“Got put in the friendzone”: Celtics announcer comically describes Kristaps Porzingis’ clinical block

On Wednesday, the Boston Celtics, led by Kristaps Porzingis, welcomed the injury-plagued OKC Thunder. Despite securing the top seed in the Eastern Conference a week prior, the Cs remained focused and determined. They aimed to solidify their position as the top team in the entire NBA standings with a win.

Despite the absence of key players Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams due to injury, the Celtics remained focused on preventing the visitors from causing an upset. Oklahoma put up a valiant fight, but in the fourth quarter, Boston’s superior roster and home-court advantage proved to be too much for them to overcome. One particular play exemplified how the home team demoralized the Thunder during this period.

Despite the Boston Celtics leading 118-95, Aaron Wiggins aggressively drove towards the basket, looking to finish with a powerful dunk. However, Kristaps Porzingis rose up to meet him and forcefully swatted the ball out of bounds. One of the commentators remarking on the play humorously commented:

“Wiggins drives into the lane and tried to take a body and got put in the friend zone by Porzingis.”

Despite Wiggins’ impressive attempt at a forceful dunk, Porzingis used his 7-foot-3 frame to its full extent and successfully denied him the highlight reel. This was just one of the five game-high blocks that the Latvian recorded, showcasing his dominance in protecting Boston’s paint. In addition to his defensive prowess, Porzingis also contributed 27 points, 12 rebounds, and four assists, displaying his all-around excellence on the court.

Kristaps Porzingis must elevate his game in the postseason

In recent years, there has been much criticism towards the Celtics for their failure to advance in the playoffs. In the 2023 NBA Finals, they lost three consecutive games to the Golden State Warriors after initially leading 2-1. In addition, they were defeated by the Miami Heat in last year’s Game 7, which was deemed disappointing due to Jayson Tatum injuring his ankle in the first play of the game.

Brad Stevens, the president of basketball operations for the Celtics, made major changes to the roster by trading away longtime captain Marcus Smart in a three-team trade that brought in Kristaps Porzingis. The Latvian was added to the team’s collection of new players, including Jrue Holiday, who was acquired from Portland in exchange for Malcolm Brogdon and Robert Williams.

With Porzingis holding down the center position, Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla now has a top-notch rim defender who can also knock down 3-pointers. His presence on the court has enhanced Boston’s spacing without sacrificing the team’s ability to defend against drives. Porzingis’ contributions to the roster have been a key factor in the Celtics’ first 60-win season since 2008-09.

Despite securing home-court advantage throughout the playoffs, the Boston Celtics are only halfway through their journey. As the playoffs commence, Kristaps Porzingis, Jayson Tatum, and Jaylen Brown will undoubtedly face even greater challenges. It remains to be seen if Porzingis can continue to excel and contribute to the Celtics’ pursuit of their 18th championship.