Last week, as Oshae Brissett put the finishing touches on a vlog documenting his daily life over a few days, he sat up in his chair with a smile.
“It’s just crazy. Like, bro, we’re in the Conference Finals. That’s nuts,” he said with excitement. “And these guys do this every year, like, this is what I want to be a part of. This is what I need to be a part of. This is it right here. This is better than anything. It’s just fun, it’s crazy.”
Through his broad smile, Brissett’s words were genuine. Since arriving in Boston, he’s consistently shown his excitement with that ever-present grin. And in Game 2, that excitement only grew as he finally got his chance for some significant playing time in the postseason.
With Kristaps Porzingis out and Luke Kornet leaving the game with a left wrist sprain in the first quarter, it wasn’t Xavier Tillman who got the call. Instead, it was Brissett. The 25-year-old checked in at the 10:39 mark of the second quarter, with the Celtics holding a two-point lead.
Immediately upon entering the game, the 6-foot-7 wing snagged a defensive rebound, sparking a transition opportunity that led to a Derrick White three. In a flash, what was a two-point lead had ballooned to 10 in just under three minutes. Over that stretch, the small-ball Celtics held the Pacers scoreless. Though it was a brief, 2:50 stint, Brissett made his impact felt with a pair of rebounds and a steal.
“You gotta give credit where credit is due,” Pacers guard T.J. McConnell said after the game. “Oshae came in and really sat down and defended really well and just brought a different dynamic to their team. They were able to switch one through five. He came in and really changed the game defensively for them.”
Brissett’s defensive versatility and ability to switch onto Indiana’s guards caused trouble for the visitors. Additionally, the Syracuse product brought his usual energy, providing an extra spark.
“It was great. Just the energy that he came in with on both ends, just find a way to impact the game,” Jayson Tatum said on Brissett’s play postgame. “We see the Stay-Ready Group guys work and show up for us every single day. So, I love when they’re able to get their number called and get an opportunity to help us win the game.”
Brissett, who signed with the Celtics in the offseason after spending the last three seasons with the Pacers, had only seen the court in garbage time this postseason. However, true to the “Stay-Ready Group’s” name, Brissett was prepared when his number was called, finishing the night with a game-high +18 plus-minus in just 12 minutes, tied with Jaylen Brown, who scored 40 points. His +18 is the highest plus-minus recorded by a Celtic playing under 13 minutes in a postseason game since Jonas Jerebko’s +22 against the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 2017 Eastern Conference Finals.
“Just his presence, his energy, his athleticism,” head coach Joe Mazzulla said postgame when asked what made Brissett’s minutes so impactful. “He plays with such a high level of intensity and energy. It’s big for us.”
Although his numbers won’t stand out on the box score – finishing with two points, three rebounds, and a game-high three steals – Brissett was a crucial contributor in the Celtics’ Game 2 win. He changed the game with his high energy, versatility, and ability to stay ready, which is no small feat at this stage of the playoffs.
The efforts of the "Stay-Ready Group" often fly under the radar. They dedicate themselves before and after practices, even on off days, putting in the extra work to ensure they're ready when their moment arrives. Their teammates certainly don't take their commitment lightly, especially when they come in and swing a game.
“I’m happy to see that,” Jrue Holiday said on big Brissett’s big minutes in Game. “He stays ready. He hasn’t seen many minutes this postseason. He probably didn’t play as much as he wanted to during the regular season. But I just think that’s a part of sacrifice and him staying ready. I know it’s tough because you’re not getting any game reps like that, but the way he came and played, I think like, [in] the first two minutes, [he] had two rebounds and great stops. I'm just really excited and glad to see him do that because, for one, it’s a confidence booster, and two, it’s against his old team.”
Brissett’s effectiveness also helped the Celtics limit Al Horford - coming off his highest minute total since March 2023 in Boston’s Game 1 win – to just 25 minutes.
With Kornet and Porzingis’ status moving forward in question, the Celtics will need someone to step up and fill the void off the bench. Tillman would be the big to do it. However, Boston’s small lineup gave Indiana trouble and should warrant Brissett some minutes in Game 3 on the road in Indy.
“It was a plan to get to something like that eventually,” Mazzulla said on the small-ball lineup. “We were kinda forced into it, but I thought it went well. I liked the speed, I liked the athleticism, I liked the spacing that we had.”