Celtics avoid disaster after Kristaps Porzingis injury scare
Kristaps Porzingis suffered a non-contact injury in Game 4 of the Boston Celtics' opening round playoff series against the Miami Heat.
The veteran big man appeared to be suffering from a calf injury and didn't return to the game. According to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, Porzingis is expected to miss several games after being diagnosed with a right soleus strain.
Porzingis' timeline for a return to the court is minimal. The Celtics lead their current series against the Heat 3-1 and will face either the Cleveland Cavaliers or Orlando Magic in the second round. Cleveland currently leads that series 3-2.
It's possible that Porzingis and the Celtics will have a break between the end of their matchup with the Heat and the start of the second round. That would help the Celtics absorb some of the time Porzingis is out with off days.
Boston has enough talent and enough depth to survive without Porzingis in the rotation. However, they need him near his best if they want a chance at winning a championship. Jayson Tatum recently cited Porzingis as being the most important player on Boston's roster.
"He's probably the most important guy on our team for what we're trying to accomplish," Tatum said. "No doubt in my mind. Being active. When he's protecting the rim, contesting shots, we're a different team."
Porzingis will be key if the Celtics hope to accomplish their ultimate goal. However, allowing him to rest and get healthy shouldn't hinder their ability to make it to the NBA Finals. The other contending teams in the Eastern Conference are all on the verge of being eliminated. The Milwaukee Bucks trail their series with the Pacers 3-2 and are dealing with injuries to their two stars. The Philadelphia 76ers have been hindered by Embiid's lack of fitness after returning from meniscus surgery, as they trail the Knicks 3-2.
Boston can cope without Porzingis for their run through the East and things could have been a lot worse. Still, for this situation to become a best-case scenario, the Celtics must close out their series against the Heat on Wednesday and start adding more non-game days to their schedule.
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