There is a term that Boston Celtics fans have come to love over the course of the past two and a half seasons: "Mazzulla ball." The style of basketball that Joe Mazzulla has implemented during his time as head coach of this team may have been questioned by outsiders and skeptics to begin with, but it is hard to argue with the results of it now.
The Celtics are one of the top NBA championship contenders for a third straight season under Mazzulla, and they have his meticulously-constructed offense to thank for that. Boston's ball movement-heavy, three-point shot laden attack is the main reason why they walked away from Game 5 of the Finals last June as NBA champions.
Having been there and done that, many would consider them as the favorites to come out of the Eastern Conference once again, even despite the incredible season the Cleveland Cavaliers are having. But health will be an important factor for the Celtics as well. If a key player is missing during the playoffs, it could be the edge a team like the Cavs need to pull an upset.
Can Porzingis stay healthy for a full playoff run?
That brings us to Kristaps Porzingis. Boston's starting center missed a handful of weeks to start the month of March due to an illness that was unknown to begin with. The upper respiratory sickness was thought to be something along the lines of bronchitis or mononucleosis, according to ESPN. Porzingis described the situation as a particularly frustrating one. "I haven't been this sick for probably ever in my life," he said.
Since he returned to the Celtics' lineup on March 15, he has looked fantastic once again. Porzingis put up three straight 20 point games after returning to the hardwood, all in wins for Boston. KP will look to remain one of the Celtics' biggest x-factors once again, but one question remains - will he be healthy for a full playoff run?
As we know, Porzingis unfortunately had trouble staying healthy in the playoffs last year. He missed the entirety of the Celtics' series against the Cavaliers and Indiana Pacers last May with a calf strain, returning in the Finals. It was there that he suffered an unrelated leg injury that kept him out until late November of 2024.
It is safe to say the last year has not exactly been the best run of health for Porzingis. His ability to space the floor and change what Boston can do offensively remains massive for their championship hopes. Whether he can remain on the floor over the course of the next three months will be one of the biggest questions for this Celtics team.