Porzingis, the first of two blockbuster Celtics acquisitions this offseason, will likely be relied on for length more than anything else. The departure of Robert Williams III removed Boston’s most valuable frontcourt puzzle piece, but Porzingis, who arrived well aware of the vacuum, has no issue slipping in.
Coming off an injury-hampered stint with the Washington Wizards, Porzingis averaged a team-leading 8.4 rebounds, including a career-best 0.9 steals. That begs the question heading into a critical Celtics season: Will Porzingis play the four or the five?
“I don’t mind,” Porzingis said during Celtics media day. “I love playing both positions. I think it’s a tough job for other fives to guard me and we have very few, like, really post-up fives. It’s probably Joel (Embiid) and Nikola (Jokic), right? — are two guys that really post up and play that kind of game. But the rest of the league, at the five, the game is a little bit different so for me it doesn’t really matter.
“I think defensively I’m also effective if I can be around the rim and protecting the rim. And I think that’s how I’m going to be used defensively and offensively I’ll find my game with what we’re trying to do.”
Last season, the Celtics were harmed by the very defensive identity abandoned — which previously existed within former head coach Ime Udoka’s playstyle. It was also a part-time factor that bailed in the most untimely of moments throughout the postseason, particularly in crunch time during the Eastern Conference finals against the Miami Heat.
As far as the other side of the floor is concerned, Porzingis understands the bigger picture, therefore, splitting possessions with the likes of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown won’t be an issue.
“All we want is to be on the same page and achieve our ultimate goal,” Kristaps Pozingis remarked. “We’re going to set everything aside because it’s not what we’re here for.” We’ll figure it out eventually. There’s a lot of skill here, a lot of players who can put up ridiculous numbers. Jrue (Holiday) will perform one night, JT will perform the next. All of these men can score the ball, and it doesn’t really matter to me. The most essential thing for me is that we find our rhythm as a group and work toward the goal for which we were brought here.”
