One of the main factors driving the Boston Celtics to the top of the NBA standings so far this season has been the addition of star big man Kristaps Porzingis, and his teammates aren’t shy about acknowledging that. “I think we haven’t had a low-post presence like that since I’ve been on the Celtics,” said Jayson Tatum via MassLive’s Souichi Terada after Boston’s Christmas Day win over the Los Angeles Lakers.
“I think it just creates so many problems,” he added. “Are you going to switch us? Are you going to be in drop? Because if you’re in drop, when the big gets back to KP, he’s planning the closeout, and he can move so well.”
“Put somebody smaller on him, obviously he can shoot over the top,” suggested the Celtics forward.
Celtics Lab 233: Boston beats the Lakers on Christmas Day, and making sense of trade rumors with Bobby Krivitsky https://t.co/GzzNf981pe via @thecelticswire pic.twitter.com/H9HizoNJAM
— The Celtics Wire (@TheCelticsWire) December 26, 2023
At present, the Celtics are 23-6, the best record in the league due in no small part to the wrinkles Porzingis adds to Boston’s play on both ends. The Latvian center is averaging 19.6 points, 7.1 rebounds, 1.7 assists, and 1.8 blocks per game with the Celtics so far this season.
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