The Boston Celtics starter most in need of turning around his postseason performance is Kristaps Porzingis -- and he's the first to admit it.
Three games into the NBA reigning champions' first-round series against the Orlando Magic, the former All-Star is 0/10 from beyond the arc. He's shooting 28.1 percent from the field.
"My shot's feeling a little junky right now; I'm not gonna lie," expressed Porzingis post-game. "But I have to keep shooting. What else am I going to do? I'm going to keep shooting."
The seven-foot-two center shook off his series-opening struggles, delivering 20 points, 10 rebounds, two blocks, and two steals in the Celtics' Game 2 win.
What the Magic did that stifled Porzingis in Game 3
Before Friday's matchup, Magic head coach Jamahl Mosley made clear that for Orlando to avoid a 3-0 series deficit, what worked for Porzingis Wednesday at TD Garden could not reoccur.
"He's such a threat," noted Mosley. "The way he spaces the floor at the three-point line, you've got to make sure you get to him. Then, you look to switch sometimes, and so then he creates that matchup problem, depending on the size that you have on him. And then his unique ability to find a way to get fouled.
"And I think that's what the biggest problem is -- how do you find a way to do all this without following because he does a great job of creating that contact -- whether your hands are up or not, he finds a way to rake through those arms."
Porzingis punished switches in Game 2. He often capitalized on mismatches against the Magic's guards by earning trips to the free-throw line. He produced half of his points at the charity stripe.
But in Boston's 95-93 loss in Game 3, Orlando was far more resistant to conceding the switches that paved the way to his 20-point performance.
Primarily, credit the Magic. However, it also speaks to the importance of setting more forceful screens.
The Celtics didn't get enough from Porzingis at the other end of the floor, either. The hosts' grabbing 15 offensive rebounds, converting them into 16 second-chance points, doesn't fall on one individual. But it was a significant loss on the margins.
It helped prop up one of the lowest-scoring offenses in the league. When looking at how that happened, again, credit Orlando. However, Boston's starting center is a culprit in that result.
The same applies to what the Magic's 44 points in the paint say about Porzingis's lack of rim protection.
"It stings, man," he said after the loss. "This game, I have to take accountability. I played like [expletive]. We still had opportunities to win. We'll get together again and correct some of our mistakes."
The ideal outcome for the Celtics is that their starting center utilizes his Game 2 performance to fuel a more forceful and impactful one on Sunday.
Last postseason, Porzingis felt more like a luxury. Not having him for much of their run to Banner 18 seems like evidence to that point. Now, the competition has improved. Boston needs him healthy and playing to his standard.
A slow start to the first round is one thing, but a poor playoff performance is an entirely different matter. As the Celtics aim to end a physical, taxing series as fast as possible, ideally, Porzingis's turnaround starts on Sunday.
