- The Boston Celtics are making their third straight conference finals appearance
- The Celtics secured the top seed in the Eastern Conference with a 64-18 record
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Stephen A. Smith argued that the Boston Celtics need Kristaps Porzingis to be healthy to win the NBA championship.
After suffering a right soleus strain in Game 4 of their first-round series against the Miami Heat, the seven-year vet missed the entire series against the Cleveland Cavaliers and has yet to return for the Cs.
Smith emphasized Tuesday that the Celtics wouldn’t be able to beat the winner between Minnesota and Dallas in the West without the Latvian big man.
“You don’t beat Minnesota or Dallas in the NBA Finals without Kristaps Porzingis,” Smith said. “Being 6-foot-4, he’s a three-point shooter, but primarily he’s a shot blocker so you can rely on Al Horford too much.”
‘Listen [Jayson] Tatum, [Jaylen] Brown, [Jrue] Holidays, [Derrick] White, we all get that,” he continued. “But if you can exploit Boston’s interior because you have some size and athleticism and you have a guy who is a shot blocker who isn’t there, I think that drastically affects Boston’s chances. They need him to win the chip.”
Stephen A. Smith emphasized that the Celtics cannot win the NBA Finals without Kristaps Porzingis
Porzingis has been out with a calf injury since Game 4 of their first-round series against Miami
The Celtics defeated the Miami Heat and Cleveland Cavaliers en route to the conference finals
In his four playoff games this season, Porzingis scored 49 points, 20 rebounds, seven assists and six blocks.
Although his team cruised past the Heat and Cavaliers — the latter without him — ESPN reported that Porzingis may return in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals.
The Celtics are heading into their third consecutive conference finals against the Indiana Pacers. However, Smith confidently predicted that Boston would emerge from the series and compete for another title.
“They’re going to the finals,” Smith declared. “I think Indiana will give them a competitive series, but Boston will win.”
So far, Smith has been spot on with his predictions as Tuesday’s Game 1 went to overtime and the Celtics won 133-128.
The Celtics won Game 1 of the conference finals against Indiana 133-128 in overtime
Tatum led the way for Boston with 36 points and 12 rebounds against the Pacers
Tatum led the way for Boston with 36 and 12 rebound points, while Holiday and Brown had 28 and 26 points, respectively. Meanwhile, White and Horford each scored 15 points in the win.
On the other hand, Pascal Siakam (24 pts and 12 reb), Myles Turner (23 pts and 10 reb) and Tyrese Haliburton (25 pts and 10 ast) all scored double-doubles in Indiana’s losing effort.
The series continues with Game 2 on Thursday evening.