Kristaps Porzingis

Celtics Notes: Mazzulla, Tatum, Porzingis, Springer

December 26th, 2024 at 10:58am CST by Arthur Hill

The Celtics still may have the best roster in the league, but they haven’t looked like the defending champions for the past two weeks, writes Brian Robb of MassLive. Boston is 3-4 in its last seven games, including losses against the sub-.500 Bulls and the short-handed Magic. Coach Joe Mazzulla was candid about his team’s recent play after falling to Philadelphia on Wednesday.

“We’re playing inconsistent basketball, so we’ve got to be better at both ends of the floor,” he said. “Got to be more consistent at both ends of the floor.”

The Celtics are second in the East and third in the NBA with a 22-8 record, but Robb notes that their schedule is about to get much more challenging. There are limited off days and a few back-to-backs coming up over the next three weeks, which could be taxing for a veteran roster and provides little opportunity for practice time.

“We’ve got to be better,” Jayson Tatum said. “It’s still a long season. Nobody’s panicking. We’ve got to navigate the emotional roller coaster of the NBA season. It feels a lot worse than it actually is. We’re not panicking or anything. We’ve just got to man up and look in the mirror and figure out some things that we’ve got to do better at. Everybody’s fully capable, and we’ve always done a really good job of responding, and I have no doubt that we will. So I’m not panicking, but we’ve got to be better, and we will.”

There’s more from Boston:

Tatum provided an explanation of the illness that made him a late scratch for Monday’s game against Orlando, Robb adds in a separate story. He described it as a “a 24-hour, 48-hour bug” that began to affect him after warmups. He was still feeling some effects from the virus on Wednesday, even though he managed to post 32 points and 15 rebounds in 41 minutes. “Maybe a little fatigued, I guess, from being sick the last few days, but I’m just trying to push through it, catch my second wind, things like that,” Tatum said.
The Celtics weren’t able to provide much information on a left ankle injury that sidelined Kristaps Porzingis for the second half of Wednesday’s game, per Souichi Terada of MassLive. Porzingis seemed to tweak the ankle early in the contest, but he was able to keep playing before having his status downgraded at halftime. “I noticed that he played through it,” Mazzulla told reporters after the game. “I asked him how he was. He said he was okay and then he got re-evaluated at halftime. But I haven’t heard anything.” Porzingis didn’t talk to reporters, but Terada observed that he didn’t seem to have much protection on the ankle in the locker room.
Jaden Springer hasn’t played much since the Celtics acquired him in a February trade, but the fourth-year shooting guard tells Adam Himmelsbach of The Boston Globe that being in Boston has been a good learning experience. “I’ve grown a lot,” Springer said. “Coming to a different organization you get to see a different way of basketball. Everyone plays a different style, so coming here you learn new things, pick up on new styles of play, and playing behind another great group of guys. (Jaylen Brown), (Tatum), Jrue (Holiday), Derrick White, (Porzingis), Payton Pritchard, Sam Hauser, a bunch of guys. So being able to learn from them and watch them every night, it’s been pretty big for me.”

Celtics Notes: Tatum, Mazzulla, Porzingis, Trade Priority

December 21st, 2024 at 7:27pm CST by Arthur Hill

Celtics star Jayson Tatum grew up as a huge admirer of Kobe Bryant, so he was excited about the chance to join the Lakers in the 2017 draft, writes Gary Washburn of The Boston Globe. However, Tatum never got a tryout with L.A., which held the second overall pick, even though he was one considered one of the draft’s top prospects following a stellar freshman season at Duke.

Lakers legend Magic Johnson, who served as team president at the time, explained this week that they were already set at forward with Julius Randle, Brandon Ingram and Larry Nance Jr. on the roster and were focused on finding backcourt help.

“Yeah, I think I was upset at the time that there wasn’t genuine interest,” Tatum said. “From my perspective, I grew up the biggest Kobe fan and wanted to play for the Lakers. And Magic explained it. They had too many forwards and that was their thought process at the time. It wasn’t like I got any animosity toward Magic or the Lakers. It was just as a kid, I was close to accomplishing a life-long dream, the way I thought it would be.”

The draft played out perfectly for Boston, which landed Tatum with the No. 3 pick after trading down from No. 1. Tatum is already a five-time All-Star and four-time All-NBA selection, while Markelle Fultz, who went to Philadelphia with the top pick, is currently out of the league, and Lonzo Ball, whom the Lakers took at No. 2, recently resumed playing in Chicago after missing more than two full years with a knee issue.

