The Summer League Celtics dropped their first game of the tournament on Monday, July 14, losing to the Miami Heat 96-100. Jordan Walsh’s ejection in the second quarter likely played a roll in the defeat. Walsh, 21, was having his best game thus far, before picking up two consecutive technical fouls, the second of which saw him push Pelle Larsson into the stands where Brad Stevens, Mike Zarren and new Celtics owner Bill Chisholm were sitting.
Despite Walsh’s poor decision-making, it would appear that Joe Mazzulla was a fan of the fire and fight that Walsh displayed on the court. When speaking to reporters in attendance after the game, Walsh shared a message Mazzulla had sent him via text.
“As soon as I got ejected, I got to the locker room, I checked my phone, He was texting me, ‘I loved this out of you,’” Walsh said. “So take that for what it is, but Joe was hype.”
Mazzulla has developed a reputation for his unique approach to coaching and how he looks to challenge his players both mentally and physically. As such, it should come as no surprise that Walsh’s heated moment was something that endeared him to the championship-winning coach.
Nevertheless, Walsh will likely want to avoid such lapses in judgment moving forward. After all, minutes are up for grabs this season, and mistakes like the one against Miami could harm his chances of cementing himself as part of the team’s rotation moving forward.
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