Celtics Game 1 performance spotlights new timeline for Kristaps Porzingis return
Kristaps Porzingis didn’t play in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals, but should still be talked about plenty in the aftermath.
Tuesday was a ‘good news, bad news’ kind of way for the Boston Celtics and injured forward Kristaps Porzingis. It sounds like there’s a clearer timetable for Porzingis’ return, but Game 1 highlighted why the wait for that return may be more important now than it was in previous series.
During ESPN’s pregame coverage prior to Game 1, NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski shared the latest he’s hearing on Porzingis’ status.
“When this series returns to Indiana, I’m told that Porzingis could return as soon as Game 4 on Monday,” Wojnarowski shared. “Now, the Celtics are certainly not going to rush him…but he is progressing, and there is momentum that he will return in this series and it could be as soon as Game 4.”
Porzingis hasn’t played since Game 4 of the Celtics’ first-round series against the Miami Heat. Since then, Al Horford has started in his place with Luke Kornet and Xavier Tillman receiving extended minutes (although Tillman also missed Game 1 due to personal reasons). With the way the team has been playing there’s hasn’t been the need or urgency in rushing Porzingis back to the floor – they were 5-1 without him heading into Tuesday.
In Game 1 on Tuesday, Porzignis’ absence was felt by the Celtics as much as it has been at any point since he went out. The Celtics are facing an Indiana Pacers team that has its own athletic, floor-stretching center in Myles Turner.
The Celtics struggled to keep Turner in check in Game 1. He finished with 23 points on 9-of-13 shooting, including a 3-of-4 mark from deep. Turner also added 10 rebounds and two blocks. During the second quarter, when the Pacers erased an early Celtics lead and took control of the game, Turner scored 12 of Indiana’s 33 points and was a plus-6 in nine minutes.
Beyond Turner, the Pacers also had more success scoring at the rim in general. They hit 75 percent of their close paint shots in Game 1, up from their 64.7 percent hit rate on shots from less than 10 feet through the first two rounds. This helped them push the Celtics to the edge, before blowing a late lead and losing 133-128 in overtime.
While the Celtics should be able to get past the Pacers in this series without Porzingis, his presence – whenever they can add it – would only make things easier and help neutralize a potential big X-factor in this series in Turner. There’d also be the benefit of getting him back on the floor and game reps under his belt before the NBA Finals, so he doesn’t go into the final round of the playoffs ‘cold.’
At the same time the Celtics aren’t going to rush Porzingis back (nor should they) and it will be a few more days before the opportunity to have him back in the lineup truly presents itself. The Celtics – sans Kristaps Porzingis – will be back on the floor on Thursday for Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals. Coverage of that one can be heard starting with pregame at 7:30 p.m. ET. on the BetMGM 98.5 The Sports Hub Celtics Radio Network.
McKone: Previewing Celtics-Pacers and the Eastern Conference Finals
Pacers vs. Celtics…. No, it doesn’t have the juice that Knicks vs. Celtics would have had. But this will absolutely be the Celtics toughest test of the postseason so far. And likely a lot tougher than a matchup against the banged-up Knicks would have been. As we get ready for Game 1 on Tuesday night let’s take a look at the five players that will play the biggest roles in determining this series.
1. Derrick White
You aren’t going to find a bigger Derrick White fan than me. Brad Stevens has put together a longggg list of impressive moves during his time as the president of basketball operations for the Celtics. Still, turning Josh Richardson, Romeo Langford, and picks into White back in 2022 might remain his best move. He was arguably the Celtics best player in their opening round series against the Heat and after three consecutive poor shooting games against the Cavs, White finished that series with a strong 18-point performance in Game 5. If White can continue to give you the type of play he did in round 1 and in Game 5, this series won’t last long.
2. Pascal Siakam
The Pacers acquired Siakam at the deadline from the Raptors in exchange for Bruce Brown, Jordan Nwora and three first round picks. So far this postseason the trade has worked out. In 12 playoff games he is averaging more than 21 points per game while shooting better than 50% from the field. That is NOT what Siakam brought to the table the last time he played the Celtics in the playoffs.
During the bubble postseason the Raptors and Celtics went 7 games in the Eastern Conference semifinals, in that series Siakam saw his averages plummet from 23.6 points per game on 45.9% shooting during the regular season to 14.9 points on 38.2% shooting. For his career against the Celtics he has averaged 17.6 points in 25 games (his biggest game a 40 point performance against the Celtics in 2022 came against a Celtics lineup that did not have Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum, or Al Horford).
The question is which Siakam are the Pacers going to get this series. The one they have gotten so far this postseason or the one that showed up in the bubble against Boston. If it’s bubble Siakam this series will get ugly.
3. Tyrese Haliburton
May 19, 2024; New York, New York, USA; Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton (0) reacts during the fourth quarter of game seven of the second round of the 2024 NBA playoffs against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
I’ll come clean and admit that I was a way bigger fan of the In-Season Tournament than any rational person should have been. Sure, it was artificially created by the league but it also gave players an incentive to really care about games that weren’t actually playoff games. And it worked! Players did really care!
I was especially excited for the Celtics to have an opportunity at a dress rehearsal for the playoffs. Some actual reps with this new group in games that meant a little bit more! Unfortunately, those reps came to a premature end against the Pacers thanks to a fantastic performance from Haliburton in which he had 26 points, 10 rebounds, and 13 assists. He was the best player on the court that night. And while Siakam is a two-time all-star, I’m confident in saying that Haliburton is the one player the Pacers have that has the ability to take over games against Boston. If the Celtics can keep Haliburton in check the rest will take care of itself.
4. Kristaps Porzingis
MIAMI, FLORIDA – APRIL 27: Kristaps Porzingis #8 of the Boston Celtics dunks the ball against the Miami Heat during the first quarter in game three of the Eastern Conference First Round Playoffs at Kaseya Center on April 27, 2024 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Megan Briggs/Getty Images)
Yes, I am cheating a little bit with this one but stay with me. The latest update we received on Porzingis over the weekend is certainly encouraging if you are Celtis fan. According to Woj, “Porzingis is expected to remain sidelined for Games 1 and 2 of the Eastern Conference finals next week, but there is optimism he will be able to return sometime in the series barring any setbacks.” I still don’t think the Celtics are at a point in the playoffs where they need Porzingis to win the series (I said the day after the injury took place that the only team they will need him until the finals and I haven’t wavered on that take). That being said the injury took place on April 29th, Game 3 of this series is May 25th, that is nearly a month off for a legit seven-footer.
Getting Porzingis up and running, back in game shape, and confident again before the Finals actually begin is vitally important. There will not be a lot of wiggle room in the Finals. Making sure the rust is knocked off and Porzingis is healthy and productive is one of the biggest goals for Boston in this series.
5. Jayson Tatum
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – MAY 15: Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics celebrates during the first quarter against the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game Five of the Eastern Conference Second Round Playoffs at TD Garden on May 15, 2024 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images)
He is the best player on the best team. Enough said.
