Finals 2024 - G2 - Mavs @ Celtics (Sunday., 8:00PMEST)

[Darren]

The Mavs can't make opened jumpers, not even free throws. Kyrie can't hit any shots outside the paint. When double team comes, teammates are not in right spot to help. Study what Holiday does. You see a big difference. This series go as good as Kidd. I expect 4-0 now.

[Mavrelous]

This is an unpopular opinion, but now that Kyrie has an all-time high trade value, I think Nico can explore trading him for a 2 way star. With Luka you need a running mate that can shoot and defend. Imagine if you had Mikal Bridges here. That type of pairing would be ideal. Just my thoughts.

Fat chance IMO, they have a 3 year window with Kyrie, they'll milk it.

[joesha1698]

My thoughts:

1.Dallas finally just switched on defense and for most of the game we kept them from shooting wide open 3s...thus the game was a lot more competitive. I called that from the beginning. We're literally playing the same scheme their playing on us on defense.

2. Kyrie in iso vs. Boston's long defenders isn't working. He needs screens and movement like Curry to create easier looks. This opens up the offense and keeps him from forcing tough shots. Mavs need to utilize Kyrie's strengths, to win games vs Boston. Trying to use Kyrie like a bigger Luka is a mistake. Hell even Luka is hitting some incredibly tough shots against this Boston's defense and had 8 turnovers because of it. I've been saying all year that Kyrie needs to play off screens, pin downs, etc so against certain teams Luka can do his thing and Kyrie can be utilize for his jump shot and quick scoring plays that neutralize long athletic defenses.

3.Kyrie should be pushing the ball up looking for early scoring opportunities or dishing off to his teammates. GM of the Warriors mentioned how Pacers were alot more competitor vs Boston because of their pace. Luka slows down the pace as the primary ball handler. Kyrie should push it up and look for earlier opportunities for himself or teammates and then ifs nothing is there - kick it back to Luka in the half court. Kyrie should be moving constantly in the half court looking for his jump shot and quick scoring opportunities...he should limit his dribbling and attacking the basket to when he's pushing it full court.

That's all I have to say. The biggest adjustment I hope that comes in Game 3 is that Jason Kidd realizes what he needs to do to free Kyrie up so he can play to his strengths.

[arkuo]

This is an unpopular opinion, but now that Kyrie has an all-time high trade value, I think Nico can explore trading him for a 2 way star. With Luka you need a running mate that can shoot and defend. Imagine if you had Mikal Bridges here. That type of pairing would be ideal. Just my thoughts.

Fat chance IMO, they have a 3 year window with Kyrie, they'll milk it.

Yeah. That's my guess too.

But Mavs are under new management. Now that the new owners got a taste of how its like to reach the finals, usually they might get greedy and go all in. Cuban. Ishbia. Balmer. They all went through that.

[ozwizard8]

BOSTON REFEREES are on fire.

This f'in trash team and franchise. They only ride on their propaganda and media power. They are as dirty as it gets. F*ck Bill Simmons and his dumb ass comments just to help this REFS should keep helping Celtics narrative.

Boston is not playing basketball. Their so-called stars are laughable. They only live on refs whistles.
The contrast between what Luka and Kyrie not getting calls but Brown is getting just obvious match-fixing.

Watch the early 3rd quarter. Boston's REFS made 5 straight wrong calls favoring Celtics. Unbeliveable.
At the end of the game its same again. Its totally fine to push, hack, hug, slap wrist if its against Luka or PJ or whomever.

NBA's match-fixing, bet-scandal refs can go to hell. Shame on anyone who has a part in this.
Ratings sucks because Boston Celtics is not playing basketball. They are not even playing basketball as good as any of Western Conference top 4 teams. Its only refs. Carlisle was right. With these refs you need Celtics to choke too too much to win.

* Celtics playing like dumb **** who has no other plan than getting fouls on drives. Due to Mavs avoiding fouls, now it becomes double teams and open 3. They are allowed make 30 mistakes per game because REFS will compensate 30+ for them.
* Mavs plays mostly right plays but under fouling, jail-ball type of defense. However, we still have some semi-mistaken plays. Mostly by Kyrie. I know he is a tough-shot maker but he should not get in between Luka and offense. In the late 4th quarter, he should've let more time to Luka to cook. Maybe run around, cut around more. Or try to bring the ball up and find Luka to save his energy.

[41Dirk41]

Immagine a coach who keep play scrubs like Maxi Kleber and Josh Green 15+ minutes a game everytime. OMG.
If Maxi never be injuried we didn't won the west probably

After 1 game and half our Ralph Winchester understood that Gafford can attack the small guy. Wow.

