BOSTON — Josh Minott has been precisely what the Boston Celtics need. His energy and ability to crash the glass on both ends of the floor have been irreplaceable for a Boston squad that looked hopeless on the glass against the New York Knicks and Detroit Pistons. Without his efforts against the Cleveland Cavaliers, they would have struggled.
But the inverse is just as true.
For three years, Minott wasted away with the Minnesota Timberwolves. He wasn’t a part of the rotation, appearing in a career-high 46 games last year and playing just 6.0 minutes per contest. They seemingly had no interest in utilizing his talents.
Now with the Celtics, Minott couldn’t be happier.
“I can't even explain it, man,” Minott said after the win over Cleveland. “Just thanking God, thanking the fans, just for the energy. I mean, my teammates. Everyone. Just everyone here… It's just a blessing to be here, truthfully. I mean, from coaching staff to the training staff to the equipment managers, teammates, everyone just helps me to be the person I'm trying to be.”
Minott is perfect for the Celtics, and the Celtics are perfect for Minott
Minott grabbed a career-high 14 rebounds to help Boston take down the Cavaliers. It was his second straight start for the Celtics after making the first start of his career in Boston’s win over the New Orleans Pelicans on Monday.
“I just got to thank the Most High, man,” Minott said post-game in New Orleans. “Thank my God. I'm just so blessed to be able to play this game every day. But yeah, it was just an exciting moment for me.
“I mean, every kid dreams of it. I've still been dreaming, you know what I mean? Like, I've been dreaming up to this day for it. So, to hear my name called, it was a blessing, for sure.”
In that one, Minott was just as impactful. He finished with 15 points and nine boards, guarding everyone from Jeremiah Fears to Jordan Poole to Trey Murphy III. Those three shot a combined 3-of-13 against Minott.
Defense has been where Minott wants to hang his hat. Even though Timberwolves fans weren't big believers.
"I just want to start with defending," Minott said. "Not looking crazy on defense. I know, in the past, it's kind of been seen as my Achilles heel, even though I've never really seen it as that. But I feel like that's just my best way to help the team out is just defending to the highest level, and just spacing the floor and allowing my teammates the opportunity to create for themselves and others.
Then again, Minott didn't put too much stock into those fans' opinions.
"They're fans. What do they know?" he said.
Two nights later, he got the Evan Mobley assignment. Mobley shot 0-of-6 against Minott, including 0-of-3 from deep range. As a team, Cleveland shot just 1-of-12 with Minott as the primary defender.
Combined, the Cavs and Pelicans shot just 6-of-28 against Minott.
He’s been an integral factor in the Celtics’ only two wins of the season, playing regular minutes for the first time in his NBA career.
“I hate to sound repetitive, but it's just been just exciting,” Minott said in New Orleans when asked about the bump in playing time. “Like, I don't even how to really put it into words. Still kind of high on life from the game right now. But just the opportunity to be out there and just contribute to winning, contribute to team success. I can't take that for granted.
“Joe's giving me that opportunity, and I just don't want to allow that to go in vain.”
Minott is under contract for this season and next, with a team option on the latter year. There are a lot of games left, but with merely a four-game sample size of evidence (he didn’t play against New York), Minott looks to be exactly what the Celtics need.
And Boston may be what Minott needed, too.
“I’m just trying to do what people expect from me,” Minott told Abby Chin of NBC Sports Boston after the win over Cleveland. “Just energy, man. I just love this place so much, man. This place just brings me so much happiness. My teammates, coaches, the staff. I'm talking from top to bottom. The whole organization, man, it’s just a blessing to be here. I can't thank God enough."