Celtics' Walsh Thrives Despite DNPs

0:00On April 30th, the Boston Celtics have built a powerhouse through their player development system, keeping guys ready no matter what. Take Jordan Walsh, their 2023 draft pick at 38th overall. He started 20 straight games early in the 2025-26 season with crazy energy on defense, but then his minutes dried up to 6, straight DMPs by late March. Walsh stayed locked in by texting former Celtic Xavier Tillman, who barely played here, but stepped up big in the 2024 finals win over. Dallas Tillman got traded away, but he's still mentored Walsh on keeping the right mindset, even while competing against Boston now. Walsh never felt sideline in this organization. He called himself a cog in the machine, big or small, always supporting the team. Chatting with vets like Al Hoerford and Jalen Brown kept him sane and focused, no matter the minutes. And boom, Walsh earned his way back, starting five of his last 10 regular season games, and now playing all five playoff games against Philly.

1:02He's torching opponents defensively, holding them to 36.4% shooting as primary defender, and owning Tyree's maxi with just 6. Of 13 for 15 points, the Celtics outscore the sixers by 23.5 points per 100 possessions with Walsh on the floor. Their defense elite in his, 65 minutes. Pratt Steven saw this potential early, and Tillman's lessons prove how this system turns bench guys into weapons, fueling Boston's endless run. Team coverage, powered by AI. This is Boston Celtics News Today, I'm Corey with the story.