Kristaps Porzingis’ role in NBA Finals would be ‘extremely important’ – Windhorst | NBA Today
so the Boston Celtics have been without Chris staps poringa since his CF train over a month ago and the NBA Finals will tip off in one week with or without him but porzingis he recently posted on social media quote I’ll be back in line soon see you in the finals here’s head coach Joe Missoula who spoke this morning that very each day I know he’s working hard so um I’ll get more when I go downstairs when he comes in today but um you know he’s progressing well and he’s working really hard to get back now Drea I make it my mission to remind perk every day that Chris St for zingis was a key part of the Celtics regular season success ranking third in scoring second in rebounding and first in blocks per game on the team now game one of the finals is next Thursday and let’s be real we do not expect the Celtics to tip their hand on porzingis too early but it has been five weeks since he’s played in the game so Brian if porzingis can go in game one of the NBA Finals what’s fair for us to expect from him yeah this is uh you know it’s not unprecedented but we haven’t seen this in a really long time the last time we saw a starter quality player Miss multiple rounds of the the playoffs and then come back for the finals was jir Nelson from the magic all the way back in 2009 so you’re asking him to do something that is not common but I will say his role is potentially extremely important if you don’t believe that the Wolves will pull off the historic comeback and it will indeed be the Mavericks to get one more win here having porzingis out there to p pull those athletic Mavericks bigs away from the basket is really the central reason why the Celtics went out and traded for him last summer those guys Derrik Lively and Daniel Gafford like to stay in there on defense to protect the rim and we know how valuable they are uh with those lobs while porzingis is 7 fo3 he’s built to defend lobs and he’s built as a great shooter to pull those other guys away from the rim he’s pretty much the perfect player to play against the Mavericks big men and so that’s why having him back and be effective is vital but to be honest with you CH even if he’s back and isn’t effective just having him out on the court will make a difference for the Celtics honestly that’s the point that I was thinking like I promise whoever they end up facing in the finals if Kristof porzingis is on the floor they’re going to treat Kristof like the shooter that he is they’re not going to Sag off and be like okay let’s let’s see if he hits shots because it’s been five weeks they’re going to to defend him like the player that he’s been all season and I’m also just thinking what a gift the Celtics gave themselves by finishing that Pacers series early right I know I know there were injuries involved I know Tyrese halberton couldn’t play and I understand that but for the Celtics to now give themselves all of this time for kristofh porzingis to get in live action I know it’s not the same as a game it’s going to be hard for him to hop right into the game but they have all this time to prepare for potentially either opponent that they’re going to face to prepare their schemes to get him out there on the floor that is a gift and everyone for the Celtics is playing so well Jaylen Brown’s playing well Jason Tatum’s playing well D everybody’s playing well everyone in their specific role is doing exactly what they need to do so Chris just has to come in and he doesn’t have to do too much all he has to do take up space on the court play well be healthy they’re going to defend him the same way they’ve seen him play defend be defended all season and most importantly they’re chilling at home like this is the best of it all they’re resting and they’re doing it at home thank you so much Brian [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] oh
Brian Windhorst joins Chiney Ogwumike and Andraya Carter on NBA Today to discuss how much the Boston Celtics can expect from Kristaps Porzingis in the NBA Finals and the role he could have if they challenge the Dallas Mavericks.
☑️ Subscribe to ESPN+: https://plus.espn.com/
📱Get the ESPN App: http://www.espn.com/espn/apps/espn
🏀 Subscribe to NBA on ESPN on YouTube: http://bit.ly/2yxs3Og
☑️Subscribe to ESPN on YouTube: http://es.pn/SUBSCRIBEtoYOUTUBE
☑️Watch ESPN on YouTube TV: http://es.pn/YouTubeTV
49 Comments
I can't wait for these ridiculous hot takes now.."are the Celtics better off without KP ?". … Should KP even get a ring? Is Tatum jealous of KP?
😊 NBA media has been just an embarrassment all playoffs.