With our lack of scoring then Hardy was DNP all the first half. Great.

Another poor performance of Kyrie.

PJ solid.

At least it's not an embarassing L, it's hard to better with this coach.

[Bob8]

Immagine a coach who keep play scrubs like Maxi Kleber and Josh Green 15+ minutes a game everytime. OMG.
If Maxi never be injuried we didn't won the west probably

After 1 game and half our Ralph Winchester understood that Gafford can attack the small guy. Wow.

With our lack of scoring then Hardy was DNP all the first half. Great.

Another poor performance of Kyrie.

PJ solid.

At least it's not an embarassing L, it's hard to better with this coach.

Mavs bench outside Hardy, Hardy scored most of his points in garbage time, is averaging 8 points, that's all we need to know.

I agree, Mavs are struggling immensely in offense, Hardy should be first in. We're not winning any games scoring less than 100 points.

The worst part about Josh is, he has successfully torpedoed his value, he's not going anywhere.

[jirrit]

BOSTON REFEREES are on fire.

This f'in trash team and franchise. They only ride on their propaganda and media power. They are as dirty as it gets. F*ck Bill Simmons and his dumb ass comments just to help this REFS should keep helping Celtics narrative.

Boston is not playing basketball. Their so-called stars are laughable. They only live on refs whistles.
The contrast between what Luka and Kyrie not getting calls but Brown is getting just obvious match-fixing.

Watch the early 3rd quarter. Boston's REFS made 5 straight wrong calls favoring Celtics. Unbeliveable.
At the end of the game its same again. Its totally fine to push, hack, hug, slap wrist if its against Luka or PJ or whomever.

NBA's match-fixing, bet-scandal refs can go to hell. Shame on anyone who has a part in this.
Ratings sucks because Boston Celtics is not playing basketball. They are not even playing basketball as good as any of Western Conference top 4 teams. Its only refs. Carlisle was right. With these refs you need Celtics to choke too too much to win.

* Celtics playing like dumb **** who has no other plan than getting fouls on drives. Due to Mavs avoiding fouls, now it becomes double teams and open 3. They are allowed make 30 mistakes per game because REFS will compensate 30+ for them.
* Mavs plays mostly right plays but under fouling, jail-ball type of defense. However, we still have some semi-mistaken plays. Mostly by Kyrie. I know he is a tough-shot maker but he should not get in between Luka and offense. In the late 4th quarter, he should've let more time to Luka to cook. Maybe run around, cut around more. Or try to bring the ball up and find Luka to save his energy.

How come you’re allowed to post this kinda stuff?

Don't backseat moderate, if you have a question about moderating the forum, send me a PM.

[Archx]

BOSTON REFEREES are on fire.

This f'in trash team and franchise. They only ride on their propaganda and media power. They are as dirty as it gets. F*ck Bill Simmons and his dumb ass comments just to help this REFS should keep helping Celtics narrative.

Boston is not playing basketball. Their so-called stars are laughable. They only live on refs whistles.
The contrast between what Luka and Kyrie not getting calls but Brown is getting just obvious match-fixing.

Watch the early 3rd quarter. Boston's REFS made 5 straight wrong calls favoring Celtics. Unbeliveable.
At the end of the game its same again. Its totally fine to push, hack, hug, slap wrist if its against Luka or PJ or whomever.

NBA's match-fixing, bet-scandal refs can go to hell. Shame on anyone who has a part in this.
Ratings sucks because Boston Celtics is not playing basketball. They are not even playing basketball as good as any of Western Conference top 4 teams. Its only refs. Carlisle was right. With these refs you need Celtics to choke too too much to win.

* Celtics playing like dumb **** who has no other plan than getting fouls on drives. Due to Mavs avoiding fouls, now it becomes double teams and open 3. They are allowed make 30 mistakes per game because REFS will compensate 30+ for them.
* Mavs plays mostly right plays but under fouling, jail-ball type of defense. However, we still have some semi-mistaken plays. Mostly by Kyrie. I know he is a tough-shot maker but he should not get in between Luka and offense. In the late 4th quarter, he should've let more time to Luka to cook. Maybe run around, cut around more. Or try to bring the ball up and find Luka to save his energy.

We can't blame anyone else but Mavs themselves. This horrible shooting is on them, not the refs, not the Celtics.

[41Dirk41]

Immagine a coach who keep play scrubs like Maxi Kleber and Josh Green 15+ minutes a game everytime. OMG.
If Maxi never be injuried we didn't won the west probably

After 1 game and half our Ralph Winchester understood that Gafford can attack the small guy. Wow.

