During Game 2 of the NBA Finals against the Dallas Mavericks, Boston Celtics big man Kristaps Porzingis suffered a rare leg injury. This injury kept him out for Games 3 and 4 in the series. However, he returned for Boston’s series-clinching Game 5 victory, although he only played 16 minutes and was very limited on the court. Porzingis underwent surgery in June and his expected return timetable was 5-6 months. Recently, the big man posted a picture of himself working out in Latvia on social media. This has led to some believing he is ahead in his recovery and could return sooner than expected. However, in a recent interview, Celtics GM Brad Stevens said it will still “be a while” before we see Porzingis on the court again (subscription required).
“He’s starting to do more and more and more,” Stevens said of Porzingis, who recently posted an online photo of himself during a workout. “He was in a boot for a while there, but every indication is he’s progressing well and he’s on the right timeline. But it’s going to be a while.”
The Celtics acquired Porzingis last summer from the Washington Wizards. By acquiring him, the Celtics wanted to expand their offense and build a new dynamic with Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown at the helm. One year in, the trade went entirely as planned.
In his first season in Boston, Porzingis averaged 20.1 points, 7.2 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1.9 blocks in 57 games. Additionally, he shot a career-high 51.6% from the field and 37.5% from beyond the arc.
Brad Stevens Provides Injury Update on Celtics Star
How the Boston Celtics Can Make Up for Kristaps Porzingis’ Absence
With Porzingis likely to miss the start of the regular season, Boston will have to fill his void one way or another. The easy answer is to start Al Horford in his place while he is out. In theory, this is a good idea. Horford is still a key player on this Celtics team 17 years into his NBA career. Additionally, he stepped up in a big way when Porzingis missed time during the postseason. The question with Horford is how consistently can he be a starter at this point in his career due to his age. However, at 38 years old, he started 15 of 19 games in the playoffs and 33 of 65 games during the regular season. He may not be able to give the Celtics 35 minutes a night. However, Horford can be the Porzingis replacement in the lineup for a little while.
Additionally, the team brought back Luke Kornet, Neemias Queta, and Xavier Tillman in free agency. All three of these players should assume a larger role until Porzingis returns. Though they have different playstyles, all three big men possess unique tools and can contribute to the Celtics.
The Last Word on Kristaps Porzingis
Porzingis is important to Boston’s dreams of repeating as champions. However, the team must be cautious with his injury. The former New York Knicks rookie has a history of injuries since joining the NBA in 2015. This includes a devastating ACL injury that kept him out the entire 2018-19 season. Regardless, the 29-year-old will certainly do whatever it takes to get back on the court.
