The Boston Celtics are just days away from beginning their 2023-24 campaign for an NBA championship.
Last season, the C's were only a game away from the Finals after falling short in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals. In the wake of the disappointing finish, Boston's front office got to work this summer.
Celtics President of Basketball Operations Brad Stevens acquired All-Stars Kristaps Porziņģis and Jrue Holiday while parting ways with guard Marcus Smart, center Robert Williams III, and other key pieces. The C's sacrificed a lot in the process, however, they also kept their championship window wide open heading into the 2023-24 season.
But what's stopping the Eastern Conference contenders from winning it all? Let's dive into one factor that could potentially derail the Celtics' 2024 championship aspirations.
Celtics' downfall could be the health of Kristaps Porziņģis
When healthy, Porziņģis can be one of the best big men in the game, and he proved that last season.
With the Washington Wizards, the Latvian center averaged a career-high 23.2 points per game on 49.8% shooting from the field. Plus, Porziņģis played and started in 65 games during his record-breaking season. The last time the 7-foot-2 big played in that many games in a regular season was with the New York Knicks over five years ago.
Simply put, Porziņģis has had an injury problem. He tore his ACL with New York, couldn't stay healthy with the Dallas Mavericks, and even missed the 2023 FIBA World Cup due to plantar fasciitis. If Porziņģis can actually stay on the court for the Celtics, their monumental trade for him should be a success. Yet, so far in his career, that seems to be a gigantic “if.”
Although the C's have plenty of talent in their starting five to make up for a potential absence, the bench is where things get a bit trickier.
Celtics' big men depth took a hit this offseason
Alongside Porziņģis and Holiday, the Celtics also have their franchise cornerstones: Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. Altogether, Boston has a formidable, star-studded core that should make them contenders in the East again.
But, if Porziņģis has more knee or foot issues, the players backing him up aren't as talented.
First, there's veteran center Al Horford, who's entering his 17th season in the NBA. While Horford can still produce and defend opposing stars despite being 37-years old, getting a major workload this season could tire him out before the playoffs. Porziņģis staying healthy makes Horford's life easier, and in turn, keeps the C's fresher.
Behind Horford in the depth chart could be center Luke Kornet. The 28-year-old Celtic has youth on his side in comparison to Horford, yet he doesn't have the experience. In his two seasons with the C's, he's never started a game or averaged more than 12 minutes per outing. For a 7-footer, he has a decent shot from deep, but his defense could be an issue. With no Porziņģis, an unproven player like Kornet will take on more defensive responsibility, meaning star bigs like Joel Embiid and Giannis Antetokounmpo could occasionally be his assignment.
Kornet isn't ready for that challenge yet, however, he might not have a choice if Porziņģis is sidelined for an extended period of time. Unfortunately in the trade for Holiday, “Time Lord” — who could've been the first center off the bench — is gone. Williams III would've been a much better backup than Kornet, but for Boston to get its stars, some depth had to be sacrificed.
The C's have a generally tall roster, and aside from Horford and Kornet, there's surprise center Neemias Queta. The 7-foot Portugal native used to be on the Sacramento Kings, and he may have earned himself a roster spot this preseason with the Celtics. Queta is still on a two-way contract though, so there's no guarantee he spends most of his time in Beantown.
Ultimately, if Porziņģis catches the injury bug again, Horford, Kornet, and a few players who aren't officially rostered will have to pick up the pieces. If healthy, the Celtics should have one of the best teams in the NBA, but untimely injuries have foiled Boston before. In order to capture Banner No. 18, the C's will need to keep their elite starting five on the floor (and a little luck).
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