With our lack of scoring then Hardy was DNP all the first half. Great.

Another poor performance of Kyrie.

PJ solid.

At least it's not an embarassing L, it's hard to better with this coach.

Mavs bench outside Hardy, Hardy scored most of his points in garbage time, is averaging 8 points, that's all we need to know.

I agree, Mavs are struggling immensely in offense, Hardy should be first in. We're not winning any games scoring less than 100 points.

The worst part about Josh is, he has successfully torpedoed his value, he's not going anywhere.

Even Exum looks like better than Green in this series.

We need another scorer from the bench so Hardy could be important for us, he played well against Wolves but our brillant coach always needs 2/3 games to understand match ups.

Green should be easily replace by a vet min guy, dump him until some fool thinks that he has trade value.

We exactly played how Boston wanted for 1 game and 1 half, they are clearly better but Kidd give them the first 2 games on a silver platter.

[daoneandonly]

KP hate shows lack of basketball knowledge ,he's doing his job out there and stuffing the Mavs at the rim. Both his blocks were highlite blocks.
The problem I'm seeing is Luka pace allows Boston to set their defense up for every Mavs possession . Kyrie pace goth them back into the game

Mavs have lost because players outside Luka were shooting 11% wide open 3s. They lost because Kyrie can't make a shot except layup. His Fg % is 35 and 0% for 3.

No doubt the teammates and coach are the biggest issue, but can you please for once admit Luka isnt perfect. His free throws are ridiculous, zero excuse for a star of his caliber to be this bad. He also needs to stop wanting to get on Sportscenter/Sportstalk with behind the back awe dropping passes, how many times do they turn into turnovers?

[41Dirk41]

KP hate shows lack of basketball knowledge ,he's doing his job out there and stuffing the Mavs at the rim. Both his blocks were highlite blocks.
The problem I'm seeing is Luka pace allows Boston to set their defense up for every Mavs possession . Kyrie pace goth them back into the game

Mavs have lost because players outside Luka were shooting 11% wide open 3s. They lost because Kyrie can't make a shot except layup. His Fg % is 35 and 0% for 3.

No doubt the teammates and coach are the biggest issue, but can you please for once admit Luka isnt perfect. His free throws are ridiculous, zero excuse for a star of his caliber to be this bad. He also needs to stop wanting to get on Sportscenter/Sportstalk with behind the back awe dropping passes, how many times do they turn into turnovers?

I agree about the FTs (he is lazy as a **** sometimes)... But the TOs are high for sure but at his usage and against that defense will be always high.
I hope not so high next games

Tatum last game had 6 TO and Brown as well in this game... They have the ball not much than Luka.

Plus he has to set up the offense every time without a coach. Not understimate that.

[daoneandonly]

Where is the Josh Green defense army troop to tell us why he isnt as bad as I complain about?

[Bob8]

KP hate shows lack of basketball knowledge ,he's doing his job out there and stuffing the Mavs at the rim. Both his blocks were highlite blocks.
The problem I'm seeing is Luka pace allows Boston to set their defense up for every Mavs possession . Kyrie pace goth them back into the game

Mavs have lost because players outside Luka were shooting 11% wide open 3s. They lost because Kyrie can't make a shot except layup. His Fg % is 35 and 0% for 3.

No doubt the teammates and coach are the biggest issue, but can you please for once admit Luka isnt perfect. His free throws are ridiculous, zero excuse for a star of his caliber to be this bad. He also needs to stop wanting to get on Sportscenter/Sportstalk with behind the back awe dropping passes, how many times do they turn into turnovers?

Yes his Fts are disastrous in Finals, but in the end 1 star is averaging 31 points, 51% Fg and 38% 3-pts, with 23.5 shots. Other star is averaging 14 points, 35% Fg and 0% 3-pts, on pretty big volume, 18.5 shots. I believe it should be obvious, where the problem is. I couldn't imagine those numbers in my scariest nightmare.

Luka is averaging more points, with better efficiency than his playoffs average is. Kyrie has fallen off the cliff with points and efficiency.

He had too many TOs for sure, but he had 4 steals too. Point is, that we won't win this series with Luka playing much better, we need others, especially Kyrie to play much better.

[daoneandonly]

Mavs have lost because players outside Luka were shooting 11% wide open 3s. They lost because Kyrie can't make a shot except layup. His Fg % is 35 and 0% for 3.

