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 do 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 a complete lot higher than the Celtics.

The enigmatic 29-year-old carries quite a 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 once they made the commonly unknown Porzingis the No. 4 total decide of the 2015 draft. They usually nonetheless are at present, no due to the Latvian Light-weight, who sat subsequent to Spike Lee about as typically as he lined up subsequent to Carmelo Anthony and Derrick Rose in 3 1/2 dreadful seasons.

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

Bean poles are inclined to snap within the NBA. Ask Ralph Sampson. And has anyone seen Chet Holmgren lately?

Fortunately for the Knicks, the winds of desperation additionally blow by Central Texas, in order that they had been capable of extract two first-round picks from the Mavericks as a Porzingis parting reward.

Sadly, the proverbial door seems to have hit Porzingis within the again aspect on his means by the exit, as a result of he is nonetheless limping at present.

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

Three years later, the Mavs accepted a fitness center bag filled with used scorebooks to ensure that the Wizards to take the now-journeyman off their fingers. Solely to undergo 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 have to be heavy. 

After lacking lots of Boston’s most essential video games final season, Porzingis watched the primary 17 this 12 months. Even Celtics followers have stopped counting.

The tin man simply can’t keep upright.

The humorous factor is: The Knicks want their outdated pal one of the best of well being.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

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

Really, they’ve executed rather a lot 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 file 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.

The easiest way to assault the Boston protection is with a floor-spacing large man. Enter Cities, whose 2-for-2 evening capturing 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 must do in opposition to the Celtics, who can lock down three positions with one of the best of them. However Tatum doesn’t like to protect anyone, and with out Porzingis round to guard the basket, Boston’s vaunted protection unexpectedly turns into weak. 

Anunoby is already licking his chops.

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

That’s, if he’s even nonetheless a 36-percenter. His trumpeted debut Monday featured 1-for-6 capturing from deep, one thing with which the Knicks turned fairly acquainted when the tallest man on the court docket always linked on 33 % from deep as their marquee rookie.

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

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

Ten years later, he simply may cause them to a championship.