The Boston Celtics were eliminated from the NBA Finals in 2023 after losing to them in seven games in the Eastern Conference Finals. Brad Stevens, the general manager, was optimistic that he could improve the club and set them up for another championship run this season. Kristaps Porziņģis was acquired by Marcus Smart, the “heart and soul” of Boston, in a three-team trade that sent Smart to the Memphis Grizzlies.
The moment superstar Damian Lillard joined the Milwaukee Bucks, Stevens had a countermove ready. Malcolm Brogdon and Robert Williams III were traded by him to the Portland Trail Blazers for defensive stopper Jrue Holiday.
It turned out that the Celtics made the perfect choice in starting Holiday and Porziņčis with Derrick White, Jayson Tatum, and Jaylen Brown.
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.
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