Boston Celtics center Kristaps Porzingis. Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports

Former champ notes importance of Kristaps Porzingis to Celtics

By Adam Taylor | Last updated Jun 4, 2024 1:46 PM ET

The Boston Celtics will face the Dallas Mavericks in the NBA Finals, with the opening game taking place on Thursday. Kristaps Porzingis is expected to return to Joe Mazzulla's rotation after missing over a month due to a right soleus strain.

Former Celtics champion Paul Pierce believes Porzingis' return will be key to the Celtics' chance of winning their first Larry O'Brien trophy since 2008.

“Them driving lanes that weren't there in the other series, they're gonna be there because you got this dude spotting up," Pierce said on a recent episode of the "KG Certified" podcast. "Now, you know, when they beat you baseline, you got this seven-footer — just his presence alone will have somebody kick it out. I know he's not going to be fully 100%. His presence is everything to unlock that offense and defense."

“The beauty about [Kristaps Porzingis] is that he doesn’t have to be the best player… I know he’s not gonna be 100%, but his presence is everything to unlock that offense and defense.”

— Paul Pierce

(via @allthesmokeprod)

pic.twitter.com/xTODsap8h2
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) June 3, 2024

Porzingis played in 57 regular season games for the Celtics. He averaged 20.1 points, 7.2 rebounds and 2 assists per game while shooting 51.6% from the field and 37.5% from three-point range.

Furthermore, his presence on the court has been widely attributed to the incredible spacing the Celtics have to work with. His ability to shoot off the catch and over smaller defenders makes Boston a far tougher opponent to try and shut down.

Mazzulla's team has also benefitted on the defensive end. Porzingis' 7-foot-2 frame is a major shot deterrent. Having him anchor the defense in drop coverage and contest shots around the rim and in the mid-range has seen the Celtics become one of the stingiest defenses in the entire NBA.

Porzingis will certainly not be 100%. He will be rusty, and his conditioning will likely be off. Nevertheless, he's proven himself to be an integral part of the Celtics' system, and he elevates their chances of success.

If he can stay healthy against Dallas, he will surely have a big role to play. Celtics fans will undoubtedly be hoping that role leads to a championship.

Adam Taylor

Adam Taylor is a sports journalist based out of the UK. Adam has been covering the NBA for nearly a decade with a core focus on the Boston Celtics. He currently holds bylines with Yardbarker, SB Nation and USA Today

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