The Golden State Warriors have added Kristaps Porzingis via trade
Getty
The Golden State Warriors have added Kristaps Porzingis via trade
The Golden State Warriors finally got Kristaps Porzingis on the court Thursday night.
Porzingis made his Warriors debut in a 121-110 loss to the Boston Celtics. He played 17 minutes off the bench and finished with 12 points on 5-of-9 shooting, including 2-of-5 from three-point range. He also added two blocks and showed flashes of what he can provide when healthy.
But the most telling moment came after the game when Porzingis addressed his minute restriction.
What Porzingis Said About His Minutes
Kristaps Porzingis
GettyThe Golden State Warriors acquired Kristaps Porzingis from the Atlanta Hawks.
Porzingis wants to increase his workload quickly.
“I would say as quickly as possible,” Porzingis said when asked about building his minute limit, via ESPN’s Anthony Slater. “Even tonight, I would’ve liked to go a little bit longer.”
That comment reveals where Porzingis is mentally. He has been out since January 7 with Achilles tendinitis. It has been 43 days since his last NBA game. The Warriors planned to ease him back with limited minutes. Porzingis clearly wants to push that timeline.
Head coach Steve Kerr confirmed the plan is to gradually increase Porzingis’ workload. Porzingis said he expects to add a couple more minutes Sunday against the Denver Nuggets. That would put him around 19 or 20 minutes in his second game back.
The urgency makes sense. Porzingis is on a $30 million expiring contract. He is auditioning for his NBA future. Every game matters. The 30-year-old center wants to prove he can stay on the floor and contribute at a high level. Limited minutes do not help that cause.
Anthony Slater
Kristaps Porzingis said he wants to build his minute limit “I would say as quickly as possible. Even tonight, I would’ve liked to go a little bit longer.”
Porzingis played 17 minutes in his return. He said he expected to “add a couple” vs Nuggets on Sunday.
How Porzingis Performed in His Debut
Porzingis showed rust early but improved as the game progressed.
He was minus-19 in seven first-half minutes. His timing was off. His movement looked deliberate. The speed of the game caught up to him on two turnovers. But in the second half, Porzingis looked more comfortable. He was plus-15 in 10 second-half minutes.
“As the game went on, it got better and better,” Porzingis said. “And this is like first step to keep building. I had some opportunities, couple turnovers. I think it’s just a matter of time to get in a better rhythm from this point on.”
Kerr noticed the same improvement. “From the first half to the second half, he just looked more comfortable and settled in,” Kerr said, according to NBC Sports Bay Area.
Al Horford, who played with Porzingis in Boston, said he expects continued improvement. “I think he’ll continue to progress and get his legs more underneath him and be able to play some more,” Horford said. “And then, we’ll see the real KP. For a first game after being out for so long, he did a really good job.”
The performance was encouraging given the circumstances. Porzingis had not played three consecutive games since the first week of November. His body is still adjusting to the demands of NBA competition. The fact that he looked better in the second half suggests the conditioning will come quickly.
What was missing was his presence in the paint. Porzingis grabbed just one rebound. Both of his blocks came from the help side. He did not assert himself on the glass or as a rim protector. That part of his game will need to develop as he gets more comfortable.
What This Means for the Warriors
Steve Kerr, Golden State Warriors
GettySteve Kerr, Golden State Warriors.
The Warriors desperately need Porzingis to ramp up quickly.
Stephen Curry will be re-evaluated in 10 days and will miss at least the next five games with runner’s knee. Jimmy Butler is out for the season with a torn ACL. Golden State sits at 29-27 and is in eighth place in the Western Conference.
Porzingis is the only player on the roster who can provide consistent offensive production in Curry’s absence. He averaged 17.1 points per game with the Atlanta Hawks before the trade deadline. His ability to score from anywhere on the floor gives the Warriors a dimension they have been missing all season.
However, Porzingis cannot help if he is playing limited minutes. The Warriors need him closer to 25 or 30 minutes per game if they want to stay competitive without Curry. Getting there will take time. But Porzingis clearly wants to accelerate that process.
The challenge is managing his workload without risking another injury. Porzingis has dealt with various injuries over the last two seasons. The Warriors acquired him knowing the injury history. They believe he can stay healthy. But pushing him too fast could backfire.
Porzingis has 26 games remaining in the regular season to prove he can be a reliable contributor. The Warriors need him to be on the court as much as possible during that stretch. If he can stay healthy and build his conditioning, Golden State has a legitimate scoring threat who can help carry the load until Curry returns.
Final Word for the Warriors
Kristaps Porzingis made his Warriors debut Thursday night.
He played 17 minutes and scored 12 points in a loss to the Celtics. More importantly, he said he wants to increase his workload as quickly as possible. That urgency reflects his understanding of the situation. He is on an expiring contract. He needs to prove he can stay healthy and produce.
The Warriors need Porzingis to ramp up faster than originally planned. With Curry sidelined and Butler out for the season, Golden State cannot afford to ease Porzingis back slowly. He expects to add a couple more minutes Sunday against the Nuggets. That is a step in the right direction.
The next few weeks will determine whether Porzingis can be the player the Warriors need him to be. If he can stay healthy and build his conditioning, he gives Golden State a fighting chance to stay competitive without Curry. If he cannot, the Warriors’ season will continue to slip away.