We’re only ten games away from seeing the Boston Celtics defend their title in the playoffs. The Celtics, who are 2nd in the Eastern Conference with a 53-19 record, hope to end the season the same way they did last year, by capturing their 18th championship.
While the Celtics are in line to make another deep playoff run, it’s going to be tough to run it back, especially since they have a target on their back after winning last year. One team that looks to dethrone them in the East is the Cleveland Cavaliers, who have dominated this season, putting the league on notice with their 57-14 record and splitting their regular season series with the Celtics.
Although they won’t match their regular season success of last year, the Celtics have won the toughest battle by remaining healthy. If the Celtics win it all once again, it’s because their unicorn, Kristaps Porzingis, is available.
Kristaps Porzingis is the Celtics' X-Factor
The Celtics were able to reach basketball excellence not only because of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown but also because of the addition of Kristaps Porzingis. From the moment Porzingis stepped on the court wearing Celtic green, the Celtics finally got their third co-star that they desperately needed to become the strong, dominant team they are now.
Porzingis’s three-point shooting fits perfectly with Joe Mazzulla’s offense, taking as many open looks as you can get. Since his arrival, Porzingis has shot 38.4% from three and is shooting 39.6% from three in 35 games this season. His ability to make threes at an elite level, especially since he’s seven foot three, makes him unfair to guard and takes the pressure off of Tatum and Brown.
Porzingis is a tremendous player on offense, but his presence on defense is where he’s most felt. Without him protecting the rim, there’s a night and day difference as to how opposing teams attack the rim. In his tenure with the Celtics, Porzingis is averaging 1.8 blocks per game.
Brad Stevens hit the lottery when he traded for Porzingis, and he’s become an irreplaceable piece to a championship team that has dynasty aspirations brewing. The only downside to Porzingis is his availability, which has remained a concern throughout his career. In his ten-year career, he’s played in 494 out of 803 games, missing the entirety of the 2018-2019 season due to a torn ACL.
It seems that every year he’s due for an injury or illness, but the Celtics have been good enough to overcome it, winning two playoff series without him last year. This year, however, is different from last year as there are threats to their repeat hopes in both conferences, especially in the West, which continues to be the superior conference.
The Celtics will only be champions of the 2024-2025 season if Porzingis is fully healthy. He’s their anchor on defense and the guy to go to when the offense needs a spark. The spark and run he created in his first game back in the finals last year shows how crucial he is to this team and how much of a unicorn he is.