Kristaps Porzingis provides positive injury update as return dates inches closer ahead of NBA Finals: "I'll be back in line soon"
On their road to the NBA Finals, the Boston Celtics managed without Kristaps Porzingis as they now await his return to the court. While he is recovering from his right calf strain injury, Porzingis shared a positive update on X. He has been sidelined since Game 5 of the first-round series against the Miami Heat.
The Celtics forward sustained his injury back in Game 4 of the quarterfinal round, where he only logged 14 minutes of action on the court. Since then, Boston has won nine games out of their last 10 in the postseason.
"Thank you to everyone who supports and sympathizes throughout the season," Porzingis said. "I'll be back in line soon. See you in the finals and then in the arena with your own."
Before he went down with his injury, Porzingis was putting up 12.3 points (38.9% shooting) and 5.0 rebounds in the four games he played in.
The NBA Finals begin on June 6 at Boston's TD Garden.
Boston Celtics coach with encouraging recovery update of Kristaps Porzingis
After an impressive ECF series sweep of the Indiana Pacers, Boston Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla provided a promising update regarding Kristaps Porzingis on 98.5 The Sports Hub with "Zolak & Bertrand."
"I do know he ramped it up on the court a little bit," Mazulla said. "Like I said, he's working really, really hard. There's been a couple shootarounds where he hasn't done anything with the team but has been in a 1-on-1 setting kind of ramping it up with the intensity level of it. He's been getting better and better."
There's no denying the value that veteran forward Al Horford brings to the team. However, Porzingis adds a different edge to this Celtics team, such as his rim protection and efficient shotmaking at the post.
While the Celtics' spacing looks impressive now, it becomes even more of a challenge to defend against opposing defenses once Kristaps Porzingis gets reinserted into the rotation.
Whoever they face in the NBA Finals will have to adjust accordingly in guarding all starts on the court, as each one is capable of knocking down a jumper and penetrating for a lay-up.
Doubling either Jayson Tatum or Jaylen Brown can also cause problems for the defensive coverage, as Porzingis, Holiday and White are all more than capable of punishing opponents with their shotmaking.