“I used to be horrible tonight,” Kristaps Porzingis advised reporters after the Celtics’ 20-point loss to the Pistons. He wasn’t mistaken — 11 factors, 2 rebounds and 1 help on 4/11 from the sector is a tough night time for a participant of Porzingis’ caliber.
He had no rhythm to his recreation all night time. He was lacking photographs across the rim, not getting in place to get rebounds and wasn’t his ordinary forceful self on the defensive finish.
No play higher outlined this recreation for Porzingis that his final shot of the sport.
Brutal.
He did have 3 steals and was 2/3 from past the arc, so it was not all unhealthy, however that doesn’t change the truth that this was a foul recreation for Porzingis.
He was a late scratch from Tuesday night time’s win in opposition to the Raptors because of an sickness so he was doubtless nonetheless feeling the impacts from that which is why I’m prepared to offer him a move on Wednesday’s tough efficiency.
It was additionally a tough night time for Jrue Vacation who completed with 4 factors, 2 rebounds and three turnovers on 2/10 from the sector and 0/5 from three. Vacation was simply lacking a variety of the open appears he usually makes.
It is a wide-open look that Vacation simply misses. Nice drive and kick from Derrick White, who had an superior recreation, to offer it to Jrue within the nook however he missed the look.
It was an off night time for Jrue after he got here off one in every of his greatest video games of the season in Boston’s win in opposition to the Knicks on Sunday.
After the sport, individuals on X had been speaking about how Jrue is washed and his contract will develop into a difficulty for the Celtics.
No one talks about how washed Jrue vacation has been this season
— ️ (@Shrimpahh) February 27, 2025
Jrue Vacation is washed, this is not the identical man from final season
— Okay (@PiocheX10) February 27, 2025
Are we actually this involved over a February loss to the most well liked workforce within the NBA?
Vacation has proven us he has a change on the defensive finish that he can flip when the playoffs come round. Positive, the shot has not been pretty much as good because it was a season in the past, however Vacation was by no means going to shoot 60% on nook threes two seasons in a row.
Will the $37 million be value it when Vacation is 37 years outdated? Who is aware of? Al Horford remains to be taking part in excessive degree hoops at 38 years outdated. Horford’s protection was not all the time there final season, however he was in a position to flip the change when the playoffs got here round and when KP went down within the Miami collection, Al was able to step up.
On no account am I panicked that Vacation hasn’t been taking part in properly. I’m not going to name for him to be traded this summer time and I’m not going to name him washed.
On the second leg of a back-to-back during which Vacation rested on the entrance finish, the Celtics wanted him to ship an excellent efficiency in opposition to the most well liked workforce within the league.
As a substitute, Jrue laid an egg and it performed a giant motive to why the Celtics misplaced.
