Boston Celtics reserve forward Jordan Walsh has not always seen consistent minutes with the Celtics in their 2026 NBA Eastern Conference Playoffs first round series with the Philadelphia 76ers. But he has still found ways to impact the game even on nights when he cedes most of his role on offense to his more established teammates, such as his scoreless, 13-minute stint in Game 3 that saw him log just 4 rebounds in a game his defensive impact had him tied for a team-high +18 for the night.

"Everything's just more heightened," said Walsh of how he sees his role change now that he is playing meaningful minutes for Boston in the postseason. "Obviously first year I didn't play, but this year, (I'm) having a chance to affect the game. Losses hurt more, wins feel better, mistakes are heightened, film sessions are longer."

"There's more in it and all the emotions that you feel ... when we lose, it hurts all the time," he added. But knowing that you could have done something that could have possibly changed the outcome of a game is different -- that feeling is different. So, it's like living in that and then and knowing, how to come how to combat that and turn it positive."

Walsh in particular has been deployed to help contain Sixers star Tyrese Maxey defensively, one of the toughest covers in the NBA. "It's a lot of effort, a lot of technical things you have to know," said Walsh of the assignment.

"But most of all just playing as hard as possible, trying to disrupt the offense, trying to leave my print on the game ... I think makes a difference. And then crashing and then trying to attack them also on defense and offense, as well as trying to crash and get rebounds."

This article originally appeared on Celtics Wire: Walsh on guarding Tyrese Maxey, bigger postseason role for Celtics