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Tim Bontemps, ESPN
BOSTON — Boston Celtics center Kristaps Porzingis said Tuesday that “the plan” is for him to be available for Game 1 of the NBA Finals against the Dallas Mavericks, but he was still wary of how his leg would react.
“That’s the plan right now,” Porzingis said of Thursday’s game. “Again, it’s still a few days, and I think it could make a difference. Every day gives me a little more time to get even better.”
Porzingis has been out since suffering a right calf injury five weeks ago in Game 4 of the Celtics’ first-round playoff series against the Miami Heat. He returned to at least part of practice Friday and participated fully in a light session Saturday.
His presence in the series was going to be an important storyline given that he spent three years with the Mavericks before being traded in February 2022, but it was only amplified due to his continued recovery from his strain at calf. And, twice – when asked Tuesday if he was 100 percent right now, and again later when asked if he no longer felt pain – he took several long seconds before responding hesitantly.
“Good question,” he replied with a wry smile when asked if he was currently at 100 percent. “I don’t know. We’ll see. I’ve done a lot of work so far. I’ve done everything I need to do to get back in shape. We’ll see.”
Later, when asked if he ran without pain, he sat for a while, apparently deciding what to say, before finally answering “Yes.”
It was Porzingis’ final candid moment during his year in Boston – dating back to his introductory press conference at the team’s practice facility when, in answering a question about his playoff performance, he admitted he hadn’t done it. know. But for Celtics fans who have been awaiting the 7-foot-2 Latvian’s return for several weeks, it has introduced a level of worry ahead of Boston’s second trip to the NBA Finals — which begins Thursday.
Boston acquired Porzingis in a three-team trade a year ago, in part to give the Celtics a different dimension when they reached the late stages of the playoffs after repeatedly failing to raise an 18th championship banner at TD Garden. rafters. And although he missed most of the playoffs due to injury, he played a major role in the team’s success in the regular season, averaging 20.1 points and 7.2 rebounds per game. game while shooting a career-best 51.6 percent from the field.
Porzingis said he participated in workouts with the team, but it was difficult to simulate game speed in that type of setting, especially with limited scrimmage time as he recovers from injury. ‘an injury that kept him out of Boston’s final 10 games of the playoffs.
But when asked if he could only know if he had recovered from his injury after testing his calf in a game situation, Porzingis said he was confident his leg would hold up once he found himself in these situations.
“I think the medical staff wouldn’t kick me out if they weren’t sure I was going to be OK,” Porzingis said. “I did what I needed to do to check the boxes, and that’s it.
“Of course, it is difficult to imitate the same intensity in training. This intensity will be of a completely different level, but I have to be sure that everything will be fine.”
For his part, Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla responded: “What did he say?” When asked if he thought Porzingis would be ready for Game 1, he said too much was said about the time his center missed and the impact it would have on Porzingis’ reintegration process. in Boston’s lineup.
“He’s been playing basketball for about 30 years,” Mazzulla said. “He’s played in intense situations his whole life, so I don’t think it’ll really be a problem. I think it all came down to that. Obviously you can’t simulate the speed and intensity of the game, which I think. I think it just comes with a little bit of repetition.
“KP is a great player. I think just because you’ve been out for a month doesn’t mean you have to relearn how to play basketball. He’s done a lot of good things for us this season on both ends of the court with physical, with intensity and I expect him to pick up where he left off, but obviously there will be a little rust, but I’m not worried because of the work that he has done. he’s done and what he’s done in his career and what he’s done this season for us.
Upon his arrival with the Celtics, Porzingis expressed excitement about having the chance to be back with a franchise that should be relevant all the way to the playoffs – especially after spending the last two seasons with a Washington Wizards team that was in the doldrums, and far from the playoff picture.
And while he admitted it “sucked” to be away the last few weeks during Boston’s run to the Finals, he said he’s excited to finally get back on the court with his teammates now , and marveled at the energy there was in the city and around the franchise, before the start of the finale.
“It’s amazing,” Porzingis said. “Just the energy…like everyone is buzzing. It’s going to be exciting. It’s going to be – even just seeing the number of people now. It shows the magnitude of this and what’s at stake. As a team, as an organization, we approach this series with confidence, knowing that no steps have been skipped.
“The goal is to finish the job.”
If Boston wants to achieve this, the Celtics and Porzingis will have to go through his former team. But even though his tenure in Dallas — where, coincidentally, Porzingis has yet to play since being traded — didn’t end on the best terms, Porzingis said there were no hard feelings on his part about his time there.
“I think it’s going to be great,” Porzingis said. “I played there for 2 1/2 years and I’m happy for everyone in Dallas. I have a lot of good relationships there and I think they deserve to be as successful as they are. have had this season.
“It’s going to be fun to play my old team, go back to Dallas and play some games there. I’m looking forward to it.”