(Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images)
The Boston Celtics got one of their most important players back when it mattered the most.
Kristaps Porzingis was out for over a month, and the Celtics didn’t want to rush him back to the floor.
Calf injuries are tricky and often lead to more severe ailments if rushed back to the court.
Fortunately for Joe Mazzulla’s team, it seems like that approach worked perfectly, as he was great in Game 1 of the NBA Finals.
Porzingis was so impactful that his odds of winning NBA Finals MVP went from +5000 to +650 odds after Game 1 (via NBC Sports Bet).
Kristaps Porzingis showed his value for the Celtics in Game 1 of the NBA Finals. pic.twitter.com/y7xonpixV7
— NBC Sports Bet (@NBCSportsBet) June 8, 2024
Despite coming off the bench and playing just 21 minutes, the Latvian big man scored 20 points with six rebounds and three blocks, knocking down 8-of-13 shots and 2-of-4 three-pointers.
Ever since he made his way to Massachusetts, Porzingis was deemed to be the X-factor for this team, and he’s lived up to those expectations thus far.
Porzingis can stretch the floor with his three-point shooting, and his ability to defend the perimeter and protect the rim should be quite effective against the Mavericks’ bigs.
He got Dereck Lively II in foul trouble, and he has a height advantage over both P.J. Washington and Daniel Gafford.
Mazzulla might keep him coming off the bench for the remainder of the series, as the starting lineup has clearly found its mojo already.
But if he keeps up that level of production in the next couple of games and the Celtics get it done, it wouldn’t be that shocking to watch him take the award home.
The post Odds Show A Dramatic Shift Favoring 1 Celtics Player For Finals MVP appeared first on The Cold Wire.