(Photo By Winslow Townson/Getty Images)
Like many teams in the NBA playoffs so far, injuries have taken a toll on the top-seeded Boston Celtics, with the team losing veteran scorer Kristaps Porzingis earlier in the postseason due to a calf strain.
Even without Porzingis on the basketball floor, the Celtics have been able to get through the first two rounds of the playoffs regardless, beating the Miami Heat and Cleveland Cavaliers en route to another trip to the Eastern Conference Finals, where they’ll face the upstart Indiana Pacers.
Although the Celtics have arguably had the easier path to the Eastern Conference Finals, Boston is still a much better team with a healthy Porzingis on the floor, and it could be argued that they’ll need him if this team expects to win it all this year.
Former NBA center Roy Hibbert recently appeared on “The Herd with Colin Cowherd” and discussed Porzingis’ importance to the Celtics.
“The question mark with Porzingis, I think he plays such a big part of the team on offense being able to spread the floor,” Hibbert said. “Yes, he’s out, but they have Al Horford. He’s a serviceable big in the league for 10 to 15 plus years at this point, but I think he’s going to be a key part right there.”
.@Roy_Meets_World tells @ColinCowherd why Kristaps Porzingis could be the key to a Boston Celtics championship pic.twitter.com/waK1qRMYmc
— Herd w/Colin Cowherd (@TheHerd) May 20, 2024
Fortunately for Boston, the storied franchise will likely only be without the veteran for two more games at the most, with Porzingis potentially being ready for Game 3, which will be played in Indianapolis at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
If Porzingis does return and resembles his form before the injury, the Celtics might cruise to the NBA Finals, where they will face the winner of the Western Conference Finals between the Dallas Mavericks and Minnesota Timberwolves.
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