At 2-11, the Raptors have the worst record in the NBA. Center Jakob Poeltl ranks seventh in the league with a team-leading 11.1 rebounds per game. Shooting guard RJ Barrett has the ninth-most turnovers in the league (3.6).

Now, at the star of the current season, the Celtics are meeting with considerably more resistance than they did throughout the entirety of their last campaign. What is behind this

The Boston Celtics are moving closer to getting Kristaps Porzingis back in their rotation. The veteran All-Star has missed the opening months of the season as he continues to recover from offseason surgery.

Coach Joe Mazzulla said Porzingis has been doing some full-court one-on-five work with assistant coaches. Point guard Jrue Holiday worked on defensive drills with Porzingis during Friday’s practice, and it provided a reminder of what Porzingis will provide when he returns.

Porzingis is becoming increasingly vocal from the sidelines. Brown believes Porzingis' engagement levels are a good sign, as it indicates he's getting mentally prepared to return to the court. Porzingis is a genuine X-Factor for the Celtics.