‘He modified the sport’: Oshae Brissett impressed Joe Mazzulla, Jayson Tatum in his Celtics debut in win over Warmth

Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla was instantly impressed by Brissett’s play, particularly contemplating that Mazzulla didn’t play him within the regular-season opener in opposition to the Knicks.

“He didn’t play in Recreation 1, and he modified the sport,” Mazzulla informed reporters. “That, to me, is what momentum is all about. He got here in, he made a big affect, and he did his job at a excessive, excessive degree.

“We have now to get to a degree the place what he did is simply as vital as what the opposite guys have performed tonight, and he helped us win.”

Celtics star Jayson Tatum was on the bench for a lot of Brissett’s first stretch on the ground, however he additionally sensed the affect that Brissett had on Friday’s recreation.

“He was the only motive that we bought again into the sport, and I informed him that,” Tatum mentioned. “He got here proper in, and we have been sort of flat. His power, his offensive rebounding, him giving us second- and third-chance alternatives was massive. And that’s his job.

“For him to come back to do this — not taking part in the final recreation, to come back in as we speak and provides us this spark to show the sport round was large. And that’s what I like about our group.”

Brissett was considered as a possible successor to Grant Williams’s spot within the rotation when he signed with the Celtics over the offseason, agreeing to a cope with Boston within the opening hours of free company as Williams departed for Dallas shortly after. He didn’t play on Wednesday as Mazzulla opted to make middle Luke Kornet the ninth man within the rotation in opposition to the Knicks, taking part in three bigs.

Mazzulla wished to get Brissett into the rotation for Friday’s recreation, however he deliberate on placing him on the ground later than he truly did. He modified his thoughts, although, for one motive.

“He was imagined to go in to begin the second,” Joe Mazzulla mentioned of Brissett. “However I felt like we would have liked him earlier and so that you simply sort of went with him and he did an awesome job.”

Whereas Brissett wasn’t even a daily starter throughout his time with the Pacers over the past three seasons, he’ll actually be adjusting and sacrificing with the Celtics. He was neglected of the Pacers’ rotation simply 17 instances out of the 104 video games he suited up for since December 2021, scoring 8.1 factors per recreation as he averaged roughly 21 minutes per recreation throughout that stretch.

Brissett will virtually actually get extra alternatives because the season wears on, but it surely’s clear that his function can be comparatively restricted when the Celtics are entire and wholesome. He’s OK, although, with having to earn his spot within the rotation by hustle performs, recognizing the expertise in Boston’s beginning rotation.

“That’s who I’m as a participant,” Brissett informed reporters of his efficiency on Friday. “Each evening I’m going to strive to do this regardless of who we’re taking part in, it doesn’t matter what evening it’s. However we’ve bought actual stars on this group. So me coming in, simply being myself, not attempting to do an excessive amount of, not attempting to show that I can do the rest regardless that all of them know I can.”