Celtics Beat, Episode 609: "Is Porzingis Pushing Celtics in Right Direction?"

Date: February 1, 2025
Host: Adam Kaufman (with Evan Valenti)
Guest: Chris Forsberg (NBC Sports Boston)

Episode Overview

This episode dives into the Boston Celtics’ recent ups and downs, with a spotlight on Kristaps Porzingis’ transformative impact. Host Adam Kaufman and co-host Evan Valenti are joined by Chris Forsberg of NBC Sports Boston to evaluate the team’s current form, the shifting roles and performances of the main rotation, load management issues, and projections heading toward the playoffs. The episode also addresses recurring themes: player health, the importance of depth, the evolving Eastern Conference landscape, and the reality-check that comes after a championship season.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Celtics’ Inconsistencies and Recent Performance

• January Recap: The team alternated wins and losses throughout January, struggling with consistency. “It was basically every other game, win, loss, win, loss, with very rare exception...” (Adam Kaufman, 03:59)
• Current Momentum: Entering February off two consecutive wins; searching for a third to establish momentum. “Lou Brown… would tell us that three makes a winning streak… Not quite there yet.” (Adam Kaufman, 04:37)
• Recent Games: Discussion around close wins against shorthanded teams like the Bulls and the injury-ravaged Pelicans. Both teams were not at full strength, making the Celtics’ narrow victories a bit concerning.

2. Porzingis’ Impact & Matchup Difficulties

• Transformative Presence: Porzingis’ skillset is highlighting new offensive dimensions. “Porzingis has been fantastic… the game that we saw the other night, he was just fantastic… 26 first half points and 34 overall.” (Chris Forsberg, 06:17)
• Floor Spacing: His shooting from beyond 30 feet forces defenses out, clearing space for others. “Look at the court, like, go. People have taken stills of what the court looks like when KP's really got it home. And it just makes life so much easier for literally everybody else.” (Evan Valenti, 07:49)
• Matchup Advantages: Porzingis is exploiting mismatches, benefiting both himself and Tatum in pick-and-roll/pick-and-pop situations.

Notable Quote

"The ultimate, the highest level of this Celtics team is with Porzingis on the floor, making the offense just another level."
— Chris Forsberg, 09:05

Porzingis Stats Highlight

• Most efficient post-up scorer in the NBA at 1.2 points per possession.
• Second-half performance has lagged behind his first halves—possibly a conditioning issue after long layoffs.

3. The Wear and Tear: Post-Championship Hangover?

• Physical/Mental Fatigue: Several core players (Tatum, White, Holiday) had busy offseasons and international commitments, possibly contributing to inconsistency and declining numbers. “It's been a down year for Holiday. Maybe some of that is the lack of layoff, maybe some of that is age. It's been a down season for White after an incredible first 20 game… Tatum...little bit of a downturn.” (Adam Kaufman, 12:15)
• Importance of Rest: There’s a call for increased load management, especially for Tatum, who resists sitting out, as the playoffs approach.

Notable Quote

“Physically we're going to have to start to slow some of these dudes down...in the lead up to April.”
— Adam Kaufman, 14:54

4. Depth and Rotational Dynamics

• Key Role Players: Discussed the importance of getting bench shooters (Hauser, Pritchard) into rhythm, as their success fosters overall team offense.
• Starters’ Workload: Acknowledgement that the core group is playing heavy minutes to solidify chemistry, with the expectation that rotations will loosen later to preserve legs for the postseason.
• Critical Health Question: If forced to choose, which supporting starter’s health is most vital between White, Holiday, and Horford? Forsberg points to White’s presence as the most consistently correlated with winning.

“All you need is a good game from Derek, and typically good things are going to happen.” (Forsberg, 23:53)

5. Clutch Performance: Growth Beyond the Narrative

• Tatum’s Development: Recent game-winners and crunch-time play have dispelled “not clutch” critiques.
• Tatum has as many career game-tying/going-ahead final five-second shots as Paul Pierce (13), and he isn’t even 27 yet. (Forsberg, 28:12)

Notable Quote

"If the starters are good and they're good in the clutch, I go back to it, they're like, they're going to win a title. It's just a matter of they sometimes lose their mind and it's super maddening."
— Chris Forsberg, 29:09

6. Trade Deadline & Fringe Speculation

• Potential Marginal Moves: Forsberg muses about the appeal of adding cheap, familiar faces (e.g., Yabusele, Javonte Green) for extra depth, but notes that some may have priced themselves out.
• Yabusele Renaissance: Yabusele has emerged as a legitimate NBA contributor—unexpected given his earlier Celtics tenure. “Yabu might be playing himself out of the conversation. He's just too good.” (Forsberg, 32:44)
• Philly’s Uncertainty: With Embiid and Paul George wild cards for Philadelphia, and Yabusele’s growth, the team remains a question mark as the deadline approaches.

7. What’s Missing? The Defensive Edge

• Defensive Intensity: Evan calls for improved focus and pride on the defensive end, noting "walking through the motions" and some unusual lapses from the likes of White and Brown. (Valenti, 40:23)
• Rest vs. Rhythm: The quest is to find the sweet spot for resting vets (Horford, Holiday, Porzingis) while building rhythm and peaking at the right time.

8. Contenders: Keeping Pace with the East

• Cleveland Cavaliers: The Cavs' surprising, sustained performance is keeping the Celtics chasing the #1 seed—a “carrot” to keep the champs motivated, with reminders that regular-season success doesn’t always translate to playoff dominance.
• “Going through it, you're seeing it night to night… they're getting the best of everybody every single night. And you can't have down performances.” (Valenti, 51:30)

Notable & Memorable Moments

Porzingis’ Latvian Quote Mishap

“Maybe my favorite quote of the year…100% some Latvian expression that did not translate and I love that he just could not even kind of get through the rest of the quote because he realized how ridiculous it sounded.”
— Chris Forsberg, 09:05

Tatum’s Clutch Record

“Tatum now has as many made shots as Paul Pierce—13—in their career [to tie/take the lead in the final five seconds]. And I mean, guy's not even 27 yet.”
— Chris Forsberg, 28:12

Health Prioritization: Who Matters Most?

“I think [White's] the most vital of that group to their success… all you need is a good game from Derek, and typically good things are going to happen.”
— Chris Forsberg, 23:53

Celtics’ Emotional Cycle

“Maybe it's probably recency bias. If they lose to the Sixers tomorrow, I'll just go back to being despondent. But right now I'm okay with where they're at.”
— Chris Forsberg, 06:42

Important Timestamps

• Porzingis’ December/January Surge & Impact: 06:17 – 11:52
• Challenges of a Post-Championship Season: 12:15 – 17:05
• Clutch Time Reflection—Tatum's Evolution: 28:12 – 29:24
• Trade Deadline/Yabusele Conversation: 29:38 – 34:11
• Defensive Concerns & Rotation Management: 40:23 – 43:45
• Cavs and Eastern Conference Race: 44:56 – 49:33

Takeaway Summary

The Celtics are in a holding pattern—successful but not yet living up to last year’s dominance. Porzingis is proving his value, but the team is dealing with post-championship malaise and integrating the new formula for success. There’s universal agreement that better rest, defensive focus, and health in the supporting cast are essential for a deep playoff run. Tatum is silencing critics in clutch moments, and the depth is both a curse and a blessing as they look for the right mix. The East is tougher; the schedule is unrelenting. The consensus: the regular-season grind is tough, but the Celtics remain well-positioned for another banner chase—if they can manage minutes, stay healthy, and retune their focus.

End of summary.