Porzingis injury updates (Update: Dislocated Tendon)

[liam]

Brad?s number one priority is finding a big that can shoot from three to add to the bench next season as insurance for KP.

Jalen Smith? I was looking at list and he might be the only free agent that can hits 3's at a good clip. Claxton is a free agent too and plays good defense but is only post threat and definitely not from afar.

Hope Big Al sticks with us for a few more years even if more limited. His influence on this team cannot be understated too.

From what I've seen Jaylen Smith is a defensive stiff.

[Celtics2021]

Brad?s number one priority is finding a big that can shoot from three to add to the bench next season as insurance for KP.

Jalen Smith? I was looking at list and he might be the only free agent that can hits 3's at a good clip. Claxton is a free agent too and plays good defense but is only post threat and definitely not from afar.

Hope Big Al sticks with us for a few more years even if more limited. His influence on this team cannot be understated too.

From what I've seen Jaylen Smith is a defensive stiff.

He is indeed.  A defensive stiff who can shoot threes, but a defensive stiff.

[jambr380]

I was really happy when we got Tillman and was disappointed when I realized he wasn't going to be playing a bigger role. Super-happy for him coming out and making a difference in what was essentially the put-away game. He isn't a big stats guy, but he just seems like somebody made for playoff basketball.

As for KP, I hope he can at least make a ceremonial appearance tomorrow night. Let him jack up a couple of 3s if we have a big lead. If we are getting smoked, then save him for Monday I guess and try the same thing then.

[No Nickname]

Brad?s number one priority is finding a big that can shoot from three to add to the bench next season as insurance for KP.

Jalen Smith? I was looking at list and he might be the only free agent that can hits 3's at a good clip. Claxton is a free agent too and plays good defense but is only post threat and definitely not from afar.

Hope Big Al sticks with us for a few more years even if more limited. His influence on this team cannot be understated too.

From what I've seen Jaylen Smith is a defensive stiff.

He is indeed.  A defensive stiff who can shoot threes, but a defensive stiff.

Ignoring superstars with contracts over $20MM per year, who out there fits the bill as a three-point shooting big that we could potentially target in a trade?

Here's an interesting list of "big men" (take it for what it's worth as Sam Hauser is listed there), who can shoot:

https://www.statmuse.com/nba/ask/best-3-point-shooting-big-men-and-power-forwards-in-nba-current

[boscel33]

Hauser has impressed me with his ability to defend.  #whoknew!

[tonydelk]

On Thursday, The Athletic's Shams Charania said Porzingis "has a chance" to suit up for Game 4. After Wednesday night's victory the Celtics are 10-1 without Porzingis this postseason. They have shown time and time again that they can win without their starting center.16 mins ago

[Celtics2021]

Brad?s number one priority is finding a big that can shoot from three to add to the bench next season as insurance for KP.

Jalen Smith? I was looking at list and he might be the only free agent that can hits 3's at a good clip. Claxton is a free agent too and plays good defense but is only post threat and definitely not from afar.

Hope Big Al sticks with us for a few more years even if more limited. His influence on this team cannot be understated too.

From what I've seen Jaylen Smith is a defensive stiff.

He is indeed.  A defensive stiff who can shoot threes, but a defensive stiff.

Ignoring superstars with contracts over $20MM per year, who out there fits the bill as a three-point shooting big that we could potentially target in a trade?

Here's an interesting list of "big men" (take it for what it's worth as Sam Hauser is listed there), who can shoot:

https://www.statmuse.com/nba/ask/best-3-point-shooting-big-men-and-power-forwards-in-nba-current

I?m not saying there?s a lot of them.  I?m just saying Smith isn?t playable because his defensive inability outweighs the value he provides in shooting 3s.  Put another way, it is far more likely we can improve Tillman?s shot than Smith?s lateral agility.  I?d much rather try to teach a good defending big how to shoot than a poor-defending big how to play defense.  There?s a lot more evidence the former is easier to do than the latter.

Also, I wouldn?t totally hate Smith if we signed him as a minimum free agent.  I don?t think it would work, but it?s low-cost.  But I wouldn?t think of trading for his $5.4 million salary this summer.

[DefenseWinsChamps]

Kyle Anderson?
Daniel Theis?
Dario Saric?
Jeff Green?

To name a few. None of them have Zinger size, but they could all play small-ball 5 in a pinch (Horford's position) with different strengths.

Plus, we could potentially sign any of them with a vet min.

[Roy H.]

Brad?s number one priority is finding a big that can shoot from three to add to the bench next season as insurance for KP.

Jalen Smith? I was looking at list and he might be the only free agent that can hits 3's at a good clip. Claxton is a free agent too and plays good defense but is only post threat and definitely not from afar.

Hope Big Al sticks with us for a few more years even if more limited. His influence on this team cannot be understated too.

From what I've seen Jaylen Smith is a defensive stiff.

