Data plummeted! Average 7.7 points + 31% shooting percentage per game

The final score was frozen at 81-119, and the Boston Celtics' road to defending their title came to an abrupt end. In this shameful defeat, Porzingis, the inside core with an annual salary of US$29.47 million, only made a substitute for 10 minutes, contributing 4 points and 5 rebounds on 1 of 4 shots, and his dismal performance of positive and negative values ​​completely tore up the illusion of the "champion puzzle".

From the "unicorn" in the regular season to the "invisible man" in the playoffs, this 2.21-meter-long man who was once highly anticipated is proving with cliff-like decline data that the Celtics' $158 million bet may have become one of the most failed deals in NBA history.

In the regular season this season, Porzingis can still contribute 19.5 points and 6.8 rebounds, with a three-point shooting percentage of up to 41.2%, forming a "trident" with Tatum and Brown to help the Celtics stay second in the Eastern Conference.

However, in the playoffs, his data plummeted to 7.7 points and 4.6 rebounds, shooting 31.6% from the field and 15.4% from the three-pointer, and even lost 28 three-pointers in 11 games. The downturn in

Porzingis is by no means accidental. Since his left knee cruciate ligament torn in 2018, his athletic ability has declined significantly, and his offensive end has become increasingly dependent on outside shooting (40% of the shots in the playoffs come from three-pointers), but his shooting percentage plummeted due to the increase in the intensity of the confrontation. On the defensive end, his 2.29-meter wingspan became a decoration, and his rebounding position and frame protection ability were almost zero when facing heavy centers, and his rebounding rate in the series (9.8%) was even less than that of the defender. What's even more fatal is that his attendance rate this season is less than 50%, but he earns the third highest salary in the team, and his cost-effectiveness is a disaster. In the summer of 2024, the Celtics renewed their contract with Porzingis for 2 years and $60 million, looking forward to him becoming the champion puzzle. However, the contract has two years left, with an average annual salary of over 30 million, but it locks the team's room for strengthening.

If the management wants to trade to stop losses, it needs to face two major problems: First, the "glass attribute" of the Boss God has discouraged the buyer (the cumulative leg injury has been 12 times in his career); second, his image of the playoffs has been deeply rooted in the hearts of the people, and the market value has fallen to freezing point.

From the "unicorn" in New York to the "negative assets" in Boston, injuries can destroy talent, while high salaries and low energy can destroy the future of a dynasty team.