House: Why the Celtics should play Brissett in Game 2 vs. Pacers

House: Why the Celtics should play Brissett in Game 2 vs. Pacers originally appeared in NBC Sports Boston

The Boston Celtics used an eight-player rotation in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Indiana Pacers.

With Kristaps Porzingis unavailable due to injuryAl Horford started at center and Luke Kornet was the backup.

Horford played a season-high 40 minutes in the 133-128 overtime victory. He scored 15 points but shot just 5-of-15 from the field (3-of-12 from 3-point range). Playing 40 minutes with a 37-year-old veteran like Horford is not sustainable.

The Pacers took advantage of Horford in the second half and used pick-and-rolls to get Pascal Siakam and Andrew Nembhard to switch to him. It was an effective strategy by the Pacers, who shot 10 of 21 and scored 26 points against Horford in Game 1.

Which bench players could the Celtics use at center in Game 2 so that Horford doesn’t have to play as many minutes? Xavier Tillman and Oshae Brissett are two of the best options.

Former Celtics guard Eddie House thinks Brissett should get an opportunity on Thursday.

“I think the only guy that could probably get a few more minutes in my eyes (is Brissett) — because Luke Kornet in this game, he’s playing drop coverage,” House said Wednesday on NBC Sports Boston’s Arbella Early Edition. “And what drop coverage means is that when the high pick-and-roll is happening, he’s yielding, he’s in the lane and he’s in no man’s land. And with Myles Turner being able to pick, pop and shoot that 3, it’s tough for him to come back. Or you put the guy in the corner in rotation, and now Luke is closing to a guy who could put the ball on deck and you could beat him that way.

“I think you need to take a look at Oshae Brissett. I think he’s a guy that has energy, he’s going to shoot the basketball.

“A lot of times when Luke gets on the wing, he’s not a threat. He’s a dribble handoff threat. You can plan and game plan for that, knowing that’s all he’s going to do, so sometimes he does with Let it be four-on-five offensively. At least Oshae Brissett is a threat from the 3-point line.”

Brissett has played in just five of the Celtics’ 11 playoff games so far. He only played 15 minutes total in those five matches.

The 25-year-old forward is 6-foot-2 and weighs 210 pounds. He is versatile, athletic, hits the boards and increases the pace in transition. Brissett isn’t an incredible outside shooter, but he is more threatening than Kornet.

Horford and Kornet will likely get most of the minutes at center in Game 2, but giving Brissett and/or Tillman – who is available for game 2 after losing Game 1 for personal reasons – a chance makes a lot of sense. The Pacers use a lot of small lineups, so the need to play a traditional center isn’t as high in this particular matchup.