Blinksportsnews247The Celtics lost their first home game of the season on Friday night, but the matchup with Denver gave Kristaps Porzing is a taste of the championship atmosphere, Jared Weiss of The Athletic writes. Weiss notes that Porzingis was the only starter on Friday who has never been to the NBA Finals and never won a playoff series. A meeting with Nikola Jokic in a possible preview of the Finals suggested what Porzingis and his team will face early in the finals.
“That’s pure basketball talent,” Porziņgis said of Jokic. “Pure basketball champion. He’s the best player in the world and he’s so smart. He almost puts you to sleep like he’s not doing anything and just glides past you. He has so many tricks and so many things he can do and then he does .a lot of hard shots that aren’t really hard for him because — I don’t think because he’s just been making them for a long time and you have to live with them.
The Celtics acquired Porzingis last summer to bolster their frontcourt and provide size and a chance for another long playoff run. Injuries have been Porzingis’ biggest concern throughout his career, but he played in 31 of Boston’s first 42 games and told MassLive’s Souchi Terada before Friday’s contest that he was happy with how he felt midway through the season. .”It’s good,” Porzingis said. “Of course, the medical staff is always on the more cautious side and understands that you have to look at the whole thing. I feel good and ready to go tonight.”
Friday’s loss showed the Celtics need more late-game options than just giving Jayson Tatum the ball and waiting for him to make plays, notes Gary Washburn of the Boston Globe.
Washburn, who notes that Tatum is shooting just 33.3% in clutch situations, advises coach Joe Mazzulla to bring Jaylen Brown, Derrick White and Porzingis into the offense when games are tight.
Nuggets coach Michael Malone believes the Celtics have a better chance to win the East this year because of their offseason additions, according to Adam Himmelsbach of the Boston Globe.
Boston was aggressive in the trade market after falling in the conference finals last season, acquiring Porzingis and Jrue Holiday in separate deals.
“Porzingi has a long, shot-blocking, tough matchup because on a five-point shot, he can go out and make a three,” Malone said. “He can roll with power, can handle the ball. So a great addition. And Jrue Holiday is one of the best two-way players in the NBA in my opinion.
Finding another veteran guard or wing is probably the team’s priority at the team . trade deadline,” MassLive’s Brian Robb notes in the mailbag column. He points to the Hawks’ Saddiq Bey as a player who would fit Boston’s $6.2 million player exception and suggests Xavier Tillman of the Grizzlies if the Celtics select a big man..
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