“Obviously it worked out best-case scenario,” Tatum added. “But I love Magic Johnson. I love what he means to the game. I have no hard feelings toward him. Every time I see him, it’s always love. It’s just something that happened and it’s probably a million stories throughout the NBA that guys should have went or thought they were going somewhere. Everything happened for a reason.”

There’s more from Boston:

Coach Joe Mazzulla, who was fined $35K for “aggressively pursuing” an official following Thursday’s loss to Chicago, talked to his players before this morning’s shootaround about the importance of staying in control and not overreacting to bad calls, Washburn adds in the same piece. “It’s a long year, so whatever the keys are not only to games but to how you want to go about the season,” Mazzulla said. “It’s just small reminders, always good to refresh those.”
Kristaps Porzingis has been removed from the injury report for tonight’s rematch with the Bulls, according to Souichi Terada of MassLive. Porzingis was originally listed as questionable with a right heel contusion he suffered Sunday at Washington.
Assuming the big-man rotation stays healthy, finding veteran wing depth should be the Celtics’ priority in any trade before the deadline, Brian Robb of MassLive states in a mailbag column. He notes that Jordan Walsh, Baylor Scheierman and Jaden Springer haven’t inspired confidence that they can be reliable during the playoffs.

Celtics Notes: Walsh, Porzingis, Pritchard, Springer

December 14th, 2024 at 6:19pm CST by Arthur Hill

Jordan Walsh impressed Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla with his willingness to play in Thursday’s win over Detroit, writes Adam Himmelsbach of The Boston Globe. The second-year forward was given the option to miss the game because of bruised ribs, but the team was already without Jayson Tatum and Sam Hauser. Walsh decided to play, even though it meant additional stress on his aching ribcage.

“I was explaining to him, when you’re a young guy and you’re banged up a little bit, it’s easy to sit out a game because you’re not expected to play all the time,” Mazzulla said. “And I was telling him about Jayson and Jaylen (Brown) and these guys, when they’re banged up, they don’t have a choice. They have to play and they have to deliver. And I said that’s the hard part, the mentality and the mind-set that young guys have a hard time delivering when they’re not at their best. I thought it was a huge development for him to do that, to work to do that. It just comes from the environment. It comes from how the locker room holds themselves to a high standard. So I think the environment is a big piece in the development.”

A second-round pick in 2023, Walsh has seen an expanded role after spending most of his rookie year in the G League and appearing in just nine NBA games. He has gotten into 17 so far this season, although playing time is still hard to come by on one of the league’s best rosters. He’s averaging 1.4 points and 1.2 rebounds in 9.1 minutes per night.

“I feel like everything you do here builds a reputation, so if I go and sit out when I was supposed to play, now I’m soft,” Walsh said. “Now I’m trying to find a reason to be out. It’s like, nah, I don’t want to be that guy. I want to be the guy who’s always trying to find a way to get in, to play more and be more active. That’s what I want to go for.”

There’s more from Boston:

The exuberance that Kristaps Porzingis shows on the court stems from his love of playing for the Celtics, per Khari Thompson of The Boston Globe. Porzingis started his career in New York, then spent time with Dallas and Washington before being traded to Boston last summer. “I definitely enjoy playing here like crazy,” he said. “… Obviously, now you guys see me smiling and happy, but I would say this is how I’ve been most of my career. It’s just now that I’m on a bigger stage and everybody can see how I play and how I enjoy the game.”
Payton Pritchard is considered one of the favorites for Sixth Man of the Year honors, but he told reporters, including Souichi Terada of MassLive, that it’s not a priority for him. “It’s not something I really think about,” Pritchard said. “If I’m fortunate enough to win, that’s I guess a testament to the hard work I put in and I think it just means that I helped this team coming off the bench and doing my job at a high level. It’s not something like if I don’t win or win, it’s not make-or-break it for me.”
The Celtics’ interest in trading Jaden Springer in October was likely sparked by Lonnie Walker‘s strong preseason, Brian Robb of MassLive states in a mailbag column. The team reportedly would have needed to attach draft assets to get someone to take Springer, so he remained on the roster while Walker was waived. Robb adds that Springer’s $4MM expiring contract could be useful if Boston wants to make a trade before the deadline.

