Recent Boston Celtics rumors are going to make their fan base very happy. According to NBA insider Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium, star big man Kristaps Porzingis is trending toward being available for Game 1 of the NBA Finals.
The Celtics kick off the series on Thursday hosting the Dallas Mavericks. It is a big matchup for Kristaps Porzingis, who will be facing off against one of his former teams. Sidelined since April 29th because of a calf injury, he should be back on the court to start this series.
Per Charania, Porzinigis has been partaking in scrimmages in recent days. That was the final hurdle to get over and is now on track to be back in the starting lineup in Game 1.
Celtics rumors swirled that Porzingis was going to return during the Indiana Pacers series. But, given how lopsided that was with the Celtics sweeping them, there was no reason to rush him back.
These Celtics rumors are great news for the team. Kristaps Porzingis is an integral part of the team’s game plan on both ends of the court. Boston found plenty of success without him going through the Eastern Conference playoffs, but the Mavericks present some challenges.
Kristaps Porzingis’ size will be needed for this series. Dallas bludgeoned the Minnesota Timberwolves and their No. 1 ranked defense in the Western Conference Finals. Daniel Gafford and Dereck Lively II are a difficult combination to contain at the center position. P.J. Washington has also been a difference maker in the frontcourt.
Having Porzingis back in the mix means both teams will have their full complement of players available. This will be an emotional matchup, as Kyrie Irving is also getting a shot at his former team.
This season, Kristaps Porzingis averaged 20.1 points, 7.2 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.9 blocks in 29.6 minutes per game. It will be interesting to see how quickly he rounds back into shape after being sidelined for five weeks.
Do you want the latest news, updates, and rumors surrounding all sports? Click here. Make sure to check out our sister sites as well: NFL Analysis Network, NBA Analysis Network, Packers Coverage.
