Kristaps Porzingis always believes his 3-point attempts will tickle the twine, whether he is 1 of his past 15 from 3-point range or not.
“You have to have that belief, even if the shot is not feeling perfect on the wrist,” the Golden State Warriors big man said Monday after practice at the National Basketball Players Association gym in Playa Vista. “I can still make shots. I know it. So, hopefully the timing will line up perfectly and I can have a good shooting game next one.”
The next one for Porzingis and the Warriors is Wednesday against the Los Angeles Clippers in their single-elimination Western Conference play-in tournament matchup at Intuit Dome.
The Slump: 1-for-15 from Deep
The 7-foot-2 sharpshooting center has a single triple since March 29—when he was 5-for-5 against the Denver Nuggets—made Friday against the Sacramento Kings amid a 1-for-15 shooting funk.
Slumping or not for Golden State, Porzingis is a scoring hub who can open offense with his 3-point touch and draw double teams in the elbow or the post. But with the Clippers poised to skew their defensive game plan toward Stephen Curry, an offensive onus is on Porzingis to exploit openings and mismatches.
“It’s a process (learning how to play next to Curry) and I’m learning Steph and picking up on these things and I’m talking to him to let him know what I like. This and that,” said Porzingis, who will be an unrestricted free agent this summer. “I wish we had more time. I wish we had more time. Maybe we can make more time. So, it’s in our hands. We have to go for it.”
Limited Time with Curry
Porzingis has been limited to 15 minutes this season with Curry, who missed 27 straight games with runner’s knee and first started next to Porzingis on Friday night. His plug-and-play skill set helped him average 16.1 points (43.3% shooting, 31.1% 3-point shooting) in 15 games for the Warriors, five of which saw him score at least 20 points, including one 30-pointer.
But since that 5-of-5 showing in Denver, Porzingis has averaged 12 points on 38.1% shooting from the field and 6.7% shooting from 3-point range.
As for Wednesday, “Honestly, I’m going to shoot it,” Porzingis said.
The Ideal Partner for Curry
In theory, Porzingis is an ideal partner to pair with Curry in ball-screen actions, popping for threes, rolling to the rim, or sealing and attacking undersized defenders if the opposing game plan calls for a switch. Head coach Steve Kerr figures to feature Porzingis against the Clippers on the perimeter or in the post, where he is apt to shoot over smaller defenders or force defensive rotations.
Added Kerr after the Warriors lost to the Clippers by five on Sunday: “He’s a weapon no matter what. … He’s such a skilled guy whether they play big or small. Doesn’t really matter. He’s always a threat to score either from the perimeter or down on the block. So, Wednesday, we’ll probably see a little bit of both.”
Defensive Concerns: Mobility and Conditioning
Porzingis is also due to defend as Golden State’s top rim protector, slumping too while conceding Monday that he has struggled with his mobility. He said, “Defensively, obviously, I haven’t been my best mobility-wise this season,” alluding to trouble guarding in space and corralling quicker attackers from time to time.
His length remains a defensive deterrent, but limited to 32 games this year (by illness and left Achilles tendinitis), Porzingis is not in optimal shape—affecting his mobility.
“I haven’t really played and I’m relatively healthy … so just need to lose a couple pounds honestly,” said Porzingis, listed at 240 pounds. “I know it sounds weird because all my career, everybody’s — ‘Oh you’ve got to put on weight.’ I’ve tried that. It doesn’t help my mobility. And when I’m lighter like I was in Boston, it’s when I move the best and when I’m the most effective.”
The Stakes: A Season on the Line
The Warriors need him effective Wednesday regardless of his conditioning. Extending their season depends on it.
“I think they’re going to be hungry and we just have to be hungrier and go for it,” he said.
The Verdict: Trusting the Process
Porzingis is in a shooting slump. His mobility is not where he wants it to be. He has barely played with Curry, and the Warriors are one loss away from going home.
But he is not panicking. He is not second-guessing. He is trusting his shot, trusting his process, and trusting that the timing will line up perfectly.
The Warriors acquired Porzingis to be a difference-maker. On Wednesday night, they need him to be exactly that.
Whether he rises to the occasion or fades in the moment will go a long way in determining whether Golden State’s season ends or continues.
One thing is certain: Porzingis will keep shooting. And if the shots start falling, the Clippers could be in trouble.