2024 NBA Finals: The Stars Match-up (Doncic/Irving vs Tatum/Brown)

[God Squad]

Luka is the best player in the series, but Boston has two 2-way star players compared to no defense Kyrie. It'll all come down to who hits shots ultimately IMO.

[Fencer reregistered]

Support for the idea that Brown defends Doncic more than White does.

https://www.boston.com/sports/boston-celtics/2024/06/02/celtics-mavericks-guard-kyrie-irving-luka-doncic/

Note: In general, out of Holiday, White, Brown, and Tatum, White is probably the one the Cs are least eager to have guard bigs. But when it comes specifically to guarding against a lob, he might be higher on that list.

[Fencer reregistered]

And yes -- Luka can get his numbers no matter what. The questions are number of shots, turnovers, and so on -- i.e., how many possessions it takes him to get them.

Something similar is true of Tatum, actually, except that the Cs are more willing to use him as a decoy when the game calls for it.

[BmanInBigD]

Im starting to think these Celtics homers in here are under the impression they're gonna run out Bird, Russell, Cousy, Pierce, Garnett, Havlicek, and the Chief, all at their peak, for this series.

[sam_I_am]

Dallas needs to keep the games in the 95-105 ppg range. In that scenario, Doncic can win the close games with his superior scoring/play making swagger.

The Celtics have so much more fire power with their 3rd-8th best players that they would do best putting up 125 ppg because Dallas really can’t keep up with them.

I suspect that both teams will succeed at times in setting the pace they want and win a few games that way. I think Luka, Tatum and Brown will do what they do. I honestly don’t know which Kyrie will show up. I am not envious of Dallas fans who are counting on him to be the guy to come through for them.

In the NBA, the team with the best player can win against a better more complete team. Doncic will have to have a career defining performance IMO but he is actually capable of doing it. Short of that, I see Celtics in 6.

[Meeksology]

Im starting to think these Celtics homers in here are under the impression they're gonna run out Bird, Russell, Cousy, Pierce, Garnett, Havlicek, and the Chief, all at their peak, for this series.

It's seriously getting ridiculous. They go from this victim complex believing in some false narrative that everyone saying Dallas is favourite, Boston is the underdog blah blah blah to Celtics being the best team ever assembled since Endgame.. all in the same thread (obv not talking about all Celtic fans). Cocky mfers.

[brackdan70]

Im starting to think these Celtics homers in here are under the impression they're gonna run out Bird, Russell, Cousy, Pierce, Garnett, Havlicek, and the Chief, all at their peak, for this series.

Nah but all five starters are all star caliber guys who play really well on both sides of the floor.

[Statlanta]

Can Tatum and Brown make Kyrie Irving play defense? Kyrie's offensive game came unraveling at times because of his load since he hasn't played important basketball in awhile. He started bricking free throws and losing his handle in the last two playoff series.

[dygaction]

Everyone always talks about Luka and his ability to elevate his team mates. Overrated, Mavs maybe a play-in team with Grant Williams but Tatum elevated Celtics with Grant to Finals. Celtics in 3.

Luka with a playing KP could not pass the first round, Tatum with a sitting KP reaches finals; Celtics 6-1.

[Mr_Mojo_Risin]

Everyone always talks about Luka and his ability to elevate his team mates. Overrated, Mavs maybe a play-in team with Grant Williams but Tatum elevated Celtics with Grant to Finals. Celtics in 3.

Luka with a playing KP could not pass the first round, Tatum with a sitting KP reaches finals; Celtics 6-1.

I reckon you guys will get at least 3, so maybe 6-3?

[dygaction]

If Durant/Kyrie didn't go ballistic and steal the series in 2022 then I ain't worried about Luka/Kyrie. Our guys score the ball and they play lockdown defense and they don't get tired.

Luka is much better than KD, and Kyrie is playing better than ever. The team around them is also elite.

