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Boston Celtics head coach Joe Mazzula said Wednesday that star big man Kristaps Porzis is close to returning from injury ahead of the NBA Finals.
Speaking on 98.5 Sports Center Zolak and BertrandMazzula said he doesn’t know if Porridge will be ready for Game 1 of the NBA Finals, but has been “stepping up his intensity level” on the court lately.
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Porzingis has not played since Game 4 of Boston’s first-round playoff series against the Miami Heat due to a calf strain.
The Celtics acquired the 7’2″ center from Latvia in a trade with the Washington Wizards prior to the 2023-24 season.
Arriving with guard Jrue Holiday and joining an already stacked roster that includes Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown and Derrick White, Porsche instantly established himself as a key player and a good fit.
In his first season with the Celtics, the one-time All-Star averaged 20.1 points, 7.2 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.9 blocks and 1.9 three-pointers per game while shooting 51.6 percent from the field and 37.5 percent from beyond the field. Arch.
With Porziys’ key contribution, the Celtics went 64-18 in the regular season, a league-best record through seven games.
Before the injury, the 2015 first-round pick of the New York Knicks played in four postseason games for Boston, averaging 12.3 points, 5.0 rebounds, 2.0 three-pointers, 1.8 assists, 1.5 blocks and 1.3 steals.
After Porziņģis landed on the shelf, the Celtics shut down the Heat in the first round, defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers in the second round and took down the Indiana Pacers in the Eastern Conference Finals.
Boston has just two losses in these playoffs, and without Porcius, the Celtics are an impressive 9-1.
After sweeping Indiana, Boston is awaiting its NBA Finals opponent. The Dallas Mavericks hold a 3-1 series lead over the Minnesota Timberwolves in the Western Conference Finals.
Based on how they played in the regular season and in the playoffs, the Celtics could be the heavy favorites to win the championship, regardless of their opponent, regardless of Porridge’s level.
Boston is undoubtedly a more complete team with Porziņģis in the lineup, and his return would give the Celtics a huge boost in their pursuit of their first NBA title since 2008.