Why Porzingis could be crucial to the Celtics’ NBA Finals success originally appeared in NBC Sports Boston
The Boston Celtics and Dallas Mavericks will face each other in the 2024 NBA Finals starting Thursday, and the amount of stars on both rosters is immense. But which player will be most important to the Celtics’ chances of winning?
You might be surprised by NBC Sports Boston analyst Brian Scalabrine’s response. It’s not Jayson Tatum or Jaylen Brown, it’s Kristaps Porzingis.
Porzingis reportedly expected to return to the Celtics lineup for Game 1 of the Finals at TD Garden. He missed Boston’s last 10 playoff games due to a strained right calf suffered on April 29.
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In the video above, Scalabrine shows the Celtics’ victory over the Mavs on March 1 in Boston, when Porzingis was able to hit a couple of 3-pointers early in the game. Scalabrine wants the Celtics to attack Mavs guards Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving on offense, which will force Dallas’ centers to help defensively and leave Porzingis open on the perimeter for 3-point shots.
Porzingis’ ability to stretch the floor as a threat from 3-point range (37.5% during the regular season) is a big part of the Celtics’ offense, and they should find ways to use him in that role during the Finals.
Check out the full Scalabrine review in the video player above.
