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Kristaps Porzingis Gives Glimpse of How He'll Boost Celtics Late-Game Offense
Kristaps Porzingis was the best player on the floor in the regular-season opener between the Boston Celtics and New York Knicks.
He generated 30 points, the most in a Celtics debut, shot 8/15 from the field, buried 5/9 threes, and converted on 9/10 free throws. The seven-foot-three center also grabbed eight rebounds and had a game-high four blocks.
Porzingis' rim protection, helping hold the hosts to 11/34 (32.4 percent) in the restricted area, stood out on Wednesday. The same goes for his catching fire in the first frame, finishing the period with 15 points, pacing all participants.
But one of the primary motivations for Boston acquiring the former All-Star was to boost a crunch-time offense that's hurt this team as much as anything has in recent playoff appearances.
In the fourth quarter, one he played all about 12 seconds in, he produced 12 points and was the only player on either team to reach double digits. Nearly all of that came in the clutch.
Porzingis' only points that didn't occur in the final five minutes happened with 5:48 left in the game. And while that means it (barely) doesn't meet the criteria for crunch-time, drilling a go-ahead three to put the visitors back on top 91-90 after Immanuel Quickley knocked down a shot from beyond the arc, certainly matches the spirit of what it means to come through in a clutch situation.
It's also how the former Knick burned his former team that's important. With the Celtics struggling to find their rhythm offensively, they dialed up a pick-and-roll involving him and Jaylen Brown, creating an easy read for the latter. After screening for the two-time All-Star, the Latvian native gathered a feed from Brown, then buried a three.
And with less than two minutes left and the score tied at 101, after a baseline inbounds at the offensive end, Porzingis picked RJ Barrett for Jayson Tatum as the latter came up to get the ball at the top of the key. That flowed into a high-ball screen, with New York sending two defenders, Barrett and Isaiah Hartenstein, at the All-NBA wing.
That created a clean look at a three for Porzingis, who pairs being one of the league's tallest players with extended range, knocking this attempt down from 27 feet.
As Joe Mazzulla told Inside The Celtics on Thursday, that play exemplifies how the former fourth-overall pick can elevate Boston's crunch-time offense.
"I think that's the key," stated Mazzulla. "That's something that we're really hoping he can help us with. And so, just creating two-on-ones in different ways, whether it's a pick and pop or whether it's them having to change the matchup so we can post, we can get some offensive rebounds, so, really looking to take advantage of that."
Whether as a kick-out option for a driving teammate or picking and popping, adding a player of Porzingis' size and long-range proficiency will consistently create high-quality, in-rhythm shots for an offense that's struggled to do so in the most meaningful playoff possessions.
He's also an effective facilitator, known for making touch passes that hit teammates in stride for points at the rim. And at his size, utilizing him as a lob threat is another high-percentage option that his new team will feel confident about dialing up.
Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports
Porzingis also showed his teammates they can count on him at the free-throw line, as he went 6/6 at the stripe in the fourth quarter, scoring nine of the Celtics' 15 points in the final five minutes of their 108-104 win in their regular-season opener.
After the victory, the 28-year-old voiced, "It's important to show what my mindset is in tight games like this, and, probably, showing them that I'll be there and do what I can on both ends. And I think today was a good step for us to build that trust."
It's hard to imagine Porzingis building even more trust than he did on opening night, and yet, it showcased only a sliver of how he'll help Boston's crunch-time offense, which is critical for this team's pursuit of Banner 18.
Further Reading
Kristaps Porzingis on What He Showed Teammates in Win vs. Knicks: 'I'll Be There'
Jrue Holiday on Celtics' Opening Night Victory vs. Knicks: 'Winning is Our Only Option'
Here's What Stood Out in Celtics' Win vs. Knicks: Porzingis Leads Late Rally to Propel Boston
Jaylen Brown Teams with Johnny Cupcakes to Give Back to Boston
Rajon Rondo Latest Former Celtic to Spend Time with C's
Celtics Embracing Sacrifice in Championship Pursuit: 'Have to Buy into That'
Under Joe Mazzulla, Celtics Rebuilding Brotherhood Between Past and Present
