Brad Stevens bet big on Kristaps Porzingis last offseason and that gamble paid off for the vast majority of the Celtics regular season. The big man’s health for the postseason was always going to be the biggest question mark though given his career durability issues and bad luck struck again on Monday night in Game 4. Porzingis went down with a non-contact calf injury and left the arena in a walking boot. The team had no update on his status after the 102-88 win but Al Horford said it all postgame.
“Worried, just concerned,” Horford said. “Any time that any of your guys go back there, especially him the way that he was walking, definitely concerning for me.”
It remains unclear at this point whether Porzingis’ absence will be measured in days, weeks or months. The center is set to have imaging done on Tuesday and is unlikely to have an Achilles injury per Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.com. However, a calf injury could certainly keep him out for an extended stretch as evidenced by Giannis Antetokounmpo in Milwaukee.
Despite the injury, the Celtics are well prepared right now to move past the Heat and beyond without the sharpshooting big, if required. Boston has a 21-4 record without the center all year long and has a few other factors that bode well for their path to the NBA Finals if Porzingis ends up on the mend.
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A favorable draw
Boston already caught a big break in the first round as injuries sidelined Jimmy Butler and Terry Rozier. Their eventual round 2 foe (Cleveland Cavaliers or Orlando Magic) will likely be the worst remaining team in the postseason out of those advancing to round 2.
Boston has a clear talent edge over both teams even without Kristaps Porzingis and the same can be said for potential Conference Finals opponents in the Knicks and Pacers. There’s no big man on either team that should put much fear in Boston’s shorthanded front court.
A playable depth chart
Ideally, Joe Mazzulla wouldn’t have to go beyond eight players in his bench rotation in the postseason. However, Brad Stevens constructed this roster well to prepare for inevitable Porzingis absences all year long.
Luke Kornet has exceeded expectations all year long as a third center, providing a surprise boost off the bench most nights when he gets a chance. He will be a liable in certain matchups but should be able to keep too heavy of an onus off Al Horford. The same goes for Xavier Tillman who can provide a more switchable look at center for Mazzulla. These guys aren’t ideal playoff rotation options but they also won’t sink Boston’s chances if playing a combined 15 minutes per night.
Enough scoring options to overcome Porzingis’ absence
The Celtics would obviously prefer Porzingis on the floor but it’s no coincidence that Derrick White had his career night in Game 4 with the big man sidelined. Through his first four postseason games in Boston, Porzingis struggled with his shooting efficiency (38 percent from the field) as defenses limited him well at times with physicality and smaller plucky defenders.
The Celtics don’t need to ask Al Horford to replicate his offensive contributions in the starting center role. Instead, they can turn to Derrick White and Jrue Holiday to carry a heavier offensive burden, something that could bode well for the team’s ball movement and offensive flow. Both are overqualified third options on that front.
Final Thoughts
Stevens’ pushing his chips all in last September with the Holiday trade has positioned Boston well for this point. Talentwise, short of a potential NBA Finals matchup, they reign supreme over a battered Eastern Conference even without Porzingis in the fold. Boston has squandered plenty of key chances in past postseasons but this isn’t one that should sink them in their quest to get out of the East.
