Can the Celtics beat the Cavaliers in the playoffs without Kristaps Porzingis?

Chris Mannix of Sports Illustrated joined Felger and Mazz on Wednesday to discuss the latest with the Boston Celtics. With the playoffs looming, Felger asked Mannix if he thinks Kristaps Porzingis needs to be healthy in order for the Celtics to win it all again this season. Mannix thinks that they absolutely do need him to be healthy.

Felger: Chris do the Celtics need Kristaps Porzingis healthy in your opinion?  

Chris Mannix: 100%. They don't beat Cleveland without Kristaps Porzingis. Like, they don't. You know, one of the conversations I was having recently with the Cleveland people was about Evan Mobley, who is the biggest reason the Cavs are a bigger threat to the Celtics this year. And look, Mobley, you know Kenny Atkinson was talking to me recently about him, like Kenny Atkinson compares them to Magic Johnson like that’s how bullish he is on the skill set of Evan Mobley. But if you look at some of the numbers this season, and even last season, where Mobley's going up against Porzingis, it has not gone well. And for the Cavs to beat the Celtics Mobley has to dominate that matchup. If it's a coin flip or a wash of a match up, the Celtics are going to win that series. But if Mobley can completely control it, that gives the Cavs their best chance to win. If Porzingis is out and you've got to go like 5 deep with, you know, with Horford at starter and Luke Kornet coming off the bench, I think you lose that series to the Cavaliers. They're not a joke this year. I think Porzingis is that valuable. 

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