FORMER BOSTON CELTICS STAR PLAYER HAS AGAIN RETURNED BACK FOR.

When the Boston Celtics acquired Kristaps Porzingis, their main concern wasn’t that they would lose seasoned guard Marcus Smart to the other three teams in the transaction. It had to do with Porzingis’s health.

The frequently injured center has only participated in more than 58 games in a season only in the eight years prior to moving to Boston. He suffered an ACL tear that kept him out of the 2018–19 season. His health hasn’t been the best this season, either.

On Saturday, December 23, the Celtics take on the Los Angeles Clippers in a Saturday matinee, the third of their four games on the West Coast. Porzingis is one of their two big players who will be absent. Due to an ankle sprain sustained during a 144-119 victory over the Sacramento Kings, Porzingis will be out of commission. Luke Kornet, the backup center, is also sidelined due to a left adductor issue.

Just after making a comeback from a calf injury, Porzingis rolled his ankle late in the Kings victory. Porzingis controlled the paint while center Al Horford was resting in the second half of a back-to-back. In the end, he had nine rebounds, six blocked shots, and 24 points.

Even with the large sample size, Porzingis should worry Celtics supporters. His most recent injury was an isolated incident, but he has developed a bad habit of skipping important events.

Porzingis stated last week that he wanted to return to the floor while tending to his injured calf, but the Celtics were just being careful.

Porzingis stated on December 17 that “It’s just I think the medical staff is taking a more cautious approach, especially the first couple weeks coming back from the calf,” as reported by The Boston Globe. They are aware of my position, though: I want to participate in every game they let me. Naturally, though, they want to take good care of me and my health. Ensure that I am present throughout the entire scope.

Yes, it is troubling that Porzingis is missing his eighth game against the formidable Clippers after missing the first seven.

With Porzingis in the starting lineup, Boston is a different squad. The Boston medical team is being cautious because the Celtics, who already have a lean frontcourt, cannot afford to lose their top center for an extended period of time. Yet, it presents a challenge to work with someone who has a history of injuries and need caution.

It was difficult to lose Boston’s soul and heart, Smart. But Smart has also missed a lot of time this year due to a foot issue; he hasn’t played since November 14.

For Boston, the Porzingis-for-Smart deal has proven beneficial thus far. Porzingis has been a formidable presence on the court. He’s been a tremendous rim protector on defense. He has the ability to score three points and lob shots offensively. Porzingis is shooting 35% from beyond the arc and has made 35 long range attempts.

It’s wise to proceed cautiously with Porzingis at this point. The Celtics need him to make a deep run in the playoffs, but their 7-foot-3 star will probably have Celtics fans nervous all season.

Mike Thomas is a seasoned sportswriter for Heavy.com who specializes in Boston Celtics coverage in the NBA. He has written about the NBA and NFL for Sportscasting in the past, and he spent 16 years as the sports editor of The Herald News in Fall River, Massachusetts. Further details regarding Mike Thomas