Celtics’ Jordan Walsh Praises Jayson Tatum’s Off-Court Leadership
On Sunday, Nov. 9, the Boston Celtics secured a win over the Orlando Magic at the second time of asking. Joe Mazzulla’s team had lost to the same opponent just t
Jordan Walsh came off the bench to make a big impact, including a dagger three late in the game. During his postgame news conference, Walsh credited the advice and leadership of Jayson Tatum behind the scenes.
“He’s a coach/hype man/ leader,” Walsh said. “He’s kind of doing it all. Obviously, everyone respects him and his opinion. Respects what he has to say. So, every time he pulls me aside, I listen, because it could help me for this game, the next game, or for my career.”
Walsh ended the night with 6 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 steals. He shot 66.7% from the field, with both of his makes coming from three-point range. The young forward appears to have leapfrogged Chris Boucher in the rotation in recent games and is starting to make an impact off the bench.
The Celtics Have Two High-Energy Wings
In Walsh and Josh Minott, the Celtics have two high-energy wings to call upon. There’s a level of crossover in the skill set both players bring to the court, which allows Joe Mazuzlla to plug-and-play his forwards without much drop-off in intensity, ball-pressure and offensive scoring.
Walsh, a third-year member of the Celtics roster, is currently playing for his future with the franchise. He has a team option on his contract for next season, worth $2.2 million. And, being in his third year, must prove that he can cut it at the NBA level.
In fairness, Walsh has been impactful whenever he’s checked into the game. His size and length allow him to be disruptive in the passing lanes, and his athleticism is a huge plus to a Celtics team that is getting downhill more frequently than in previous years.
Joe Mazzulla Praised Jordan Walsh After The Game
During his own postgame news conference, Joe Mazzulla was full of praise for Walsh and the impact he made on the game.
“You have to have that type of sense of urgency,” Mazzulla said. “He’s turned it on and he’s had that sense of urgency as if he’s playing like his basketball life is on the line. One of the reasons I trusted him and went with him is because of his work ethic behind the scenes. His body language and work ethic never changed when he wasn’t playing…He’s done a great job of just doing it. He’s gotta keep it up.”
The Celtics will be back in action on Tuesday, Nov. 11, when they face the Philadelphia 76ers for the third time this season. Boston is 1-1 against its conference rivals to begin the new basketball year, having lost on opening night, but secured a win in the opening game of their NBA Cup run.
Given Walsh’s current production, it’s safe to assume that he will be part of the rotation in some form, most likely when coming off the bench.
wo days prior, marking their first NBA Cup loss of the season.
Blue Jays Latest Addition Could Leave for Dodgers, Per MLB Insider
Toronto Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins could seek some lineup help at the trade deadline in Jazz Chisholm Jr.
It was no surprise that the Toronto Blue Jays decided to take a chance on right-hander Shane Bieber. When Bieber has been at his best throughout his career, he’s been one of the better starters in Major League Baseball. He had a rough outing in his last appearance for the Blue Jays, but it was just his third start of the year in the show.
Nonetheless, he allowed five earned runs in 6.0 innings, striking out six. Bieber now has a 4.15 ERA in just 17.1 innings.
There might not be a player who has a more questionable free agency than the former Cy Young Award winner. Many believe that Bieber is one of the top arms in baseball when healthy, but that’s the problem. Over the past two years, he’s appeared in just five games between the Cleveland Guardians and Blue Jays. Typically, that doesn’t end well for players looking to get paid.
Despite that, Jon Heyman of the New York Post believes the Blue Jays could lose him in free agency, not even naming them as one of the landing spots for the veteran. He noted, however, that the Boston Red Sox and Los Angeles Dodgers could be potential fits.
“He’s off to a big start as deadline pickup. Red Sox, Angels, Dodgers,” Heyman wrote.
Shane Bieber Benefits From Trade to Blue Jays
According to Jeff Passan of ESPN, getting traded to the Toronto Blue Jays actually worked out in Bieber’s favor for a few different reasons. Not only does he have an opportunity to opt out of his deal, but he can’t be offered the qualifying offer now.
“Shane Bieber, Blue Jays, right-handed starter: Being traded to Toronto allowed Bieber a hall pass from the qualifying offer, which is enough to take his $4 million buyout and turn down a $16 million option — provided he remains healthy for the rest of the season,” he wrote.
The Boston Red Sox and Los Angeles Dodgers have continued to prove over the past few years that they’re willing to spend with the best of them.
Will the Blue Jays Pay Shane Bieber?
If the Toronto Blue Jays don’t want to keep Bieber around or give him the money he’s looking for, there isn’t much of a debate that either team wouldn’t give him what he’s looking for.
While the Dodgers have spent more than the Red Sox, Robert Murray of FanSided spoke about the situation recently regarding Boston. He noted that he continues to hear that there’s some rumbling going on for Bieber to land with the Red Sox in free agency.
“(Bieber) is one name that I’m keeping my eye with Boston, and this is me connecting dots, but in the offseason, they were very much in the Shane Bieber market,” Murray said on “The Baseball Insiders.” “Bieber would make a tremendous amount of sense there. I’ve said that at one point I thought he was going to Boston, and I’m pretty sure he thought he was going to Boston, too.”
The Red Sox did something similar last offseason by acquiring Walker Buehler.
However, while Buehler has had similar injury issues, Bieber has been better when he’s healthy.
Hopefully, if the Red Sox land him, that’d be the case.
