Mazz: The Celtics are Porked
The Boston Celtics took a commanding 3-1 series lead over the Miami Heat on Monday night in Miami, however, they lose big man Kristaps Porzingis to a calf injury in the win. On Tuesday’s Felger and Mazz, Mazz gave his thoughts on what he thinks the injury will do to the team.
Are the Celtics porked due to the Porzingis injury?
Felger: We begin with Celtics last night and that Porzingis injury. Mazz, what do you think?
Mazz: I smell bacon…….PORKED! That’s what I think. I think it’s bad news. And I tend to think the worst with these sorts of leg injuries anyway. But if I’m going to sit here and tell you that when Kevin Durant had a calf injury, it’s a precursor to Achilles, or that when Giannis has it, it’s a precursor to Achilles, it might not be an Achilles now for him. But what they’re really worried about is the Achilles. I feel the same way about Porzingis. And let’s say that for now it’s just a calf strain, I think that’s going to take a while. I don’t think that that’s a one week injury. I think that that is a month maybe longer. Now could he be back in a month to play in the finals? I guess. But, you know, I rule out nothing, okay. And we don’t even have the details on it yet. But I’m telling you, I am alarmed. I do think they can win it without him. I don’t think it’ll be easy, but I think they can. It would require some other guys on the team to step up, which we can get to in a minute. But in Porzingis specifically….Problem. Big problem.
Jim Murray: It’s less than ideal, right? I mean they are going to need him, I think, to win the title. But to get out of the East? I don’t think it should trip them up all that much. And it seems to me, at least based on the reporting and his tweet like almost immediately last night talking up Derrick White, like they probably dodged a bullet. Okay, so there’s no tear or anything like that. But you’re right, Mazz, like, look what this just did to Giannis. It seems like the same kind of thing. And it feels like it’s the precursor to something worse with the hamstring or Achilles or something like that. But for now, I don’t know, I’m not going to sweat it that much because it’s still Tatum and Brown. They the expectations shouldn’t change all that much.