Kristaps Porzingis talks return to MSG in playoff atmosphere and recovering from Orlando series

Going against your former team, the Knicks, what are you anticipating with that and what are you looking forward to with that?

Yeah, I'm coming out the series happy we got it done in 5. As I said before, I don't think we played our best basketball. I think some, like JT played really well. We had some good moments and stuff, but overall we can play a lot better, especially myself. And yeah, that's the feeling that I have from that series, you know, and it's good we got it done pretty quickly to get a little few extra days for guys to rest their bodies, myself included, to heal everything. And I go into this series in a, you know, even better shape than we went into the last one. And what do I anticipate? Yeah, we've saw them a few times this year. Talented. Brunson, high level. Towns, high level. It's gonna be a challenge with those two guys, and they have good guys around them also, so. Yeah. It's gonna be, you know, I'm gonna give you a little bit like default answer, but it's gonna be a big challenge. You know, we're gonna have to play hard and, you know, to match everything they're doing and And we'll see where we end up.

Is anything still there with you for the Knicks, given that you played there and left and all that?

Like in terms of? Like extra emotions or things? No, I think I just always loved playing there. Honestly, I love playing there on the road. Yeah, my first, like, first couple games were pretty crazy there. You know, getting booed and stuff. But I think now the time has passed and it's, you know, not as recent anymore. And I've changed a couple teams already also. So it's, from that perspective, it's, you know, it's just whatever. But I love playing there, honestly. And a lot of, even just people that come to the games, like I remember them from my first few years in league and I have a great relationship with them. And, you know, I say hi to them before the game and talk some stuff throughout the game. And yeah, it's always fun to go up against him.

Kristaps Porzingis, whenever Joe gets asked about like matchups and adjusting, sort of like what you said to different, you know, teams you might face in the playoffs, he always comes back to like controlling the things you guys can control, like defending without fouling, rebounding, taking care of the ball. How much has that been emphasized this year and last year for you versus maybe other playoff runs you've had in other organizations?

Oh, Yeah, I mean, each team has their own identity, you know, and things they want to do and how they see winning. So for everybody is different, but for us is this, and it worked last year for us, and so far we've been doing decently, and those are just the simple things we need to do right to be a great team. And, you know, that's also a little bit like insight, small insight in Joe's mindset, you know, and what he expects from us. And that's it. We have to do the small things, the simple things right, and then we'll be in pretty good shape.

You say that every team has different things they emphasize and this is what works for you. Do you think that this is what works for like this group?

Again, we have all the talent. We have, you know, a lot of like tricks we can pull out of our sleeve if we need to. But we want to build this run on a strong foundation. And we don't want it to be, oh, we pulled this one out somehow, some way based off of JT or JB's talent, you know, and they made some crazy plays and we just, close our eyes and, you know, and hope it happens again. You know, we want to have a good base as a team and do all the foundational things correctly and then have that in our back pocket if we need it.

Kristaps, you guys obviously, you won the championship last year. You've been in the biggest moment. However, playoffs at Madison Square Garden between Boston and New York too. Rivals, historic rivals. That has its own energy that you guys have never experienced. How do you avoid getting caught up in the moment of being on that MSG floor, looking around the bright lights, the crazy crowd and all of that stuff, staying in the moment, kind of playing within yourselves? You've already got a smirk thinking about it.

No, because you're like making it seem like we're just gonna get caught off guard like a deer, like, oh my God.

Well, I mean, listen, but you guys are human, right? You're human. Of course. That's an incredible, atmosphere. You guys talked about how much you love playing there. I mean, it's— you guys are mentally strong. You, like you said, you won a championship, but also it's kind of cool, and it's going to be its own energy. So like, there's— how do you stay in the moment in that, in that point?

No, it's just, it comes with experience. No, I can ask the same thing. They're gonna have to come to here to Boston and experience this, you know. Ask— maybe ask them this question, you know. But, uh, No, we have the experience, you know, we have the experience and of course it's gonna be a big stage. It's gonna be Eastern Conference, the biggest stage, you know, in Eastern Conference there can be. So it's gonna be fun. It's just gonna add more to the whole thing. And New York fans are always great. Boston fans are always super invested and there to support their team. And it's gonna be a, between, even between the fan bases, it's gonna be a war for sure. Some like, You know, even the videos that they put out and stuff, like with the fans and stuff, it's fun and it makes the rivalry even more fun as a fan and as a player.