Celtics Notes: Brown, Porzingis, Hauser, Pritchard

December 6th, 2024 at 2:02pm CST by Arthur Hill

Celtics forward Jaylen Brown has been fined $25K for making a throat-slash gesture during Wednesday’s game against Detroit, the NBA announced (via Twitter). As Gary Washburn of The Boston Globe describes, Brown’s reaction came after he dunked the ball, and it was directed at Pistons big man Isaiah Stewart to send a message that the Celtics wouldn’t be intimidated.

“Just caught up in the moment, I guess,” Brown said after the game, acknowledging that he was expecting a fine. “Big play. I think the NBA and the [Players Association] are sensitive about the gestures and things like that. I’ve got to be mindful of that.”

Washburn adds that Stewart later retaliated by pushing Brown into the crowd as they battled for position on a rebound. Brown decided not to escalate the situation so he wouldn’t risk being thrown out of the game.

“I feel like he’s always doing stuff like that,” he said of Stewart. “That’s how he plays the game. But my focus is on coming out and running our offense and getting our team into the right positions. I didn’t want to get distracted, but definitely some going back and forth, and we’re not tolerating that this year from nobody.”

There’s more from Boston:

The on-court chemistry that Kristaps Porzingis formed with Brown last season resurfaced instantly when Porzingis returned to action last week, observes Souichi Terada of MassLive. After posting 26 points and nine rebounds against Detroit, Porzingis lauded Brown’s play-making skills for handing out nine assists. “He does a good job of trying to read the team — who needs to get a touch, who we need to get going,” Porzingis said. “He’s good at that. If he needs to take more responsibility and attack more and create more, he does that for us. We already know what he gives us defensively, his physicality. When he’s engaged like this, he’s one of the best players in the league in my opinion.”
Sam Hauser offered a reminder on Wednesday that he can fit into the starting lineup whenever necessary, notes Brian Robb of MassLive. With Jayson Tatum sitting out the game, Hauser made his second start of the season and responded with 20 points while going 5-of-10 from three-point range. Robb notes that Hauser seems to have overcome early-season issues with back pain.
Payton Pritchard could be in the mix to close games at some point this season, even with a fully healthy roster, Robb adds in a mailbag column. Robb contends that Pritchard has been more effective than Jrue Holiday, even though Holiday continues to produce at a high level.

Celtics Notes: Pritchard, White, Injuries, Mazzulla

November 30th, 2024 at 9:44pm CST by Arthur Hill

Payton Pritchard provided a huge lift off the bench Friday night as the Celtics broke open a close game in Chicago and kept their hopes alive for a spot in the NBA Cup’s knockout round, writes Brian Robb of MassLive. Forced into extra duty after Derrick White left the game with a sprained right foot in the third quarter, Pritchard played 28 minutes, including the final 19, while scoring 29 points. He hit seven three-pointers and scored all the points in a late 11-4 run that put the game away.

“It’s obviously a great feeling but I feel like the best feeling is winning on the road and being able to help my team get over the hump tonight,” Pritchard said. “Obviously I feel it. I can hear the crowd, the gravity it pulls. It definitely was a fun night.”

Pritchard is in his fifth season with Boston, and it seems like a long time ago that he was asking to be traded due to a lack of playing time. He has become one of the most dangerous bench weapons in the league — averaging a career-high 15.6 PPG while shooting 48.5% from the field and 44% from three-point range — and Jayson Tatum is pushing for him to get some individual recognition.

“It’s been pretty cool to see him grow into the player that he is, being effective on a championship team,” Tatum said, “and the things that he’s doing is Sixth Man of the Year worthy for me.”

There’s more on the Celtics:

White’s injury doesn’t appear to be serious, as he’s being listed as questionable for Sunday’s showdown with Cleveland for first place in the East, per Souichi Terada of MassLive. Kristaps Porzingis, Al Horford and Jrue Holiday are also questionable, and Terada suggests they may be staggered as Boston prepares for a stretch of five games in seven days.
Other coaches have expressed reservations about running up the score in NBA Cup games to gain a points differential advantage, but Joe Mazzulla enjoys that aspect of the tournament, Terada adds in a separate story. Mazzulla called time out Friday with 1.4 seconds left to set up a Sam Hauser three-pointer that increased the Celtics’ final margin of victory to nine points. “I like it because this tournament and the point differential kind of eliminates the unwritten rules that you’re supposed to follow or not follow,” Mazzulla said. “Where in a normal situation, you wouldn’t do that. But in this one, you get to draw up a play and try to get better in that situation. So guys did a good job executing and we tried to extend the point differential as much as we could.”
Three-point defense was a concern in Friday’s game as Chicago stayed close by sinking 20 shots from beyond the arc, notes Gary Washburn of The Boston Globe. It was the most all season against the Celtics, who rank fourth in the league in limiting three-pointers. “We had to turn up the pressure a little bit more. We were scoring and maybe we weren’t as physical with them so they felt good about themselves,” Porzingis said. “The second half that was an emphasis for us, being more physical with them, make them work a little bit more for everything.”

