There’s an X-factor in the NBA Finals who could possibly tip the scale more than anyone else.
He’s playing against his former team. Many admire him, others dislike him. He’s been trying to remove one narrative surrounding his career and replace it with another.
No, it’s not Kyrie Irving, though he does happen to also check all those boxes. As the NBA Finals unfold, Kristaps Porzingis has a chance to give the Celtics another level of firepower the Mavericks simply can’t match – that is, of course, if he’s close to fully healthy.
Porzingis did look sharp taking jumpers after practice Friday.
“He’s getting better,” coach Joe Mazzulla told reporters. “He’s out there shooting. He went through a couple of drills at practice, so kind of confident where he’s at right now.”
The Celtics have fared just fine without their third-best offensive player as he recovers from a soleus strain, but they’re a significantly more lethal team when Porzingis is on the floor wreaking havoc like he can. Porzingis presents matchup problems any time he plays, but he has a chance to really alter the dynamic of this particular series if he’s anywhere near full strength.
With Porzingis out there, the Mavericks will likely have either Dereck Lively II or Daniel Gafford stick him. Both have been excellent in the playoffs, but they haven’t guarded a big who can shoot like Porzingis.
His presence alone should force them to play more on the perimeter, which will in turn give Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown space to operate and win their individual matchups. The same concept holds true with Al Horford beyond the arc, of course, but adding a 7-foot-2 sniper with limitless range never hurts.
“We do want KP back,” Jrue Holiday told reporters. “We can’t wait for him to get back in and be a part of this on the court.”
Plus, Porzingis is also a threat at the rim and in the high post. Perhaps he can get Gafford or Lively in foul trouble. If his presence forces Jason Kidd to play Maxi Kleber extended minutes, that’s a win for the Celtics. Or maybe the Celtics can give the Mavericks a taste of their own medicine by forcing Luka Doncic or Kyrie Irving to switch onto Porzingis and making them pay.
Think about it this way. It’s like your coffee machine has been broken for a few weeks. You’ve made due, with tea and other beverages, but when you get it fixed, the whole breakfast feels so much more balanced and you feel more like yourself.
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