Kristaps, do you think, having been on the other side of it, in some ways it's harder for them because they haven't reached— there's so much attention and so much spotlight on the Knicks and they haven't reached— the levels that you guys have experienced, do you think there's a desperation or pressure that their guys are dealing with that is a little different than what you guys have just because of what you've accomplished?

Do they have more desperation than us?

From a macro level, because then there's— the Knicks get all the attention that they get being in New York, being at Madison Square Garden, being the media capital of whatever. And they haven't reached a final in a long time. They haven't reached a conference finals in a long time. Do you feel like that, we talk about the spotlight and so forth, is it almost harder what they're dealing with? And you having been part of that at one point and the pressure that comes with that than where you guys are now going into the series?

I don't know. I don't know. It's— I don't know how they feel and if they have this huge amount of pressure. Honestly, just going into the series, I believe we're going to be the favorites in betting odds, right? So if anything, you know, it's us who have more to lose, you know, because we're supposed to win. But they're dangerous. They're dangerous, you know, and they're going in as the underdog and they have a whole whole New York behind them, and, you know, they have, you know, they have the capability, you know. So it's us that have to be on our A-game and have that same hunger we had last year, you know, and we're showing it. And we're not defending what we did last year. We're trying to— Kristaps Porzingis. Win another championship, you know, and that's gonna be our mindset going into this and into the future.

KP, when you got picked, it kind of started this trend around the NBA of these really huge dudes being able to shoot from 30 feet, 32 feet, whatever it is. And now obviously going up against the Knicks, they have Karl-Anthony Towns. They've kind of replaced your archetype in a way. I'm curious what your thoughts are on kind of the NBA kind of modeling the center position after you got picked and also what you think it's gonna be like going up against Towns in the series?

I don't know how much I'm guilty for this, but there was, you know, obviously people before me like Dirk, even Toni Kukoc, like, you know, European players that were shooters. And yeah, it's a part of my game for sure. And obviously me and KAT came in the league at the same time, so he's been shooting the ball excellent throughout his career. And yeah, for sure there's the next generation coming up that's probably going to be, you know, even, I don't know, taller. You see even Wemby, you know, taller, more athletic, better shooters, etc., etc. So it's just, you know, we are some of the players that definitely kind of maybe started a bit more of that trend, you know. And now also all the players are so skilled, even the bigs have to be so skilled. So— I agree. And what else were you asking?

Just about how you're ready to match up with him for this series.

Yeah, yeah, no, he's a tough matchup, obviously, you know, with the shooting and with his talent offensively. He's a tough matchup for anybody. And yeah, again, a little bit default answer, but it's gonna take a team effort to stop him. Last question is Dan, and then you go.

Kristaps, because of your journey and because of the team's journey last year and now into this year, how much do you rely on that experience? But what's the value of that experience of your journey and this team with so many different options and guys relying on each other and knowing each other so well in a series like this? And as you go forward, can you repeat again the first part? Because of your journey and the team's journey the last 2 years, how do you use all that in that experience to prepare for what you're going through and go through on a game-by-game basis now?

Mm-hmm. Yeah, again, it goes back to the experience, you know, the experience and the versatility of our team. So many guys that can step up on different nights and score 30. It's a big, big advantage that we have, you know. Not many teams have this kind of a talent. And a lot of times I think Yes, of course, everybody gets their credit, especially because of winning. But a lot of times, I think people don't realize that you take this player and you put him on a different team, and everybody will be like, oh my God, this guy is incredible. And yes, we get the love, but it's also everybody sacrificed a little bit, you know? And starting with the main guys, JB and JT, you know, they sacrificed a little bit. If you put different pieces around them that maybe don't need the ball as much or don't shoot as much, They score 34 a game and whatever. And you know, so it's, it's definitely sacrifice for the team, for the team success. And, and that's a privilege we have.

Kristaps, how did you make it through the physicality of the Orlando series? I mean, obviously we're pushing you, trying to get you off your spot. They were, it was a lot of physical play. And do you expect that in this series?

Yeah, we have to expect a high level of physicality, no matter who we play against, because that's the, that's the way to slow us down a bit. And I think we played a little bit, myself included, into their hands, Orlando a little bit. You know, they just slow the game down, make it real muddy, and like, you know, and then how to combat that is more movement. More movement, get off their bodies. Don't let them slow you down as much. And I think as the series went on, I did a better job of that, and that's going to be experience that I take with me going forward.

Thank you.

But again, every matchup different, every coverage a little bit different. And we're gonna have to go and figure out, you know, how New York is gonna try to combat us and make the adjustments. Presented by your New England Ford Dealers.