Leon Powe’s Game 2 against the Lakers in 2008. The Shrek and Donkey game in the 2010 Finals. Marcus Smart’s mastery in Game 6 against the 76ers last year.
Every once in a while, someone other than the team’s superstars win you a big game in the playoffs.
Who could be Boston’s hero against the Heat in Round 1? For the Celtics, the most obvious answer is Payton Pritchard. He’s had an end-of-season to remember. Over the final fifteen games, he averaged 16.5 points (hitting 40.9% from 3) and 6.1 assists, including back-to-back career nights to close out the regular season with 31 & 11 and 38 & 12. Playoff rotations tend to shorten come April, May, and June, and he’s solidified himself in the top-7. He’s not an x-factor; he’s already part of the X-Men.
The hot take would be picking Jayden Springer here. I’m not that spicy, but the sophomore could get a shot playing some one-on-one defense to close out a quarter or defend Herro or Rozier for a spell. Instead, don’t be surprised if Oshae Brissett makes the most out of 5-10 minutes here and there. Even with Jimmy Butler sidelined with sprained MCL, the Heat are flush with guards and wings like Caleb Martin, Tyler Herro, Terry Rozier, Duncan Robinson, Jaime Jacquez Jr., and Delon Wright. Their only chance in beating Boston is to play small, run their offense on the perimeter, and irritate on D.
Brissett is known for his hustle stats. Whether that’s on the offensive boards or a loud dunk off of a perfectly timed cut, Oshae’s play has the effect of an unexpected car horn. It’s harsh and immediate and after the initial shock, you’re looking around to see if everybody is OK.
Back on October 27 in the home opener hosting the Heat, Brissett played just fourteen minutes and scored two points, but he grabbed three offensive rebounds and finished a +7 in a game that Boston was down by as many as 13 points in the first quarter.
After the Celtics pulled away in the fourth, Jayson Tatum said, “he was the sole reason that we got back into the game, and I told him that. He came right in, and we were kind of flat. His energy, his offensive rebounding, giving us second and third chance opportunities was big — and that’s his job.”
It’s unlikely that Brissett will see consistent minutes at all in the playoffs. He hasn’t had regular playing time all year. But in a seven-game series, it’s about moments, moments that can shift the energy diving for a loose ball or getting…
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