4 Celtics who are exceeding expectations, 2 underperforming at the All-Star break
By Tyler Watts
Exceeding expectations: Kristaps Porzingis
The Celtics targeted KP in the offseason because he offered them a different dimension. They wanted a big man capable of spacing the floor, posting up, and protecting the rim. The Unicorn checked all those boxes, but there were still questions about the move, especially as the Celtics traded away Marcus Smart.
Porzingis wasted no time answering them. His 1.41 points per possession on post-ups is the best in the NBA among players with at least 1.0 possession per game. KP is shooting a career-high 53.1 percent from the field and averaging over 20 points and nearly two blocks per game. He has not posted that block average since 2020 and is his most efficient in the post. There is just one significant question remaining.
Can Porzingis stay healthy and continue making a massive impact in the playoffs? He played in ten total postseason contests in his first seven years in the NBA. The Unicorn suffered a knee injury inside the bubble and was limited to just three games in the Mavericks first-round series against the LA Clippers. He played in all seven the following year before being traded to Washington in 2022. KP hasn’t played more than 65 games in a season since 2017.
Kristaps Porzingis has been a game-changer for the Boston Celtics. Can he finally make his first playoff run as the franchise looks to win its 18th championship? Both sides are hopeful everything works.