The Celtics lost a home game for the first time this season on Friday night, but the matchup with Denver gave Kristaps Porzingis a taste of a championship atmosphere, writes Jared Weiss of The Athletic. Weiss notes that not only was Porzingis the only starter on Friday who hasn’t been to the NBA Finals, he’s never won a playoff series. Matching up with Nikola Jokic in a potential Finals preview offered a hint of what Porzingis and his team will face when the playoffs begin.
“It’s just pure basketball talent,” Porziņgis said of Jokic. “Pure basketball mastermind. He’s the best player in the world and he’s just so crafty. Kind of almost makes you fall asleep like he’s not doing anything and just slides by you. He has so many tricks and so many things that he can do and then making so many tough shots that are not really tough for him because — I guess they’re not because he’s just been making them for a long time and you have to live with those.”
The Celtics acquired Porzingis last summer to fortify their frontcourt and provide size and shooting for another long playoff run. Injuries have been the main concern surrounding Porzingis throughout his career, but he has appeared in 31 of Boston’s first 42 games and he told Souichi Terada of MassLive before Friday’s contest that he’s happy with how he feels halfway through the season.
“Feeling great,” Porzingis said. “Of course, the medical staff is always on the more cautionary side of things and understanding that we have to look at the big picture. I’m feeling great and ready to go tonight.”
There’s more from Boston:
- Friday’s loss showed that the Celtics need more late-game options than just giving the ball to Jayson Tatum and expecting him to make a play, observes Gary Washburn of The Boston Globe. Washburn, who points out that Tatum is shooting just 33.3% in clutch situations, calls on coach Joe Mazzulla to get Jaylen Brown, Derrick White and Porzingis more involved in the offense when games are tight.
- Nuggets coach Michael Malone believes the Celtics have a better chance to win the East this year because of their offseason additions, per Adam Himmelsbach of The Boston Globe. Boston was aggressive on the trade market after falling in the conference finals last season, acquiring Porzingis and Jrue Holiday in separate deals. “Porzingis has length, shot-blocking and is a tough matchup because at the five he can step out and shoot the three,” Malone said. “He can roll with force, he can handle the ball. So, a tremendous addition. And Jrue Holiday, to me, is one of the best two-way players in the NBA.”
- Finding another veteran guard or wing is likely to be the team’s priority heading into the trade deadline, Brian Robb of MassLive states in a mailbag column. He mentions the Hawks‘ Saddiq Bey as a player who would fit into Boston’s $6.2MM traded player exception and suggests the Grizzlies‘ Xavier Tillman if the Celtics opt to pursue a big man.
C’s can have Saddiq if (& only if) they’re willing to give up their 1st either this yr or next
That would be an overpay.
If you can got sadiq for the 30th pick in a poor draft do it
I do it …..
The Celtics needs a better coach if they want to win it all!
They’re getting one
The longest tenured leaders of the Celtics (Tatum, Brown, Horford) have had the same offensive problems under Stevens, Eme, and now Mazzula. It’s past the point where the players, Tatum and Brown in particular, recognize that they need to move the ball in late/close situations (or in the 2nd half generally). In late/close, it seems that Tatum returns to the form he had his 2nd season after learning hero ball from Kobe.
Its because all 3 use the same flawed 3 point offense that only works if you have Steph Curry.
Brad ran the same, spread everyone out, go 1 on 1 and drive and shoot 3 offense. Mazzulla is not smart enough to come up with his own stuff.
celtics need more help? Wow
Tatum very good offensive player (Look at Murray stats line) but in the clutch JT IS taking bad decisions.
I’m happy others are seeing what I’m seeing. Celts play as a team this year except and until we get to the end of quarters or crunch time. Then the Celts go back to their one-on-one ISO game, just giving the ball to Jason who dribbles until he takes a contested shot. If Jason was a Luca or Brunson that would be ok as they make winners. But I can’t remember when Jason hit a winning shot.
In addition, I have to agree with Perk who says when our threes are hitting, we should drive to the basket. I mean in our stupid loss to Denver, Jason and Jaylen were 2 for 19 from three. 2 for 19! Jason & Jaylen are NOT our best three point shooters so they should let Jrue, Derrick, Al, Hauser and Pritchard shoot threes. If 5 or 10 of those Jason & Jaylen threes were drives instead we very likely win against Denver. But it’s only halfway thru the season and as long as we keep learning from these losses and mistakes, we may end up with a title. Go Celtics!
Its all Joe Mazzula and his and Brad Stevens flawed offense which requires players to shoot as many 3s as they can pump up.
Joe Mazzulla is the weak link, has been the weak link and will continue to be the issue in Boston. He has been outcoached in several games and seems to not learn anything at all.
I am convinced Joe M. will cost the Celtics a big game, possibly the season like last season.
Brad Stevens will make a move. Mainly because he is the only person who can ensure the Celtics win. He is trying to make the Celtics so strong even Joe Mazzulla cannot screw it up. However, he will.
Porzingis and Holiday will not save him against good coaches.
Jacking up 3s is not an offense. Its what stupid people think is an offense, but its just lazy basketball, relying on stats v. what is actually going on in the game.
It’s maddening because they got Porzingis to address this particular problem. It works great in the first half and then disappears in the 2nd. Brown and Tatum don’t have to keep on shooting to get their groove back with the other weapons that are on the floor with them.
I think the team and Coach are both learning from every loss. I mean the team’s weak points are glaringly obvious to all. One issue is that under pressure situations Celts panic a bit and stop passing but I believe the team and coach understand that and will fix that up as it’s already a lot better than last season. And I don’t think today’s 3 point shooting is Celt’s problem. We just have to play better together and have a a couple backup plans when the J’s are cold. Not let Jayson go 1-9 and Jaylen go 1-8. Like having the J’s drive while letting the others shoot threes. Go Celtics!
“calls on coach Joe Mazzulla to get Jaylen Brown, Derrick White and Porzingis more involved in the offense when games are tight.”
The guy who is the most important guy and most experienced in this. Is not even mentioned. That should tell you something. Holiday is the guy who should be handling the ball here. That’s what real PGs do. Manage a game and get the ball where it needs to go.
Definitely coaching here. You really have 5 guys who are capable of providing scoring late. It’s just about team offense. Taking advantage of mismatches. PG is one who can lead here.
Mazz does not call plays for Jrue who is reduced to take corner 3…
Nuggets are WC. They are tested. The game was anyone’s. Better have learned something. Takes 4 gms like this to win in playoffs. Celtics team is younger than Nuggets. Only one gm. Celtics still a top East team. Long way to go yet.
That was a good game.
Celtics need a PF taller than 6’9 who can rebound around the same age as Tatum and Brown
We’re still 34-10, the best record in the NBA, so I wouldn’t panic too much. The Denver loss was disappointing, though, a game Bird’s Celtics would win by 25 points, at home. I agree that shooting so many 3s is a huge problem. I don’t necessarily think we need to make a trade, unless it’s a no-brainer. The 86 team had the best record all season, and stood pat at the deadline, and cruised to the NBA Title. We need to keep Kornet, with Porzingis being SO ridiculously fragile, and Horford unable to play back to back games, for whatever reason. They act like he’s 57, not 37. Kornet is much better than his stats, because they don’t play him enough.