No doubt the teammates and coach are the biggest issue, but can you please for once admit Luka isnt perfect. His free throws are ridiculous, zero excuse for a star of his caliber to be this bad. He also needs to stop wanting to get on Sportscenter/Sportstalk with behind the back awe dropping passes, how many times do they turn into turnovers?

Yes his Fts are disastrous in Finals, but in the end 1 star is averaging 31 points, 51% Fg and 38% 3-pts, with 23.5 shots. Other star is averaging 14 points, 35% Fg and 0% 3-pts, on pretty big volume, 18.5 shots. I believe it should be obvious, where the problem is. I couldn't imagine those numbers in my scariest nightmare.

Luka is averaging more points, with better efficiency than his playoffs average is. Kyrie has fallen off the cliff with points and efficiency.

He had too many TOs for sure, but he had 4 steals too. Point is, that we won't win this series with Luka playing much better, we need others, especially Kyrie to play much better.

Yea Kyrie's play is sad to watch, dont know why Bos is such a struggle for him. Times like this makes me miss Brunson who would surely play better, but then we likely wouldnt have Lively so have to remember that truth.

But the other guys my goodness, Josh Green is a bum and Maxi has been piss since returning. At this point as much as we all hate THJ, he's a better option than Aussie Aussie Aussie Oink Oink Oink Green and Exum

[Dirk2Doncic]

This is an unpopular opinion, but now that Kyrie has an all-time high trade value, I think Nico can explore trading him for a 2 way star. With Luka you need a running mate that can shoot and defend. Imagine if you had Mikal Bridges here. That type of pairing would be ideal. Just my thoughts.

Fat chance IMO, they have a 3 year window with Kyrie, they'll milk it.

I hated the trade for Kyrie for the reason that is showing in this series. Size, length, interior defense and rebounding were the bigger need at the time, IMO

I believed Luka's sidekick needed to be a defensive stud.

I totally got on board with Kyrie this post season because he was fantastic for this team before this series but it's not working versus the Celtics. He's having trouble with the physicality of the celtics (he's small)

[Bob8]

This is an unpopular opinion, but now that Kyrie has an all-time high trade value, I think Nico can explore trading him for a 2 way star. With Luka you need a running mate that can shoot and defend. Imagine if you had Mikal Bridges here. That type of pairing would be ideal. Just my thoughts.

Fat chance IMO, they have a 3 year window with Kyrie, they'll milk it.

I hated the trade for Kyrie for the reason that is showing in this series. Size, length, interior defense and rebounding were the bigger need at the time, IMO

I believed Luka's sidekick needed to be a defensive stud.

I totally got on board with Kyrie this post season because he was fantastic for this team before this series but it's not working versus the Celtics. He's having trouble with the physicality of the celtics (he's small)

He was struggling against OKC' D, he's just missing shots against Boston for some reason. His looks aren't worse than against Wolves, but he didn't make a single difficult shot yet and missed many open ones.

[arkuo]

Fat chance IMO, they have a 3 year window with Kyrie, they'll milk it.

I hated the trade for Kyrie for the reason that is showing in this series. Size, length, interior defense and rebounding were the bigger need at the time, IMO

I believed Luka's sidekick needed to be a defensive stud.

I totally got on board with Kyrie this post season because he was fantastic for this team before this series but it's not working versus the Celtics. He's having trouble with the physicality of the celtics (he's small)

He was struggling against OKC' D, he's just missing shots against Boston for some reason. His looks aren't worse than against Wolves, but he didn't make a single difficult shot yet and missed many open ones.

Only thing that could save this next season is when Kyrie recruits a superstar to demand a trade to Dallas to add a 3rd big name. KD, Lebron, you name it.

[Mavrelous]

The Mavs are in the finals, Boston is historically great, much better than any team any of us watched except KD Curry Warriors, keep that in mind b4 jumping to conclusions.

[Bob8]

I hated the trade for Kyrie for the reason that is showing in this series. Size, length, interior defense and rebounding were the bigger need at the time, IMO

I believed Luka's sidekick needed to be a defensive stud.

I totally got on board with Kyrie this post season because he was fantastic for this team before this series but it's not working versus the Celtics. He's having trouble with the physicality of the celtics (he's small)

He was struggling against OKC' D, he's just missing shots against Boston for some reason. His looks aren't worse than against Wolves, but he didn't make a single difficult shot yet and missed many open ones.

Only thing that could save this next season is when Kyrie recruits a superstar to demand a trade to Dallas to add a 3rd big name. KD, Lebron, you name it.

I believe Lively will be better for sure. Problem is that Josh and THJ have no value whatsoever to get someone instead.