“Honestly, still getting there,” Kristaps Porzingis admitted to reporters in Chicago, as per NBC Sports Boston. After torching the Bulls in Saturday’s blowout win, he gave a pretty positive update on his progress. Here’s the thing, though—he doesn’t feel like he’s hit 100% yet. Still, with 22 points and seven rebounds against Chicago, the guy is making an impact.

It looks like he still isn’t back to his old self though because, against the Philadelphia 76ers in the first half, he played just 13 minutes but still put up nine points, grabbed two boards, and dished out three assists. He even knocked down three of his six shots from beyond the arc.

Unfortunately, it seems like that’ll be all we see from him for the night.

Porzingis looks doubtful to return for the second half, because of some soreness in his left ankle. The 7-foot 2 in center didn’t return to the court after halftime, leaving Luke Kornet to take over at center. On an offensive play, Porzingis rolled his ankle and winced for a few seconds. He gave it a go, trying to tough it out, but it was clear something wasn’t right.

This marks the second injury setback for the 1x All-Star in just two weeks, following offseason surgery on his leg. Last Sunday, he left the game against the Wizards early with heel pain but returned to action after a three-day break. Since his season debut in November, the Celtics’ big man has suited up for ten games, averaging 19.2 points and 6.8 rebounds in 28.6 minutes per game.

On Monday, he logged a season-high 37 minutes in Boston’s loss to the Magic in Orlando. Honestly, it’s impressive how much he’s contributing, but you can’t help but wonder if the heavy minutes are catching up to him.

A story we’ve seen with Kristaps Porzingis before

Last season, he thrived in Boston’s fast-paced, five-out system, delivering one of his best campaigns yet. This year? The same old issues are back—injuries and shaky three-point shooting. Sound familiar, Dallas fans?

In the Finals last year, Porzingis came back just in time to crush the Mavericks’ hopes. Dallas, relying heavily on Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving, couldn’t keep up with Boston’s high-octane offense. But this season, things feel different. Mavericks big men like Dereck Lively II and Daniel Gafford have grown more confident. If they face Porzingis again, I’d bet they’re ready to hold their own and then some.

Right now, Porzingis is struggling. He’s only suited up for 11 games, shooting a rough 31.1% from three. After his June surgery, it’s obvious he’s not at full strength. His explosiveness as a roller, his rim protection, and even his shooting mechanics all look off. You can see it in the way he moves—he’s still trying to shake the rust.

Look, there’s time for him to turn things around, but let’s be real. The Celtics might find themselves in the same spot the Mavericks once were, trying to cover for his flaws in high-stakes games. We’ve seen this movie before, haven’t we? While Boston remains a powerhouse on both ends of the floor, Porzingis’ struggles give Mavericks fans every reason to feel confident about their bigs outplaying him if another Finals showdown happens.