Look, we all know the upcoming season for the Boston Celtics will be a bit of a tightrope walk.
They are overwhelmingly talented, and with all six of their top players intact, it’s not likely that there is a team in the NBA who could knock them out of a seven-game series.
But we also know the Kristaps Porzingis injury history, and that will keep Celtics fans and observers on their toes all season.
Porzingis gave Bostonians a fright with a calf injury on Friday afternoon in Orlando, during a loss that showed how the Celtics can be vulnerable when not at 100% (Porzingis played only 22 minutes, and Jrue Holiday was out with an ankle injury).
Coach Joe Mazzulla said after the game that there would be an MRI and that the injury was not too severe, but NBA fans know all too well that it is a short walk from a calf injury to an Achilles injury.
On Saturday, though, Porzingis offered an Instagram post that, he said, was “Good news this morning.”
Kristaps Porzingis Injury Concerns Will Linger
Good news, indeed. Porzingis is off to a very good start with the Celtics, averaging 18.9 points and 6.7 rebounds for a team that is clearly the best he has been on in his nine seasons in the NBA.
He’s shooting 54.7% from the field, a career high, and attempting 11.9 shots per game, a career low.
He is also, with Luke Kornet, the only 7-footer on the Celtics roster, and thus, an important part of the team’s ability to guard the paint and protect the rim.
Porzingis is averaging 1.7 blocks this season. The Celtics have a blocked-shot percentage of 11.3% when Porzingis is on the floor and 8.2% when he is off it.
Defensively, according to Basketball-Reference.com, the Celtics allow 110.3 points per 100 possessions when Porzingis is off the floor and 107.9 points per 100 possessions when he is on the floor.
But every twisted ankle and fall to the floor will be watched with great interest when it comes to Porzingis, who has struggled to stay healthy in his NBA career.
Celtics Unraveled vs. Orlando
As for Friday’s loss to the Magic, the Celtics were a plus-6 in the 22 minutes before the Kristaps Porzingis injury but unraveled a bit without him in there.
Already missing Holiday, the normally formidable Celtics defense (No. 4 in the league at 107.8 points per 100 possessions) showed some weakness against the young and physical Magic.
The Magic outrebounded Boston by a 48-31 margin and outscored the Celtics in the paint, 60-40.
The 17-point loss was by far the worst of the Celtics’ 12-4 season, and was punctuated by a 17-0 run in the third quarter that turned a 12-point Celtics lead into a five-point Magic advantage.
Kristaps Porzingis Officially Ruled Out For Celtics-Hawks Matchup
Boston Celtics center Kristaps Porzingis was removed early from Friday’s NBA In-Season Tournament loss to the Orlando Magic with an injury that will require some more rest.
Pulled after 22 minutes on the floor, it was revealed that Porzingis suffered a left calf injury, prompting an MRI on Saturday along with a cautionary decision.
Boston announced that Porzingis will be sidelined for Sunday’s game with the Atlanta Hawks while guard Jrue Holiday — who didn’t play on Saturday — remained questionable with a right ankle sprain.
That marks the second game Porzingis will miss with 16 already in the books.
After being evaluated on Saturday, Porzingis took to Instagram to share a brief, but encouraging update regarding the injury.
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The 7-foot-3 veteran has been a vital part in helping establish Boston’s early season success and identity. Offensively, Porzingis has been the dominant, versatile force that made Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens part ways with Marcus Smart.
The on-floor chemistry with Jaylen Brown has been eye-popping and the scoring efficiency cannot be undervalued; Porzing is shooting a career-best 54.7% from the field.
Nevertheless, the Celtics will need to weather the storm in order to jump back into the win column in Atlanta.
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