The Boston Celtics are in a funk and Kristaps Porzingis is aware of it.
After dropping to the Sacramento Kings on Friday evening, Boston is a mediocre 6-6 during the last 12 video games and has seemed out of sync. Whereas the star middle acknowledged this isn’t the perfect second for the group, he was steadfast in his perception the group will snap out of it.
“We’re gonna get previous it, we’re gonna be high-quality, we’ll determine it out,” Porzingis stated. “I’m telling you, we’re assured we’ll bounce again. We’re simply having not the prettiest second proper now as a group. It’s fully regular so no must be detrimental. Imagine me, we’ll determine it out.”
Porzingis has performed in simply 15 video games to date resulting from damage, averaging 18.5 factors, 7.0 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks. He’s capturing 45.3 p.c from the sphere after firing away at a 51.6 p.c clip final season.
Kristaps Porzingis: “It doesn’t look good, however we’re gonna get previous it. We’re gonna be high-quality. We’ll determine it out, I’m telling you. I’m assured we’ll bounce again. We’re simply having not the prettiest second proper now as a group.”
⚡️ @PrizePicks @Gametime pic.twitter.com/BqAS5xLlsx
— Celtics on CLNS (@CelticsCLNS) January 11, 2025
How A lot Of A Funk?
After a 21-5 begin, the Celtics are ceding important floor to the Cleveland Cavaliers, now 6.5 video games again of first place.
There’s no disgrace in dropping to the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder and a full-strength Philadelphia 76ers on Christmas day. What will likely be irritating is permitting 138 factors to the Chicago Bulls in a loss, falling to an Orlando Magic group lacking Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner, and most just lately a 17-point residence defeat in opposition to the Kings with De’Aaron Fox lacking.
Sabonis grabbed a career-high 28 rebounds in that sport, turning into the first participant with a minimum of 20 factors and 25 rebounds in opposition to the Celtics in Boston since Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in 1971.
4 of the six losses approaching Boston’s residence flooring does little to ease the strain some Celtics followers are at present feeling.
Within the six losses, Boston has a internet score of minus-9.0 and an offense that’s produced 14 factors fewer per-100 possessions than its season common of 121. The protection has additionally allowed six factors extra at 116.2.
Expectations Altering?
On the finish of the day, the Celtics are the group to beat till an opponent can beat them 4 instances out of seven within the postseason.
Total on the season, this can be a group with the third-best internet score, third-best offense, and seventh-best protection.
Cleveland has actually performed at a stage excessive sufficient to be thought of professional threats to Boston’s title hopes, however the New York Knicks will nonetheless have to point out it will possibly present better resistance ranges on protection.
Orlando is a group that defends at an elite stage, and the returns of Banchero and Wagner to the lineup will likely be a lot wanted in a possible collection.
When you find yourself the defending champions, the microscope zooms in that rather more and the Celtics are experiencing that proper now.
Lulls occur over the course of an 82-game common season, and there’s no doubting Boston is in the course of one.
