New Boston big man Kristaps Porzingis on how he sees himself meshing with Celtics in crunchtime

“If the game is on the line, I want to receive the ball at the free-throw line,” he explained.

One of the biggest selling points of the trade for Washington Wizards star big man Kristaps Porzingis that sent veteran floor general Marcus Smart to the Memphis Grizzlies is the potential for the Boston Celtics to have a more reliable option on the floor with star Boston wings Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum in crunch time.

Speaking to Bally Sports’ Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson in a recent interview, Porzingis gave us our first vision of how such a scenario might play out.

“If the game is on the line, I want to receive the ball at the free-throw line,” explained the Latvian center. “It’s the most comfortable (spot) for me, and it’s hard to double.”

“So, I would say there, but maybe a stepback from there,” continued Porzingis. “So that would be my ‘finishing move,’ so to say.”

Looking back on the Miami Heat’s zone defense bothering Boston in the 2023 Eastern Conference finals, it’s hard not to think of what Porzingis is talking about without it clearly being an ideal option to help the Celtics get past some fairly basic obstacles that have plagued them for some time.

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