After an efficient Game 1, Kristaps Porzingis stumbled in Game 2 against the Heat.
Every game in a seven-game series tells a different tale of the larger narrative. In Kristaps Porzingis’ playoff debut with the Celtics, Boston’s big man was storybook, hitting 4-of-8 from behind the arc en route to an efficient 18 points and two blocks in Sunday’s blowout of the Heat. You couldn’t write a better start to a championship run.
Three days later in the Game 2 loss, plot twist: Porzingis made just one of his nine shot attempts; his counterpart, Bam Adebayo, owned him in the post and Porzingis finished the game a minus-32.
“Upped the physicality, switching, higher pickup points,” head coach Joe Mazzulla said of Miami’s stifling defense frustrating KP.
The good news is, it’s just one game, one chapter. During the regular season, Porzingis was by far the best post player in the league over his 57 games played. Per Synergy tracking data, he finished in the 96th percentile and scored 1.30 points per possession. To put that into context, Joel Embiid and Nikola Jokic finished behind him at 1.14.
But the playoffs are different. Before Sunday, it had been three years since Porzingis participated in the postseason and leading up to April, there has been a steady trend of the officials swallowing their whistles that started in the final quarter of the regular season.
In Game 1, so many of his looks came from outside of the paint. In Game 2, the Heat seemingly invited him to attack switches and mismatches, but made sure that his elbow and block touches came outside of the circle.
Smaller defenders like Caleb Martin and Tyler Herro were able to be a little more handsy with Porzingis in the paint and forced him to take contested long 2s all night with two turnovers.
If this sounds familiar, it’s because we’re all familiar with this script from last year. “Different Here” is a catchy slogan for the Celtics’ socials. But for all of the accolades and record-setting offense that resulted in a 64-18 season for Boston, it’s Erik Spoestra and the Heat that seem to understand better just how truly different April, May, and June are in the NBA.
“They did a good job being physical, pushing catches higher, making it difficult for us to take advantage of those switches,” Mazzulla said. “That’s been something that has given us a different look on the offensive end.”
Joe Mazzulla on how Miami was able to hold Kristaps Porzingis to 1-9 shooting:
“They did a good job being physical, pushing catches higher, making it difficult to take advantage of those switches.” pic.twitter.com/Ry0C5zRpGV
— Noa Dalzell (@NoaDalzellNBA) April 25, 2024
Throughout the regular season, Porzingis had been the answer to teams loading up to stop Tatum and Jaylen Brown. He was the ultimate finisher as an ideal pick-and-pop big that could space the floor and roll man who could punish smaller defenders in the post. That didn’t come to fruition on Wednesday night, but alas, the powerful play goes on, and Porzingis may still contribute his verse.
“We have to do a better job of getting him the ball in the right spots,” Jayson Tatum admitted after the game. “We’re gonna do that on Saturday.”