Atlantic Notes: Martin, Simmons, Nets, Raptors, Celtics

November 28th, 2024 at 1:51pm CST by Rory Maher

Entering Wednesday’s contest in Phoenix, Nets wing Tyrese Martin had scored 33 career points in 105 minutes over 21 NBA games. Martin, who is on a two-way deal with Brooklyn, proceeded to light up the Suns, scoring 30 points on 10-of-13 shooting — including 8-of-10 from three-point range — in 28 minutes during the 10-point win, writes Brian Lewis of The New York Post.

“S–t, I felt like I was drowning in the ocean. Everybody’s throwing water, it’s cold. A lot of love, though. A lot of love. It felt good,” Martin said of the post-game victory celebration.

“Definitely felt surreal, especially in the environment and situation we’re in with this team. A lot of teams probably take us lightly when we come into town. … But we’re here to compete and play hard. So to do it on this stage against Hall of Fame players like Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, definitely a surreal feeling.”

Martin received some extra playing time after it was reported that leading scorer Cam Thomas would miss three-to-four weeks with a strained hamstring. A 2022 second-round pick who spent all of last season in the G League with the Iowa Wolves, the 25-year-old said he took advantage of being a relatively unknown commodity.

“I just feel like they didn’t know who I was. So … they’re probably not going to really pay attention to you on the defensive end,” Martin said. “But I bet you they know who I am now.”

Here’s more from the Atlantic:

Martin’s career night overshadowed to some extent Ben Simmons‘ best game of the season so far, according to Collin Helwig of NetsDaily.com. Simmons was unusually aggressive from the opening tip, finishing with 14 points on 7-of-8 shooting, nine rebounds, eight assists and a steal in 27 minutes. “I think I’m just getting more comfortable,” the Nets swingman said. “I’ve been away from the game for a while in terms of being healthy and it takes time to get back to back to where I want to be.” Dennis Schröder (29 points, four rebounds, three assists, a game-high plus-19 in 34 minutes) and Trendon Watford (18 points in 22 minutes off the bench) also had strong outings during Brooklyn’s third straight road victory, Helwig notes.
The Raptors‘ first road victory of the season came in blowout fashion on Wednesday in New Orleans. Toronto received contributions up and down the roster, but the play of Jamison Battle (a career-high 24 points on 9-of-11 shooting), Ochai Agbaji (24 points on 9-of-10 shooting, six rebounds) and Ja’Kobe Walter (14 points, 11 rebounds, five assists) was particularly encouraging, per Michael Grange of Sportsnet.ca. Battle is on a two-way contract after going undrafted out of Ohio State, while Walter was a first-round pick in June’s draft (No. 19 overall). A former lottery pick, Agbaji will be eligible for a rookie scale extension next summer.
How will Kristaps Porzingis‘ return impact the Celtics‘ rotation? Chris Forsberg of NBC Sports Boston explores that question and more in his latest mailbag.

Celtics Notes: Porzingis, White, Pritchard, Hauser, Queta

November 27th, 2024 at 9:55pm CST by Arthur Hill

Celtics big man Kristaps Porzingis has become an expert on overcoming injuries throughout his NBA career. After he returned Monday slightly ahead of schedule from offseason surgery on his left leg, Porzingis talked about the process he had to go through to get back on the court, writes Khari Thompson of The Boston Globe.

“Honestly, I would say, it was one of the easiest rehabs for me,” Porzingis told reporters. “The only thing was I had to stay off the ankle for four to six weeks, so it was tough. Just on one leg with the scooter, can’t get up the stairs. It was a little bit difficult from that perspective, but once that moment passed and I was able to walk, honestly it felt pretty natural.”

