The Boston Celtics are in a funk and Kristaps Porzingis is aware of it.
After shedding to the Sacramento Kings on Friday evening, Boston is a mediocre 6-6 over the past 12 video games and has appeared out of sync. Whereas the star heart acknowledged this isn’t one of the best second for the workforce, he was steadfast in his perception the workforce will snap out of it.
“We’re gonna get previous it, we’re gonna be high quality, we’ll determine it out,” Porzingis mentioned. “I’m telling you, we’re assured we’ll bounce again. We’re simply having not the prettiest second proper now as a workforce. It’s fully regular so no should be unfavorable. Consider me, we’ll determine it out.”
Porzingis has performed in simply 15 video games up to now as a result of harm, averaging 18.5 factors, 7.0 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks. He’s taking pictures 45.3 p.c from the sector after firing away at a 51.6 p.c clip final season.
Kristaps Porzingis: “It doesn’t look excellent, 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 workforce.”
⚡️ @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 vital floor to the Cleveland Cavaliers, now 6.5 video games again of first place.
There’s no disgrace in shedding to the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder and a full-strength Philadelphia 76ers on Christmas day. What will probably be irritating is permitting 138 factors to the Chicago Bulls in a loss, falling to an Orlando Magic workforce lacking Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner, and most lately a 17-point house defeat towards the Kings with De’Aaron Fox lacking.
Sabonis grabbed a career-high 28 rebounds in that recreation, turning into the first participant with at the least 20 factors and 25 rebounds towards the Celtics in Boston since Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in 1971.
4 of the six losses approaching Boston’s house ground does little to ease the strain some Celtics followers are presently 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 workforce to beat till an opponent can beat them 4 instances out of seven within the postseason.
General on the season, this can be a workforce 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-about authentic threats to Boston’s title hopes, however the New York Knicks will nonetheless have to indicate it will possibly present better resistance ranges on protection.
Orlando is a workforce that defends at an elite stage, and the returns of Banchero and Wagner to the lineup will probably 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 midst of one.
