer the ball, they transfer our bodies, they play quick,” Vacation stated of the Pacers. “However we are able to additionally do this. We are able to go small, we are able to go huge, we are able to decelerate, we are able to play quick, we are able to execute.”
The Celtics will look to take a commanding 3-0 sequence lead when the sequence shifts to Indiana on Saturday. Tip-off is about for 8:30 p.m. ET.
Protection for Sport 3 begins at 7:30 p.m. with Celtics Pregame Stay on NBC Sports activities Boston.
