Why the New York Knicks Are Cheering the Return of Kristaps Porzingis

Kristaps Porzingis made fairly a splash in his return to the Boston Celtics’ lineup Monday evening. Outsized wave-benders have a tendency to try this.

That applause you heard got here from excessive atop the Rockies.

No, not from the Nuggets, who’re trying much less and fewer like a possible NBA Finals opponent for the defending champs. 

However from the visiting Knicks, who know Porzingis an entire lot higher than the Celtics.

The enigmatic 29-year-old carries a whole lot of baggage wherever he goes. He wants it to haul all his loot.

Relaxation assured: The suitcases have wheels. His again can’t deal with the burden of $177 million in profession earnings, not to mention the expectations of a determined NBA franchise. Or two. Or three. Or now 4.

Make no mistake, the Knicks had been precisely that after they made the commonly unknown Porzingis the No. 4 general decide of the 2015 draft. And so they nonetheless are immediately, no because of the Latvian Light-weight, who sat subsequent to Spike Lee about as usually as he lined up subsequent to Carmelo Anthony and Derrick Rose in 3 1/2 dreadful seasons.

The issue with Porzingis’ wasn’t his angle. It was his physique.

Bean poles are inclined to snap within the NBA. Ask Ralph Sampson. And has anyone seen Chet Holmgren not too long ago?

Fortunately for the Knicks, the winds of desperation additionally blow by way of Central Texas, so that they had been in a position to extract two first-round picks from the Mavericks as a Porzingis parting present.

Sadly, the proverbial door seems to have hit Porzingis within the again facet on his manner by way of the exit, as a result of he is nonetheless limping immediately.

It did not take Mark Cuban lengthy to be taught a bit one thing about NBA economics: What doesn’t promote in New York usually doesn’t promote in Dallas, both… particularly at 5 instances the worth.

Three years later, the Mavs accepted a fitness center bag stuffed with used scorebooks to ensure that the Wizards to take the now-journeyman off their arms. Solely to endure the identical destiny.

Three strikes and… Porzingis seems to have hit a house run. Final June, the large oaf was moved as soon as once more and now wears an NBA crown atop his head. 

Apparently it should be heavy. 

After lacking a lot of Boston’s most vital video games final season, Porzingis watched the primary 17 this yr. Even Celtics followers have stopped counting.

The tin man simply can’t keep upright.

The humorous factor is: The Knicks want their outdated pal the perfect of well being. Their spot within the NBA Finals may rely on it.

Like 28 different groups within the NBA, Knicks administration has recognized the Celtics because the workforce to beat en path to the 2025 championship. Unlikely the opposite 28, the Knicks have executed one thing about it.

Really, they’ve executed lots about it.

With Mikal Bridges and OG Anunoby, they now have the shackles to lock down Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. Not that Tatum, one of many worst shooters in postseason historical past, and Brown, on report tempo for many missed 3-pointers, will cease jacking.

And with Karl-Anthony Cities, they’ve extra than simply the complementary piece wanted to take the offensive weight off Jalen Brunson. They’ve the proper matchup for Porzingis.

One of the best ways to assault the Boston protection is with a floor-spacing massive man. Enter Cities, whose 2-for-2 evening taking pictures threes in Denver on Monday had been simply sufficient to tug Nikola Jokic from the basket, clearing house for the usually offensively challenged Anunoby to sneak in and rating 40 factors.

That’s what they’ll have to do towards the Celtics, who can lock down three positions with the perfect of them. However Tatum doesn’t like to protect anyone, and with out Porzingis round to guard the basket, Boston’s vaunted protection hastily turns into weak. 

Anunoby is already licking his chops.

And on the different finish of the ground, Porzingis doesn’t have that form of perimeter prowess. So whereas Cities anchors in the important thing, slicing off Tatum’s lethal ventures into the defensive stomach, the Knicks can let Boston’s vaunted 36-percent 3-point-shooting massive man hearth away. 

That’s, if he’s even nonetheless a 36-percenter. His trumpeted debut Monday featured 1-for-6 taking pictures from deep, one thing with which the Knicks grew to become fairly acquainted when the tallest man on the court docket always related on 33 p.c from deep as their marquee rookie.

Hey, it might have been worse. In a Giannis Antetokounmpo impersonation, he slumped to a downright embarrassing 28 p.c that obtained him fired by Cuban.

In a merciful coincidence, the Knicks are praying Porzingis continues to be celebrating a wholesome honeymoon come Could.

Ten years later, he simply may make them a championship.