If you ask Arkansas assistant Anthony Ruta what Jordan Walsh will bring to the Boston Celtics, his answer ought to prime the pump for Boston fans expecting a modicum of the defensive intensity they lost with the trade of Marcus Smart. “I’d say his defense and his athleticism and his rebounding translate directly into the NBA right now, and he just plays so hard,” said Ruta in an interview with the Boston Globe’s Adam Himmelsbach.
“The fan base is going to wrap their arms around him right away because he’s a guy who’s going to dive on the floor for a loose ball and do the little stuff that will impact winning,” he added with words that could have been used to describe a younger Smart. “He helped us win multiple games just by playing hard and fighting for loose balls”.
“The bigger the stage got, the more responsibility Jordan was given, especially on the defensive end of the floor, having to lock down really good players night in and night out,” added the Arkansas assistant. “He did a tremendous job.”
One NBA analyst thinks he might do a better-than-expected job in that role. https://t.co/Bghxkrwyi5
— The Celtics Wire (@TheCelticsWire) June 25, 2023
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