Celtics’ success won’t always translate to points for Kristaps Porziņģis and that’s OK

The Boston Celtics are delivering a message with a starting lineup loaded with scoring options — success won’t always look the same, and it won’t always lead to gaudy individual points totals. It means sacrificing touches and shot attempts, but so far, the players seem to be accepting this notion.

Kristaps Porziņģis took only four shots against the Brooklyn Nets, but his screening and diving were key to the Celtics’ win. The following day, he scored 21 points against the Toronto Raptors. Porziņģis acknowledged the discrepancy between the two games, saying, “It doesn’t matter as long as we’re playing the right way, we’re making the right pass, doing the right things.”

The Celtics will require a team-first mentality from all their starters. Throughout a 7-2 start, they have all been asked to give up individual opportunities for the sake of the team. It’s a shift in focus, as highlighted by Porziņģis, “If I’m setting a good screen for my teammate, rolling and drawing more attention, I love that. The right play is what matters to me.”

Porziņģis drew attention in the game against the Nets, generating quality shots for his teammates without racking up many points or assists for himself. He remained selfless, committed to making the right play even if it meant freeing up his teammates, not himself. In the game against the Raptors, he capitalized on the defensive coverages, finishing with 21 points in three quarters.

The Celtics have managed to win games while developing chemistry. The team is more than scoring now, believing that their success will be determined by their willingness to commit to everything else. They rank third in offensive efficiency, but understand the importance of a good balance between isolation and ball movement.

As Coach Mazzulla pointed out, “We have to be able to point out all the areas that lead to winning. It’s going to look different every night.” So, as the Celtics continue to grow and develop, the focus will always be on the team’s success, no matter the individual points totals or assists.

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Olivia Wilson

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