All systems go for Kristaps Porzingis at Celtics practice

“He did everything the team did. We’ll go significantly harder [Sunday],” Mazzulla said. “Today was moderate but he went through everything that the team did today.”

Porzingis has been out since suffering a calf strain during Game 4 of the first-round series against the Heat on April 29.

He has had more than a month to recover while the Celtics went through the first three rounds of the playoffs, and he’ll have a few more days of practice before the Celtics play Game 1 of the NBA Finals against the Mavericks on Thursday night at TD Garden.

“You use him effectively because he’s a great player and he’s done a lot of great things for us,” Mazzulla said. “Just like any other guy, you go through what gives us the best chance to win, what gives us the best possible chance to win this series, this game, these matchups, these coverages, and that kind of goes down the line for everyone.

“When KP is at his best, he’s been tremendous for us and we expect that from him and we know he’ll give that to us.”

Jayson Tatum said Porzingis’s offensive versatility and open-mindedness are two things that will make the 7-foot-2-inch center’s return a welcome one. From post-ups to catch-and-shoot midranges over defenders in the middle, and stretching opposing defenses with his 3-point range, Porzingis is a threat to score all over the court.

“KP essentially did exactly what we needed him to do the entire season, whether it was punish switches or space the five-man being in the corner,” Tatum said. “Sometimes that might be going possessions without touching the ball or it may be when they’re switching we give him the ball five times in a row . . . A lot of big guys may be stuck in their ways doing what makes them comfortable, but he got outside his comfort zone a little bit and it made us a better team.” “

Adding a rim protector with Porzingis’s combination of size and athleticism will also make things easier for the guards on the defensive end, Derrick White said. Porzingis’s presence changes how opponents think about attacking the paint.

“He does a great job of just making it difficult for them and it’s always nice to know that he’s back there,” White said. “Whether he blocks it or doesn’t block it, he makes them think about it. So, that’s been really great, having him on our side and doing the things he did day in and day out, so once he comes back and gets in the flow of things, it’s going to be nice.”

Second-chance opportunity

The Celtics are in the NBA Finals for the second time in three years. Tatum said he isn’t taking this chance to chase a championship for granted after losing to the Warriors in 2022.

“It’s a lot that myself and [the team] can learn from, that experience being in the Finals,” Tatum said. “This time, this go around is a lot different. Obviously, we’ve been there before, we came up short. It’s a great opportunity to make it to the Finals again.

“You don’t always get a second chance. So, really, just looking at it as a second chance and trying to simplify things as much as we can. It’s another series that we’ve got to win.”

Preparing for crunch time

The Celtics are 4-0 in games close enough to be counted in the NBA’s clutch stats this postseason, leading in net rating (43.9) in such situations along the way.

Tatum said the way the team breaks things down in practice has played a big role in preparing them for crunch time.

“I think our ability to talk through things in practice and shootaround and walk through things while we’re here and see things in film and being able to translate that into the game knowing what we’re trying to get to in late-game situations,” he said. “What actions are we looking for? And essentially everybody being on the same page.”

No team has been more battle-tested in the clutch than Dallas this postseason. The Mavericks have played the most close games (9) and have the most clutch wins (6).

Mazzulla said there is no such thing as entirely stopping Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving. The goal is to defend them at a high level and play enough of a well-rounded game to win, Mazzulla said.

“We’re not here to stop those guys,” Mazzulla said. “We’re here to play a complete game of basketball and have an understanding how each possession has an effect on everything else.”

“They’re going to score, it’s what they do best. If we don’t take care of the things that are within our control, that doesn’t put us in the best possible position to win.”

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