Adding a 7-foot-3, floor-spacing big man to a lineup is bound to create some new opportunities. But for the Boston Celtics, the addition of Kristaps Porzingis has done more than simply concoct unique looks on offense. It’s completely changed the way they play.
Porzingis’ presence on the floor alone has been instrumental to the Celtics’ offense, and in their win over the Toronto Raptors on Saturday night, his influence was as clear as it’s been all season.
Jakob Poeltl drew the task of guarding Porzingis, but with the Latvian big man’s ability to shoot from range, the Raptors center was often lost in space, struggling with whether to press up at the three-point line or drop back into the paint, his usual style of defense.