Kristaps Porzingis sent a strong message to the NBA in response to the Boston Celtics’ impressive start to the 2023-24 season. The Celtics dominated the Indiana Pacers with a remarkable 155-104 victory, boasting a flawless 4-0 record for the season. Boston’s performance at the outset of the new campaign has been nothing short of outstanding. Porzingis, who recently joined the Celtics following an offseason trade, is confident that their current success is just the beginning.
Porzingis stated, “Although we’re already looking really strong by easily defeating these teams, our performance will only improve from here,” as reported by Jay King of The Athletic.
In the previous season, the Celtics had high hopes of winning a championship but fell short in the Eastern Conference Finals against the Miami Heat. This raised doubts about their future, but the Celtics responded decisively. They secured Jaylen Brown with a long-term contract extension and added star players like Porzingis and Jrue Holiday to their roster. Now, their starting lineup, featuring Jayson Tatum, Brown, Porzingis, and Holiday, is arguably the best in the NBA.
Boston’s primary concern in recent years has been its performance in the post, a concern that Porzingis is helping to address. While injuries have plagued him in the past, when healthy, he has proven to be a star-caliber player.
Originally drafted by the New York Knicks, Porzingis displayed signs of stardom during his rookie season in 2015-16. He has since played for the Dallas Mavericks and Washington Wizards before joining Boston in the past summer. So far, his performance with the Celtics has been impressive, with Porzingis averaging just under 19 points per game and 7.3 rebounds per contest. His presence in the post has been crucial, as reflected in his 1.5 blocks per game.
It’s important to note that this assessment is based on a small sample size of just four games for the Celtics’ new big man. Nevertheless, it’s evident that this team is well-equipped to be a serious contender. The Eastern Conference has also strengthened, with teams like the Milwaukee Bucks and Philadelphia 76ers ready to challenge Boston. However, Porzingis’ warning suggests that it’s the rest of the conference and the entire NBA that should be wary of this formidable squad.
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