He is better than 2021-22 Durrant but “much” is not accurate. Look at Kyrie that year as well.
Washington, Lively, Jones Jr , gafford, Kleiber are elite? I wish we could just discuss things with accuracy and level heads. Loving you team is great but some of these takes are laughable.

Believe it or not, Luka averages more ppg, shoots 3s better, and has a higher eFG% than Durant in playoffs. KD shoots better free throws. Their biggest difference is Luka is far better in ball handling and playmaking to run the whole team.

[dygaction]

Everyone always talks about Luka and his ability to elevate his team mates. Overrated, Mavs maybe a play-in team with Grant Williams but Tatum elevated Celtics with Grant to Finals. Celtics in 3.

Luka with a playing KP could not pass the first round, Tatum with a sitting KP reaches finals; Celtics 6-1.

I reckon you guys will get at least 3, so maybe 6-3?

Whatever scores that can make you sleep better until the real games.

[durden_tyler]

Can Tatum and Brown make Kyrie Irving play defense? Kyrie's offensive game came unraveling at times because of his load since he hasn't played important basketball in awhile. He started bricking free throws and losing his handle in the last two playoff series.

This is a very good point because Kyrie never really was forced to play defense in the first three series of this playoff run.

Clippers: they hid him on Mann if i remember correctly. Cross match-ups dictate that he switch to Harden but that's light load too considering Harden was not really the primary scorer.

Thunder: hid him on Dort. Maybe Giddey, who sucked.

Timberwolves: vs. old man Conley.

i am not saying Kyrie is a bad defender. Narrative this season is BOTH Kyrie and Luka has played admirably on the defensive end, and that makes this Dallas team a complete defensive team from top to bottom. And that's true.

However, to contain great stars like Kyrie on offense, it's not just about stopping them on the offensive end but also tiring them out on the defensive end. (Case in point, Anthony Edwards was contained somewhat on offense because of what he was asked to do on defense, with Luka and Kyrie constantly, consciously attacking him)

i do think Boston will employ a similar strategy (come to think of it, not just vs. Kyrie but also Luka). The Celtics have the primary weapons (Tatum and Brown) who will be covered by one of Luka or Kyrie. They have offensive players (White mainly) that can also attack more when needed.

[Curmudgeon]

Kyrie is going to be hunted. The Mavs can try to hide him in a 2-3 zone, but that's not the best way to defend a 3 point shooting team.

[prejt]

I don't get these Kyrie no defense takes. He has been playing good to great defense throughout these playoffs. Just shows those commenters don't actually watch games of the opponent.

[brackdan70]

I don't get these Kyrie no defense takes. He has been playing good to great defense throughout these playoffs. Just shows those commenters don't actually watch games of the opponent.

A lot of it is based on past experience. We watched Kyrie literally give up even trying on D in Boston. Yeah he has been engaged and better, but good to great? That’s a bit of a reach.

[Astaluego]

Can Lively protect Tatum? El Nino is very fast and versatile for his size, would it be viable?...if he does it effectively, I would put Luka in KP/Horford..

[AussieCeltic]

I don't get these Kyrie no defense takes. He has been playing good to great defense throughout these playoffs. Just shows those commenters don't actually watch games of the opponent.

He’s been defending the likes of Terrence Mann, Isaiah Joe, Cason Wallace and Mike Conley.

Not saying he can’t or won’t step up in the finals, but he’s going to be made to work a lot harder in the finals.

[TheMartian]

Anyone spinning this as Kyrie getting revenge on Boston has no idea what happened with Kyrie and Boston. Nice try, though, and the media is being just as silly with that narrative.

Exactly! What's with that revenge narrative? Was it for the sweep when he was with the Nets? After what he did to Boston and its fans, he deserved the L.

[Celts17Pride]

This is one of the most useless topics on the General Board. Tatum/Brown are going to average 55-60 ppg and Luka/Kyrie are going to average about 55-60 ppg in the NBA Finals. They effectively are going to cancel each other out. This is not where the series will be won or lost.