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 night time. 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 wanting 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 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 load 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 have been precisely that once they made the widely unknown Porzingis the No. 4 total decide of the 2015 draft. And so they nonetheless are at this time, no because of 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 likely 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 means of Central Texas, in order that they have been capable of 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 approach by means of the exit, as a result of he is nonetheless limping at this time.

It did not take Mark Cuban lengthy to study 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 worth.

Three years later, the Mavs accepted a health club bag stuffed with used scorebooks to ensure that the Wizards to take the now-journeyman off their palms. Solely to undergo the identical destiny.

Three strikes and… Porzingis seems to have hit a house run. Final June, the massive 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 vital 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 the very 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 crew to beat en path to the 2025 championship. Unlikely the opposite 28, the Knicks have performed one thing about it.

Truly, they’ve performed 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 document 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 right matchup for Porzingis.

One of the best ways to assault the Boston protection is with a floor-spacing large man. Enter Cities, whose 2-for-2 night time taking pictures threes in Denver on Monday have been simply sufficient to tug Nikola Jokic from the basket, clearing area 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 the very best of them. However Tatum doesn’t like to protect anyone, and with out Porzingis round to guard the basket, Boston’s vaunted protection rapidly turns into weak. 

Anunoby is already licking his chops.

And on the different finish of the ground, Porzingis doesn’t have that sort 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 taking pictures from deep, one thing with which the Knicks grew to become fairly acquainted when the tallest man on the courtroom 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 bought him fired by Cuban.

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

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