When the Celtics blitzed the rest of the NBA last season — off the efforts of their red-hot 3-point shooting — they were the talk of the league. Fresh off their first NBA Finals appearance with the current core, Jayson Tatum was the early frontrunner for the MVP award.
Of course, the C’s cooled from shooting as they couldn’t keep up that pace. But they still finished with a strong 57-25 record, finishing with the second-best mark in the league. There were hiccups in the playoffs, which is why the Celtics shook up their core this offseason. No longer is Marcus Smart on the team as big man Kristaps Porzingis is the big addition from the summer.
While much won’t change with Tatum and Jaylen Brown shouldering the majority of the scoring burden, how the team incorporates Porzingis into the fold will be a process. And that’s why the regular season matters more for the Celtics: They must build chemistry ahead of the playoffs.
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The Celtics currently have three big men on the roster in Porzingis, Robert Williams III and Al Horford where they should fit well together. Porzingis and Horford can space the floor well, allowing the Celtics some flexibility when it comes to matchups. However, the injury aspect can’t be ignored as Porzingis and Williams have struggled to stay on the court throughout their careers. Horford is also 37 and coming off back-to-back seasons with deep playoff runs, so the Celtics will be cautious with his minutes.
How Porzingis mixes into the fold is the wild card for the Celtics entering the season. He’s coming off a career-best season where he was a big positive on both sides of the ball. Realistically, he won’t get as many shots while playing alongside Tatum and Brown. But his rim protection was valuable for the Wizards last season. There’s also a chance offensively Porzingis can get better-quality shots as the defense focuses its attention on multiple capable scorers.
That chemistry aspect is the big question mark. Last season, Williams started the season out because of knee surgery, and he wasn’t quite at that game-changing level from the 2021-22 season. The Celtics also didn’t feature their double big starting lineup last season — the same five-man group that caused the league fits — as it also led to varying results on the court.
There’s also the question about how Porzingis performs in the playoffs, which he was honest about during his introductory news conference. He won’t know until he gets there, he said, as he’s only played in 10 career playoff games, all with the Mavericks. But there won’t be as much pressure on him — especially with the seasoned veterans able to lead the way.
Regardless, the Celtics have 82 games to smooth out any wrinkles that will pop up during training camp and the start of the regular season. The C’s front office made a calculated bet when they acquired Porzingis as the big man showed off what he can do when healthy last season. As the Celtics enter another title-contending year, how they incorporate the pieces will be crucial in their quest for Banner No. 18.
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