Karalis: Don’t rush Porzingis back for Cavs series
On Monday’s Toucher & Hardy, Celtics reporter John Karalis joined the show to give his thoughts on Kristaps Porzingis’ injury.
Don’t Rush Porzingis?
Parts of conversation abbreviated for clarity.
Toucher: If you were the Celtics and Porzingis was healthy enough to play, would you start playing him now?
John Karalis: I don’t think I would push him. Well, obviously if he’s 100% and he’s 100%, whenever that is, is when that is. So if there’s no risk of him being hurt as if he’s coming back early and he said, “I’m ready.”.
And they’re like, “Eh, that’s probably a little sore.” Then, I’m not playing him. But if they say he’s 100% and 100% healed and there’s nothing, then yeah, whenever he’s ready, he’s ready. But I’m not rushing him back in this series.
I think the Celtics kind of have the blueprint and it’s on them. It’s on them to play hard. And on top of that, if Donovan Mitchell’s knee is a problem and he can’t kind of will himself to some of the shots he’s making, then the rest of the Cavs kind of don’t have what it takes.
So I’m I’m floating the test balloon here in Game 4. If the Celtics can take that 3-1 then I don’t think they need Porzingis at all. And, I don’t think they need Porzingis to take that 3-1 lead.
Wallach: Whether or not they have Porzingis. Does Cleveland win another game in this series?
John Karalis: They could. They’ve been winning the margins I think there were like 84 to 80 shots attempted in the last game. And they took more three-pointers. So that opens up the possibility of a Max Strus, Dean Wade, Darius Garland kind of hot-shooting night, where if they’re taking enough shots, the shooting variance can certainly give them one more game in their favor.
If the Celtics can go out in game four and take more shots, if they win the shot margin 90 to 80, then that’s not enough shots. Even if the Cavs get hot, that’s not enough shots to beat the Celtics.
So that’s where the subject needs to focus and kind of take away that opportunity. But if the Cavs can put up as many or more shots as Boston, you’re one guy’s hot-shooting night away from a tough loss.
Segment Audio
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