APPROVED: A young star player got signed to perform after a very long time of awaiting…..

The Miami Heat defeated the Boston Celtics in seven games during the Eastern Conference Finals, preventing the team from making it to the NBA Finals in 2023. GM Brad Stevens was confident that he could strengthen the team in order to position the team for another championship run this year. In a three-team transaction that sent Marcus Smart—the “heart and soul” of Boston—to the Memphis Grizzlies, he got Kristaps Porziņģis.

 

Stevens was prepared with a countermove when superstar Damian Lillard joined the Milwaukee Bucks. He sent defensive stopper Jrue Holiday to the Portland Trail Blazers in exchange for Malcolm Brogdon and Robert Williams III.

 

The Celtics’ decision to start Holiday and Porziņčis alongside Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum, and Derrick White proved to be the right one.

Incorporating PorziņĖis and Holiday into the starting lineup alongside Derrick White, Jaylen Brown, and Jayson Tatum was exactly what the Celtics needed to win the regular season. Sam Hauser and Payton Pritchard have improved in their sporadic starts and reliable bench duties. The Celtics’ ability to convert a 57-15 record into an NBA title in 2024 is a matter of some dispute.

With 6.5 blocks per game this season, the Celtics are in second place. Compared to 2022–2023, that figure increased to 5.2 blocks per game, and Porziņģis was largely responsible for that improvement. Al Horford can guard the rim, but he is not the same player as he was in his early career. Beyond its superior perimeter defence, Boston gains an additional layer of security from PorziņĢis.

Horford is more adept at defending the perimeter and switching onto guards than Porziņģis, but the Latvian big man is a better shot blocker. If Boston utilizes a big lineup, Horford can slide up to play power forward while Porziņģis covers the opposition’s center. This is especially effective against teams that employ non-shooting bigs.

 

Porziņģis’ ability to knock down threes enhanced Boston’s lethal three-point barrage. The Celtics have taken 42.6 threes per game over the last two seasons. However, this season they are shooting 39 percent from distance compared to 37.7 percent last season. Replacing Williams with Porziņģis allows head coach Joe Mazulla to have a threat from deep at all five positions.