Inside The Celtics

Oshae Brissett Shines in Celtics Win vs. Heat: 'He Changed the Game'

After not playing against the Knicks, Oshae Brissett starred in his role and gave the Celtics a needed energy jolt in their 119-111 win over the Heat.

Bobby Krivitsky

Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports
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Joe Mazzulla wasn't planning on bringing Oshae Brissett into Friday night's game against the Heat until the second quarter. But with the hosts down double-digits and needing an infusion of energy, the Celtics' bench boss called an audible.

As detailed in a film piece highlighting his play in the preseason, the former Syracuse star stays active when he's off the ball, a welcome addition to Boston's offensive operation, and his cuts tend to produce positive outcomes.

Another way the Toronto, Ontario, native makes an impact is by crashing the glass. He brings more to the table, including the defensive versatility to switch onto centers and then keep them off the glass. But his cutting and rebounding were how he made the most significant effect on the outcome of the Celtics' 119-111 win over Miami.

The play below is from Boston's second offensive possession after Brissett subbed in. Jrue Holiday drills the turnaround jumper; it's a good shot. But with Jimmy Butler focusing on the two-time All-Star even as he gets further away, Brissett cuts back door. Another option was dishing to him for a dunk.

Then, after deflecting a Jayson Tatum missed three, redirecting the ball to Al Horford, Dru Smith's leaning left, and Brissett hits him with a swim move that J.J. Watt would be proud of to get in front of him. He then gets to the other side of the rim, forcing a foul as he goes up for the board.

In the second of the two clips below, on the heels of the six-foot-seven forward successfully fighting for the rebound off a Jaylen Brown missed free throw, Kyle Lowry face-guards the six-foot-seven forward, hoping to keep him off the boards.

Brissett, who has momentum as he crashes from the corner, which is where he usually starts possessions, blows by the veteran guard and knives his way to the ball. He also does a great job of quickly getting it up and away from Lowry. He then spots a cutting Payton Pritchard, leading to a Sam Hauser three.

And, in an example of the former Indiana Pacer reaping the rewards of his impact as a cutter, he flashes baseline, gathers a feed from Tatum, and flushes it home.

After the win, his head coach stated, "He changed the game."

Tatum voiced that Brissett 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, and his energy, his offensive rebounding, giving us second and third chance opportunities was big. And that's his job. And for him to come do that, not play last game, and come in today and give us a spark to turn the game around was huge, and that's what I love about our team."

The four-year veteran showed that when his number's called, no matter how long it's been since he last got in, he'll be ready to star in his role.

Further Reading

Here's What Stood Out in Celtics' Win vs. Heat: Boston at Its Best When It Matters Most

Here's Where Jaylen Brown Impressed Joe Mazzulla the Most in Celtics' Win vs. Heat

Jrue Holiday Challenges Derrick White to Season-Long Block Contest

Derrick White on Celtics Giving Him Confidence: ‘Credit to Those Guys'

Joe Mazzulla Praises Derrick White's Performance vs. Miami Heat

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Bobby Krivitsky
BOBBY KRIVITSKY

Bobby Krivitsky's experiences include covering the NBA as a credentialed reporter for Basketball Insiders. He's also a national sports talk host for SportsMap Radio, a network airing on 96 radio stations throughout the country. Additionally, he was a major-market host, update anchor, and producer for IMG Audio, and he worked for Bleacher Report as an NFL and NBA columnist.

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