Imagine he comes back and they lose
I don't agree. The only thing we know is that they are in the finals. They walked in. It was easy because the competition was easy. That was their only gift, and I would have taken it too. I like seeing Boston lose. I admit it. But then, I always pick the West. At least in modern times
This show is better without Malika Andrews…now we just need Perk to disappear
If Porzingis returns fully healthy for game one of the Finals, it’s going to be scary hours for whoever comes out of the west! 🦄💪🏽
Porzingus in their JOCKIC
Important for the mavs, he will come in and disrupt all the chemistry lol
espn is going down hill, woman – broadcast about womens sports, thats it.
all of a sudden the mavs are a big team lol foh till luka and kyrie can defend, Cs in 5
He sucked at the Mavs.
I hope he comes back he will be the difference maker between whether or not we will win a championship this year or not he better be healthy.
The Celtics doesn't really need him. It will be great if he comes off the bench, but they can win the championship without him.
Magic in 5
Win or lose, trade him in the offseason. He is going down Kawhi Leonard’s road.
With or without. (He's coming) They are hanging #18..
Screenshot this and come back
It looks to me like a secret strategy .
Will he be available ?
Nobody knows It .
SHAQ should have SCOOBY SNACKS, FOR EVERYTIME CHUCK SAYS SOMETHING ALMOST INTELLIGENT, HE CAN GIVE HIM A HMMM AND A SCOOBY SNACK
Wolves ain’t pulling no historic comeback 😂😂 MAVS will wrap up this series tonight. Boston well getting ready for Dallas
This show is unwatchable at this point
His A$# better get out there!!! Thus is why I didn't want him in the first place
Brian winhorst is the last espn journalist who does his job and doesn’t make takes just to get people pissed he actually does research and talk about actual basketball
Yes, I wish people would stop acting like his return would need to be this athletic firestorm. His contribution, even minor….is key. At this level, it's almost not about the starters. It's about those players that over-perform from the bench and from those secondary positions.
Isaiah Thomas's hatred for the Celtics grows even further watching how accommodating they are to Porzingis' injury
Finally a fair segment on ESPN for the C's.
Dont like either team but Celtics too much talent and can switch five out. Theyll probably win
Have kp come off the bench for game 1 n 2
The Celts are gonna dawg walk the Mavs..With or without him..Mavs were barely a 5 seed..Do the math
No KP no chip
He should come off the bench to guard lively who’s 7’1 and we can have Horford on Gafford they’re both 6’9
Luka: JT, JB, KP, A-Z, don't matter, Mavs in 6.
Achilles is serious injury,
Even if he came back from that injury, he already prone to injury because of previous injury
The question is how ready he is after a full month of no basketball
Definately the biggest losers of NBA 2024 playoffs are those ESPN takes.
Man Im rooting for Mavs, but to be honest if KP come back on the finals at his best, we’ll have to be 150% on every game
I'm a Knicks fan and I wouldn't mind seeing Porzingis win a chip. Dallas got rid of him for the exact reason he could help defeat them in this series. I respect Luka and Kyrie definitely deserves to have his narrative re-written. Great back stories to cheer for either side.
Lmaooo they gonna risk it.. he gonna tear his achilles fosho lol
The Celtics will crush Dallas in possibly 6 games. I don't see this series going a game 7. Sorry Dallas not this year!.
Of course he will be back….. why are people questioning this?
WAIT! The Celtics weren't completely healthy? They were missing their starting center, 20ppg scorer, and key to their offense? What is this?? I thought they just beat up on injured teams!
Ok now you guys are ready to acknowledge him being out since the first round. With the way y'all been talking about other teams' injuries, you'd think the Cs did have both him and Kornet out.
Celtics In 6 💯
Boston is small ball without porzingis, goodluck Boston
It don't matter I think mavs will kill them even worse with an injury back kp
Mavs are not beating the Celtics 4 times this series lol
That guy is good but he's so fragile. I hope he can play in the finals.
MAVS WIN!! MAVS WIN! MAVS WIN! MAVS WILL WIN THE TITLE BOOK 📖 IT!
I want theceltics to win…but if they get comfortable at home they can easily get beat… they need to focus up and keep their foot on the gas.
Mavs were able to get lobs at will against DPOY Gobert, and they can guard KP on perimeter
Pretty sure the Mavs are going to force him to hit shots before alternating their defense.