He is indeed.  A defensive stiff who can shoot threes, but a defensive stiff.

Ignoring superstars with contracts over $20MM per year, who out there fits the bill as a three-point shooting big that we could potentially target in a trade?

Here's an interesting list of "big men" (take it for what it's worth as Sam Hauser is listed there), who can shoot:

https://www.statmuse.com/nba/ask/best-3-point-shooting-big-men-and-power-forwards-in-nba-current

I?m not saying there?s a lot of them.  I?m just saying Smith isn?t playable because his defensive inability outweighs the value he provides in shooting 3s.  Put another way, it is far more likely we can improve Tillman?s shot than Smith?s lateral agility.  I?d much rather try to teach a good defending big how to shoot than a poor-defending big how to play defense.  There?s a lot more evidence the former is easier to do than the latter.

Also, I wouldn?t totally hate Smith if we signed him as a minimum free agent.  I don?t think it would work, but it?s low-cost.  But I wouldn?t think of trading for his $5.4 million salary this summer.

Also, with the new rules the only way we could trade for Smith is by dealing Pritchard, right?

[Celtics2021]

Brad?s number one priority is finding a big that can shoot from three to add to the bench next season as insurance for KP.

Jalen Smith? I was looking at list and he might be the only free agent that can hits 3's at a good clip. Claxton is a free agent too and plays good defense but is only post threat and definitely not from afar.

Hope Big Al sticks with us for a few more years even if more limited. His influence on this team cannot be understated too.

From what I've seen Jaylen Smith is a defensive stiff.

He is indeed.  A defensive stiff who can shoot threes, but a defensive stiff.

Ignoring superstars with contracts over $20MM per year, who out there fits the bill as a three-point shooting big that we could potentially target in a trade?

Here's an interesting list of "big men" (take it for what it's worth as Sam Hauser is listed there), who can shoot:

https://www.statmuse.com/nba/ask/best-3-point-shooting-big-men-and-power-forwards-in-nba-current

I?m not saying there?s a lot of them.  I?m just saying Smith isn?t playable because his defensive inability outweighs the value he provides in shooting 3s.  Put another way, it is far more likely we can improve Tillman?s shot than Smith?s lateral agility.  I?d much rather try to teach a good defending big how to shoot than a poor-defending big how to play defense.  There?s a lot more evidence the former is easier to do than the latter.

Also, I wouldn?t totally hate Smith if we signed him as a minimum free agent.  I don?t think it would work, but it?s low-cost.  But I wouldn?t think of trading for his $5.4 million salary this summer.

Also, with the new rules the only way we could trade for Smith is by dealing Pritchard, right?

I?m not quite sure if we could still use the old rules on draft night and package Springer and other minimums for him.  But as of July 1st, you?re certainly correct.

If we want to trade for a big this summer, I think our targets are players that make less than Springer, or maybe players that make less than Pritchard if we want to give Springer a shot.  This option becomes more viable if a vet PG signs on for the minimum.

[liam]

Hauser has impressed me with his ability to defend.  #whoknew!

He was fundamentally sound in all aspects of the game went we signed him and he's only gotten better. He knows where he should be at all times.

[jpotter33]

https://x.com/byjayking/status/1801334598703497637?s=46&t=lGU0TGXtwjkuVuoin6WTNw

Joe Mazzulla said Kristaps Porzingis got better from yesterday to today and is fighting hard to play in Game 4.

Eh, I don?t like the idea of playing him up 3-0. Rest him and if we need him in game 5 then he can play.

[Surferdad]

https://x.com/byjayking/status/1801334598703497637?s=46&t=lGU0TGXtwjkuVuoin6WTNw

Joe Mazzulla said Kristaps Porzingis got better from yesterday to today and is fighting hard to play in Game 4.

Eh, I don?t like the idea of playing him up 3-0. Rest him and if we need him in game 5 then he can play.

My sentimental side wants to see Kristaps out there with a uniform on. Even just 10 minutes of standing at the 3-pt line, a bit like injured Willis Reed on the 1969 championship Knicks team. His mere presence was a huge boost to the Knicks.

[Neurotic Guy]

Hauser has impressed me with his ability to defend.  #whoknew!

He was fundamentally sound in all aspects of the game went we signed him and he's only gotten better. He knows where he should be at all times.

I thought he?d have an impact game and I?m really glad for him that he did.  All year teams have been realizing that he?s not a slouch defensively.  Surprisingly effective.

PP, who always gives great effort on both sides of the ball, really needs to make some baskets in G4 (or later if it goes beyond 4), or I bet he?ll have a rough off-season thinking about his performance.  I have no problem with his performance- I just think he may be the kind of person to get down on himself.

[Phantom255x]

I'd just give Porzingis this week off and see if he can go Monday for a potential Game 5. Let him rest/rehab a bit over the full weekend.

If we win Friday, then even better, it won't matter.