Locked On Celtics Podcast Summary

Episode: Boston Celtics ROTATION SHUFFLE - Jordan Walsh, Josh Minott, Hugo Gonzalez shifting roles
Date: January 1, 2026
Host: John Karalis
Guest: Tom Westerholm

Episode Overview

This episode dives into the shifting wing/forward rotation for the Boston Celtics, focusing especially on the recent roles (and role reversals) of Jordan Walsh, Josh Minott, Hugo (Ugo) Gonzalez, and the surprising impact of center Luca Garza. John Karalis and Tom Westerholm parse through why familiar faces are out of the rotation, why Joe Mazzulla keeps changing things up, what it means for the roster both this season and beyond, and ultimately try to figure out the “definitive plan” for Boston’s young, athletic wings.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Celtics’ Ever-Changing Rotation (03:33–04:46)

• The hosts begin by noting the unpredictable nature of Joe Mazzulla’s rotation decisions, especially concerning Minott, Walsh, and Gonzalez.
• Karalis references a fan tweet:

  “Every time you think you have the answers, I change the question. And that’s very Joe Mazzulla.”
  (John Karalis, 04:41)

Notable Quote

"It feels like as soon as we say, 'This is the rotation now,' Joe Mazzulla goes, 'Nope,' and changes things.”
— John Karalis (04:13)

2. What Happened to Josh Minott? (04:46–07:18)

• Minott started strong this season, but has suddenly faded out of the lineup, despite being an ideal "Mazzulla guy"—high effort, coachable, tough.
• The hosts speculate coaching staff may think Minott “isn’t getting it”—either on the rotations, defensive concepts, or how to be more than a stopgap small-ball center.
• The rise of Luca Garza (as a more traditional center) seems to be a determining factor, pushing Minott out.

Notable Quote

"How is this guy not only not starting—how is this guy not playing 48 minutes a game for Mazzulla? He loves that kind of crap."
— Tom Westerholm (05:11)

3. Garza’s Big Effort and Aesthetic Impact (07:02–08:43)

• Garza gets praised for max effort, infectious energy, and relentless rebounding—fitting the need with the Celtics' ongoing rebounding struggles.
• The hosts joke about how he always looks like he was "playing in a sauna," underscoring the perception of all-out hustle.

Notable Quote

"Luca Garza makes it look hard. He just makes it look like, oh my God, is he pulling a tractor trailer while also trying to rebound?"
— John Karalis (08:25)

4. Declining Defensive Impact: Jordan Walsh’s Recent Struggles (09:00–12:56)

• Walsh started the season as a defensive menace, notching multiple steals per game, but has now slumped (only one steal in his last five games).
• The hosts analyze how opponents may be adjusting—Walsh is no longer a surprise, making his job tougher.
• There's a notable sense of frustration and uncertainty about why neither Minott nor Walsh is dominating the available “big wing” minutes.

Notable Quote

"Why isn’t it just 48 minutes of long, rangy, big wing who can really defend and has a questionable jump shot that happened to be hitting this year? They’re both the same type of player—so yeah, why not both?"
— John Karalis (11:08)

5. Pressure and Competition Among the Young Wings (16:50–22:14)

• With multiple young wings (Walsh, Minott, Gonzalez) on the roster, not all can be part of the long-term future—roster crunch looms as Celtics reload for next season.
• The rotation battles are a mental test as much as a physical one, and the hosts suggest the constant competition is ramping up pressure.
• Joe Missoula’s approach is meritocratic and unsentimental—he’ll give minutes to whoever fits in the moment, regardless of pecking order or contract status.

Notable Quote

“If you fall out of the rotation, Joe Mazzulla might just literally bury you under TD Garden and you’ll never be seen again.”
— Tom Westerholm (18:12)

6. What’s Driving Current Playing Time Decisions? (22:39–25:32)

• The Celtics are willing to tolerate being bad at defensive rebounding, but not the worst—lineups have to make up for it with offensive rebounding and forcing turnovers.
• Garza earns his time because his relentless crashing addresses this specific team need, even if he's not a long-term solution.
• The small-ball lineups (with Minott at center) have failed the rebounding test, leading to less time for Minott.

Notable Quote

“That small lineup with Josh at center—so God awful at rebounding. ... The worst of the worst ... And they’re not doing the other things.”
— John Karalis (22:14)

7. The Big Picture: Who Fits Around Tatum & Brown Next Year? (25:32–32:11)

• The hosts agree that while Garza helps fill a short-term need, he’s probably not in the long-term plans—the future (next to Tatum & Brown) is what really matters.
• Ugo Gonzalez is highlighted as the young player with the most upside and inside track—he’s already making the team “so much better” statistically (per Cleaning The Glass, +30 expected wins impact; 28:08).
• There’s recognition that only one (maybe two) of the Minott/Walsh/Garza group will survive next year’s roster shuffle, and that Ugo is likely “the guy” moving forward.

Notable Quote

“It might just be as simple as: Hey, Celtics have this 19-year-old kid who is ready to win now and who is only getting better and who is going to help you win later next year, when winning all of a sudden becomes ... a much bigger priority.”
— Tom Westerholm (28:06)

8. The Missoula Shuffle: Keeping Players on Their Toes (32:11–33:43)

• Missoula rotates young players in and out not just for evaluation but as a motivational tactic—after a spell out of the lineup, players tend to return with more energy and urgency.
• The discussion ends with the belief that constant competition and a “prove-it” atmosphere are healthy, especially while the team wants maximum effort and energy from its role players.

Notable Quote

“If a guy doesn’t have it, all right, you’re out for, like, three weeks. See ya. ... When you come back in, I need to see you everywhere, all at once, all the time. I need to see you flying.”
— Tom Westerholm (33:04)

Memorable Moments

• Luca Garza "Looks Like He Played In a Sauna": Visual, humorous banter about Garza’s sweat-drenched effort (07:07, 08:25).
• Jordan Walsh’s Defensive Reputation Change: From “menace” to a player now on scouting reports—loss of element of surprise (10:54–12:56).
• Data Drop: Ugo Gonzalez’s “plus 30” impact on expected wins—statistical evidence of his readiness and upside (28:03–28:08).

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 03:33 – Introduction to the Celtics’ shifting rotation
• 04:46 – Why is Josh Minott out?
• 07:02 – Luca Garza’s effort and impact
• 09:00 – Jordan Walsh’s defensive decline
• 16:50 – Young wings and future roster crunch
• 18:12 – Pressure in the rotation (“bury you under TD Garden”)
• 22:39 – Rebounding struggles shaping rotation
• 25:32 – Fitting next season’s puzzle around Tatum & Brown
• 28:03 – Ugo Gonzalez’s advanced stats (“plus 30”)
• 32:11 – Missoula’s rotation as motivation

Conclusion

John Karalis and Tom Westerholm conclude that this season is about sorting out which young wings can take advantage of their opportunity, knowing not all will survive the next roster overhaul. Ugo Gonzalez is clearly emerging as “the guy” for the future, while Minott and Walsh are locked in a constant state of prove-it competition, cycling through the rotation as Joe Missoula relentlessly searches for the right mix.

For Celtics fans: If you’re trying to figure out why the rotation keeps changing, who will be part of the future, and why hustle stats are driving current lineup decisions, this episode breaks down the philosophy behind Boston’s wing roulette—and who’s most likely to claim that seat next to Tatum and Brown in the years to come.