Boston — Kristaps Porzingis of the Celtics immediately dispelled any concerns about his on-court fit.
Even before Boston signed the 7-foot-3 center in an offseason three-team trade, it was clearly clear what Porzingis might offer.
Unfortunately, Porzingis required yet another change of scenery while playing for the struggling Washington Wizards following a disastrous stint with the Dallas Mavericks, and it was obviously needed.
Brad Stevens, president of basketball operations for the Boston Celtics, stepped in to help by adding Porzingis to the team’s already excellent lineup.
The 28-year-old is inspired to show up every night because of one extra perk of playing with the C’s, and there are several to pick from: big-name matches.
“It certainly makes me more passionate. It’s just natural for all of us players,” Porzingis remarked following Wednesday night’s 119-116 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks by Boston.
“We want to perform for large, enthusiastic audiences. Perhaps a little too much for me, as I need to unwind occasionally. Naturally, I’m loving it and I can kind of draw comparisons to my Knicks playing days during my rookie season and the first few years of the league.
“It gives more fuel to the already-present passion that I have for the game to play hard and you wanna make the right play for your team, for your teammates,” Porzingis continued.
When Porzingis faced the revamped Bucks for the first time, it was clear that he was once again energized by the Boston TD Garden crowd.
Comparing himself to Jaylen Brown, Porzingis ended the game with 21 points, six rebounds, and one assist. When playing together, the two have shown themselves to be a picture-perfect combination, taking full advantage of the pick-and-roll to get beyond teams like Milwaukee’s and finish easily at the rim.
It almost seems as though they have played together for several seasons.
“I adore having fun with JB,” stated Porzingis. “I believe that our connection is growing stronger and stronger, and it’s becoming second nature to us. I’m getting to know his style of play and the circumstances he prefers. And as you can see, it’s a lot of fun and we’re having some success with it.
Even though there is still a lot of basketball to be played, Stevens’ offseason efforts are still paying off on the court.
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