Appearing on the Boston broadcast of Monday’s game, president of basketball operations Brad Stevens said he recognized that Porzingis was healing faster than expected when he reported for training camp. Optimism about an early return grew as the team watched him during a preseason trip to Abu Dhabi.

Porzingis added that he was eager to get back on the court after being limited in what he could do since Game 5 of the NBA Finals.

“I started to feel pretty good almost a month ago,” he said. “I would say the whole rehab, I was ahead of it all the time. I was itching to do more, start more, sprints, contact one-on-one. I was asking the medical staff to do more, but we were still smart and completed all the stages up to get to this point. I told them that if you guys give me the green light, I want to do it as soon as possible. That was it. I got here maybe even a month early and it’s good to be back out there.”

There’s more from Boston:

The Celtics had to switch more often on defense without Porzingis to serve as their primary shot-blocker, observes Souichi Terada of MassLive. That led to more points surrendered in the paint, so his teammates are glad to have Porzingis back to guard the rim. “I just let him block the shots and not me,” Derrick White said. “KP just does a lot for us. Obviously, rim protection. But just kind of his presence and everything, it’s nice to have him out there.”
Having knockdown shooters Payton Pritchard and Sam Hauser coming off the bench often gives the Celtics a huge advantage, notes Adam Himmelsbach of The Boston Globe. Both played important roles in Monday’s win over the Clippers, as Pritchard went 6-of-10 from beyond the arc in a 20-point night, while Hauser was perfect on his three long-distance shots. Pritchard was plus-30 in nearly 26 minutes, and Hauser was plus-27 in 23 minutes. “Our chemistry grows every single day because we’re always working out with each other,” Hauser said. “I feel like each of us does different things well on the court that complement each other in a unique way. It’s been special to see what Payton’s been doing this year. He’s really been playing well. I’ve known for a while he’s been able to do this, so I’m glad everyone else is getting a chance to see it.”
Neemias Queta was back in coach Joe Mazzulla‘s big-man rotation on Monday after not playing in Sunday’s game, per Brian Robb of MassLive. Defensive shortcomings have cut into Queta’s playing time, but he delivered 12 points, nine rebounds and four blocks in 25 minutes. Al Horford and Luke Kornet both sat out Monday, so it’s not clear if Queta will continue to get opportunities once they return.

Eastern Notes: Porzingis, Nets, Djurisic, McCain

November 26th, 2024 at 8:00am CST by Luke Adams

Celtics big man Kristaps Porzingis reclaimed his spot in the starting lineup on Monday in his return from a leg injury that had sidelined him since June and looked like his old self. As Tim Bontemps of ESPN writes, Porzingis helped Boston secure a blowout 126-94 win over the Clippers by racking up 16 points, six rebounds, two assists, and a pair of blocked shots in just under 23 minutes of action.

“I felt great,” Porzingis said, smiling, after the game. “It was a long rehab, and I was itching to get back out there with this team after winning a championship. It was a good beginning, good first game back.”

As Bontemps points out, while Porzingis’ ability to score around the basket and from beyond the arc will further diversify a Celtics offense that ranks third in the NBA (120.9 offensive rating), his impact on defense figures to be even more significant. Entering Monday’s game, Boston ranked 19th in the NBA in rim defense after placing first in that category last season, Bontemps notes. In Monday’s game, the club set a season high with 11 blocks.

Here’s more from around the Eastern Conference:

Already shorthanded entering Monday’s matchup in Golden State, the Nets saw Cameron Johnson leave the game in the first half due to a sprained right ankle and Cam Thomas exit in the third quarter after battling a back issue. They still managed to go on a 27-6 second half run and pull out an upset victory over the Warriors, led by Dennis Schröder (17 fourth quarter points) and de facto center Ziaire Williams (19 points, 10 rebounds), as Brian Lewis of The New York Post details. “Shout out to the guys, we lost two more, but our guys stepped up, made big-time shots,” Williams said. “(Trendon Watford) made big-time shots, and it was a team effort. It was super fun out there.”
Hawks rookie Nikola Djurisic, the No. 43 overall pick in the 2024 draft, is fully recovered after undergoing foot surgery in July, according to agent Misko Raznatovic, who says (via Twitter) that the 6’7″ swingman is on track to make his G League debut on Tuesday for the College Park Skyhawks vs. the Long Island Nets. Djurisic is essentially a draft-and-stash prospect — he signed a G League contract for the 2024/25 season and Atlanta still holds his NBA rights.
The 3-13 Sixers have the NBA’s second-worst record, but No. 16 overall pick Jared McCain should be considered the Rookie of the Year frontrunner, according to Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer, who makes McCain’s case for the award.

