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After concluding the 2023-24 NBA Season as Champions, the Boston Celtics failed to reach this year’s Eastern Conference Finals, suffering a 4-2 defeat at the hands of the New York Knicks.
A significant factor in Joe Mazzulla’s squad falling short against their opponents was Kristaps Porzingis’ subpar condition throughout the Playoffs.
Following Game 6, the Latvian center expressed his disappointment regarding the illness that hindered his performance.
“It’s incredibly frustrating—more than you can imagine. Not being able to assist my team as I wanted to really hurts. It’s disheartening. In moments like these, there’s not much to do. I gave it my all, but it just wasn’t enough,” he remarked.
In the course of the NBA Playoffs, Porzingis averaged merely 21.9 minutes per game across 10 contests, registering a career-low of 8.1 points along with 4.6 rebounds per game.
“My body is not in optimal condition right now; it’s not functioning as it should. There have been many odd issues, and what I might need the most is some rest and some time in the sun to recuperate,” he noted.
“It’s a really tough period for me, and I’m going to require time to recover from this,” Kristaps Porzingis added. “The doctors are doing their best to assist, but I’ve just been dealing with lingering fatigue. I played 11 minutes, yet I felt completely drained. I could easily lie here and take a nap, which feels bizarre. I’ve experienced many unusual symptoms.”
When asked for more clarity regarding his condition, he struggled to provide a definitive answer. “I believe nobody has a clear explanation. I’ll monitor how I progress from this point. Perhaps I’ll undergo some additional testing to see if anything comes to light, but if not, I may just need to reset my entire system, hoping that will restore my energy levels.”
After being eliminated from contention, Boston faced a staggering 38-point loss to the Knicks. “It was an incredibly difficult night for us; it felt as if nothing was going our way, and the game appeared easy for them,” he commented.
“There were numerous things that didn’t click for us. Right from the start, they built a lead, and we struggled to find any momentum to regain control. It’s a tough way to conclude the season.”
PHOTO CREDIT: Getty Images
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