Boston Celtics Head Coach Joe Mazzulla provided an update on Kristaps Porzingis’ ongoing health challenges during a recent interview, shedding light on the struggles the big man has been facing. In his conversation with 98.5 The Sports Hub’s Zolak & Bertrand, Mazzulla noted that the team has gotten a better grasp of what Porzingis has been dealing with, saying, “We do know… he had the illness, and he has the effects of that illness with his fatigue and his breathing, and he’s doing everything he can to give us what he has.”
While Mazzulla kept specifics about the diagnosis under wraps, he remains hopeful that the two days off between Games 2 and 3 in the Celtics’ second-round series against the New York Knicks will allow Porzingis to regain some semblance of his normalcy. “It’s an illness, and what’s impacted is his fatigue and his breathing,” Mazzulla elaborated. “So, he’s just working through those things.”
Porzingis, who missed eight games following the All-Star Break with what he suspects is related to this ongoing illness, acknowledged the toll it has taken on him. “Probably,” he affirmed when questioned about the connection to his earlier sickness. “I’ve had ups and downs up until this point. And I had a big crash now, and my energy, my everything, hasn’t been good, but who cares? I have to look forward, and it will get better from this point on.”
Yet, despite his best efforts to stay positive, there’s no denying that this illness has significantly impacted Porzingis’ performance in the playoffs. After an encouraging regular season—where he averaged 19.5 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks, coupled with impressive shooting splits—his production has plummeted in the postseason, especially in seven appearances.
“I’m just not feeling my best,” he admitted after Boston’s narrow 91-90 loss to New York in Game 2. “It kills me inside that it’s happening in this moment.”
The reality is that Porzingis has at times looked like a liability on the court for the Celtics. In Game 1 of the series against the Knicks, he struggled mightily, leaving the game early due to his health issues and not returning. Game 2 saw a bit more of Porzingis, as he logged 14 minutes and contributed eight points. However, he still failed to leave the impactful mark we know he’s capable of making.
Historically a dominant presence in the paint, Porzingis has found it difficult to assert himself this postseason. He struggled with shot-making, missing paint turnaround attempts against smaller defenders, a stark contrast to his regular-season efficiency. Boston has distinctly missed his ability to create shots for himself and dictate the pace in the paint, leaving him feeling more like a spectator than a contributor at times.
As the Celtics look to bounce back from an 0-2 series deficit, they will need to see improvement from Porzingis. Whether through a recovery from this illness or adjustments to maximize whatever he can offer, Boston may also have to rely on veteran presence from Al Horford and emerging talent from Luke Kornet to steady the ship and reignite their playoff hopes.
