Boston Celtics Center Kristaps Porzingis is expecting a December return, as reported by Shams Charania. Porzingis has been rehabbing his injured ankle since the NBA Finals, where he suffered the injury. Before that, Porzingis missed most of the Boston Celtics playoff run due to injury. In that playoff run, the Celtics showed that they are capable of winning without Porzingis, however, that does not mean they don’t miss his presence on both ends of the floor. Boston currently has a 4-1 record, and a healthy Kristaps Porzingis would make them even better.
What Kristaps Porzingis Brings To the Celtics
When healthy, Kristaps Porzingis brings a unique element to the Boston Celtics that cannot be replicated. Firstly, Porzingis stands at 7-foot-2 and provides height and length that make a huge impact defensively. His size makes him a presence in the paint, where he can block shots and prevent inside scoring. Porzingis is also quick for his size and can switch onto smaller players without being a liability. There was one play Porzingis made in the NBA Finals that showcased his defensive ability, blocking a dunk on a fast break.
Porzingis ran stride-for-stride with Josh Green in transition, and as Green rose for the dunk, Porzingis met him at the rim with an emphatic block. On the offensive side, Kristaps Porzingis is just as dangerous. With his size, Porzingis is a match-up nightmare. If he gets the switch onto a smaller defender, he can shoot over them with ease. When he is defended by another center, Porzingis can space out to the perimeter or take them off the dribble.
Throughout his career, Porzingis has earned the nickname “Unicorn” because of his ability to be so versatile. This past season with the Boston Celtics, Kristaps Porzingis averaged 20.1 points and 1.9 blocks per game while shooting 37.5% from three.
The Boston Celtics Without Porzingis
The Boston Celtics are a very talented team. They made it to the NBA Finals and won the series with Porzingis sidelined. But the Celtics are still missing their 7-foot-2 center. Without Porzingis, the Celtics big men consist of Al Horford, Luke Kornet, Xavier Tillman, and Neemias Queta. Al Horford has been a consistent contributor for Boston. He can stretch the floor with great perimeter shooting, and despite his age and being undersized for a center, puts in significant effort on defense. This does not stop teams though from hunting Horford on the switch with faster guards.
Luke Kornet, Xavier Tillman, and Neemias Queta each have their strengths and weaknesses as depth pieces. Kornet’s size and length appear formidable, but he is consistently outmatched. Kornet does not block many shots for his height and is not a strong rebounder. On offense, Kornet is decent around the basket but does not stretch to the perimeter. Xavier Tillman has been developing a three-point shot and has shot more threes so far this season. But he also has issues defensively when switched onto guards. Then, Neemias Queta is one of Boston’s better rebounding centers, but his offense is mainly catching lobs.
Final Thoughts
Without Kristaps Porzingis, Al Horford is the Boston Celtics’ best bet at center. He is the only center on the roster who can be consistently solid on offense and defense, while Kornet, Tillman, and Queta have their strengths and weaknesses. But Kristaps Porzingis provides an offensive and defensive presence that no player on the Celtics can match. A December return would make the Celtics better than they already are, and while they may prioritize Porzingis’ health for the playoffs, his return would still be an immense positive for the team.
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