In a Boston Celtics victory over the Utah Jazz, Kristaps Porzingis scored 27 points with 10 rebounds and 6 assists. He shot an efficient 9-of-15 from the field and 3-of-5 from three. His impact on the Celtics and their success since his return was emblematic. Porzingis missed a stretch of games with an illness, but he has looked great in his first three games back in the lineup. He has led the team in scoring in all three games, proving his importance. If he can stay healthy and produce at this level, there is no limit to Boston’s success.
Kristaps Porzingis’ Return
In their wins over the Jazz and Nets, Porzingis has been a matchup nightmare. In two games against the Nets, they have not had an answer for his presence inside. His height and length make him very difficult to stop in the post. He can shoot over most defenders with ease. So, when those shots are falling at the rate they have been, a Porzingis post-up can be the best offensive attack on a team of star players. This was the case in the fourth quarter in Brooklyn. When Jayson Tatum’s shots weren’t going down, the Celtics turned to Porzingis to win them the game.
The following game, Tatum and Jaylen Brown were out. This made Porzingis the top option, but that did not faze him. In his first game back, Porzingis scored 24 points on 9-of-16 shooting. In the next game he had 25 points on 9-of-13 shooting. His efficient scoring helped Boston close a 4-0 season sweep over the Nets.
Porzingis had another great game in Utah. He scored 27 points, shooting 9-of-15. Even with Brown out again, the outcome was never in question. The Celtics held a double-digit lead for most of the game. Porzingis provided offense from the post, but also from beyond the arc. He shot 3-of-5 from three and has been efficient this season. His three-pointers are falling at a career-high 39.6%. It makes Porzingis very versatile in the Boston offense. He can score from the post on smaller defenders but also stretch the floor on other big men. When he is on, defending the Celtics is much more difficult.
Health In the Playoffs
The Celtics‘ mission from here should be maintaining the big man’s health until the playoffs. He missed the first couple of months of the season with an injury and just came back from the illness. Last season, he went down in the first round against the Miami Heat and did not return until the NBA Finals. Even then, he suffered another injury and was not at full strength. Boston has done their work to preserve Porzingis this season. He has not played back-to-backs, and the team was cautious with his recent illness and other small injuries.
This year, the field is much tougher in the NBA. Boston no longer has the luxury of missing Porzingis for an entire playoff series, especially if they go far. Without Porzingis, their defense and rebounding have struggled, lacking his presence in the paint. If they ran into the Cavaliers or the Thunder, his interior defense would be sorely missed. On offense, his post-scoring and perimeter shooting make the Celtics offense even more powerful. The only question is if he can stay on the floor for multiple playoff series.
Final Thoughts
Porzingis’ excellent stretch has helped the Celtics go on a four-game winning streak. The team is 9-1 in their last 10 games with a 51-19 record. He has missed a large chunk of the season with injuries and illness, but if he can return to full strength and stay healthy for the playoffs, Boston’s title chances would greatly improve.