Kristaps Porzingis To Make Season Debut Monday

November 25th, 2024 at 11:10am CST by Rory Maher

Celtics center Kristaps Porzingis intends to make his season debut Monday evening vs. the Clippers, sources tell Shams Charania of ESPN (Twitter link). The Latvian big man is officially listed as probable for the contest, per the team (Twitter link).

Porzingis’ 2024/25 debut was delayed by a left leg injury he sustained during the NBA Finals last season. He underwent surgery in late June and was expected to miss approximately five-to-six months, so he’s right on track from a recovery standpoint — perhaps even a little ahead of schedule.

A one-time All-Star, Porzingis was doing full-court one-on-five work with assistant coaches a couple weeks ago and then was assigned to Boston’s G League affiliate in Maine last Monday to get some practice reps in. Evidently everything went smoothly, as he plans to return tonight vs. L.A.

Although Porzingis is likely to play Monday, the Celtics will probably be without a couple other frontcourt players in Al Horford (illness) and Luke Kornet (left hamstring tightness), who are both listed as doubtful.

Given Porzingis’ lengthy injury history, Boston will almost certainly be cautious with the 29-year-old, at least until he’s back in playing shape. I’d expect him to be on a minutes restriction for the next handful of games, at minimum.

The defending champions haven’t skipped a beat to open the season, with the Celtics currently holding a 14-3 record, the second-best mark in the NBA.

Celtics Notes: Brissett, Grousbeck, Porzingis, Tillman

November 22nd, 2024 at 10:03am CST by Arthur Hill

Free agent forward Oshae Brissett joined his former Celtics teammates for Thursday’s visit to the White House, writes Brian Robb of MassLive. Brissett was part of the 2024 championship team after signing a two-year contract with a $2.58MM player option in the summer of 2023. He declined that option over the offseason in hopes of getting a better offer from another team, but that still hasn’t happened.

“It was fun to see Oshae Brissett here,” vice president of basketball operations Mike Warren said. “He hasn’t been around this year but it was cool for him. We got him his ring. That was a neat moment.”

Brissett had a smaller role than he expected last year, averaging 3.7 points and 2.9 rebounds in 55 games while playing a career-low 11.5 minutes per night. However, Robb points out that he still has a strong bond with his ex-teammates. Boston is carrying an open roster spot, but Robb states that it’s unlikely to be filled before the trade deadline and there’s no guarantee Brissett will still be available.

“It was really cool to see Brissy again and have him be here and a part of it,” Derrick White said. “Obviously, he was a big member of our team last year, so it was great to have him here and get the old gang back together.”

There’s more on the Celtics:

Following the ceremony, owner Wyc Grousbeck reiterated his plan to remain in his position as governor of the team after the impending sale is completed, per Souichi Terada of MassLive. “I don’t have any comments on the sale process,” Grousbeck told reporters. “It’s underway. There’s a lot of interest. That is one comment, I guess, but I’d like to limit it to that. The plan is that I will stay for three more years. That’s what’s laid out. We’ll go from there.”
Kristaps Porzingis may be able to beat the December return date that was projected after offseason surgery, Robb states in a separate story. Team sources told Robb that Porzingis felt good after participating in a scrimmage with G League Maine Celtics this week, and teammates who viewed the session liked what they saw. “I was able to watch a little bit of it,” Al Horford said. “Just excited, excited to see KP out there. He’s doing more and more stuff with us in practice and just really encouraging. Obviously we don’t know when he’s returning, but we’re just excited to see him doing more stuff with us, being more involved playing and getting his legs underneath him.”
Head coach Joe Mazzulla was impressed that Xavier Tillman volunteered to take part in the scrimmage to give Porzingis some NBA-level competition, Robb adds. Tillman’s playing time has been severely reduced recently as he has fallen behind Neemias Queta in the Celtics’ big-man rotation. “He just wanted to play,” Mazzulla said. “It was an opportunity to play, and he’s obviously done a great job of just doing what we’ve asked him to do, and so it’s a credit to him. We got a lot of respect for him for making that decision. He’s got to keep getting better and better. He’s brought great character, a great work ethic to it.”

Load More Posts