2024 NBA FINALS: #1 Boston Celtics vs #5 Dallas Mavericks (BOS leads 1-0)

[Tha Cynic]

The fact this board is so focused on Tatum’s performance compared to Dallas’ garbage performance as a team tells me all I need to know about the hate. Kyrie Irving was literal trash out there yet not a peep made about him. Or anyone really in Dallas including Doncic who wasn’t even good for his standards. That’s what should be focused on

It's most likely because people understand that the Mavs are overmatched with two great players and a bunch of scrubs. Would the other Mavs starters even come off the bench for the Celtics?

Tatum is just an easy target because he gets talked about like he's a superstar but he's really more in Brown's tier. Whoever is making the moves to build this team is who should get all the praise. This team is stacked like the Billups Detroit Pistons. I compare them to that sort of team rather than a team lead by stars.

[GeorgeSears]

Great opening game for the Celtics. Balanced scoring, very good defense, with everyone playing well. Game 2 is now must win for the Mavs. I don't see them coming back from 0-2 down.

[titlebound1]

[quote="Mavrelous"]Too many hot takes in this threqd, game was within reach in the 3rd but Kyrie refused to take it, Mavs were blown out in all their game 1s except against the Wolves.
Mavs have no chance if Kyrie keeps **** his pants every time he sees Lucky, but it is a winnable series if he snaps out of it.[/quote

It was pretty obvious that the Dallas run was fake. It took like 2 stops to blow it open again. Game was never in question.

Kyrie was just as bad as his always is against Boston. No reason to think that will change. You guys got a gift of a game from Tatum. Dallas just doesn't have enough

[meh]

Gafford/Jones/Washington being 3/5 of a starting lineup in an NBA Finals game is pretty crazy. Luke and Kyrie are gonna have to go crazy every game for them to have a chance. That's just not enough talent man.

Mavs fans have been saying that Lively is the key. OK. LMAO.

What's funny? Lively has been a defensive monster all playoffs long.

He's not a difference maker in this series. If he's your key, you are toast.

[PierceFan4ever]

The fact this board is so focused on Tatum’s performance compared to Dallas’ garbage performance as a team tells me all I need to know about the hate. Kyrie Irving was literal trash out there yet not a peep made about him. Or anyone really in Dallas including Doncic who wasn’t even good for his standards. That’s what should be focused on

IMO Tatum played well here. I don't care about the points he scored. He was driving to the bucket more, causing Mavs to foul him, breaking down their defense, stressing it and getting looks for his teammates. He also played well on defense. I thought he played a great game overall except a few instances where he settled for 3s over the head of Luka and Kleber.

He had some bad turnovers as well. But the way the Mavs were covering him sending 2 or 3 whenever he drove in, I expected Tatum wasn’t gonna have a big game because it’s not required with the way Dallas is playing defense. Dallas has to pick your poison, either don’t pack the paint and let Tatum and brown kill you or you cover like you did today and the Celtics will kill you from three where they excel at.

[Ben-N1ce]

Hot take. Series is over if Celtics win game 2. 4/5 for the Mavs would require some crazy injuries.

[The Corey's]

Celtics look impressive. Boy we are not ready for another 16 years of gloating about one championship if they do end up winning this one

It's the Celtics time. There isn't any team in the league who has a roster that can compete with the Celtics.

Expect 3 titles minimum.

[Tha Cynic]

ESPN just told me no point it watching anymore. Whoever wins game 1 wins 70%+ of the time?

[JustBuzzin]

SVP just had a awkward conversation with JJ on Sports Center.

Asked him about coaching adjustments and JJ paused in disgust as if he was being taunted lmao

JJ Hurley

[Capn'O]

Gafford/Jones/Washington being 3/5 of a starting lineup in an NBA Finals game is pretty crazy. Luke and Kyrie are gonna have to go crazy every game for them to have a chance. That's just not enough talent man.

Mavs fans have been saying that Lively is the key. OK. LMAO.

What's funny? Lively has been a defensive monster all playoffs long.

He had a bad stretch in the 3rd which, combined with kyrie's travel, killed the Mavs momentum.

Thing is, it was a rough game for a rookie. It's still a long series.

[PierceFan4ever]

The fact this board is so focused on Tatum’s performance compared to Dallas’ garbage performance as a team tells me all I need to know about the hate. Kyrie Irving was literal trash out there yet not a peep made about him. Or anyone really in Dallas including Doncic who wasn’t even good for his standards. That’s what should be focused on

It's most likely because people understand that the Mavs are overmatched with two great players and a bunch of scrubs. Would the other Mavs starters even come off the bench for the Celtics?

Tatum is just an easy target because he gets talked about like he's a superstar but he's really more in Brown's tier. Whoever is making the moves to build this team is who should get all the praise. This team is stacked like the Billups Detroit Pistons. I compare them to that sort of team rather than a team lead by stars.

You may or may not think this but I dont want to hear this notion of the Mavs role players are scrubs now and the Celtics are stacked after half the people here picked the Mavs to win the series.

[___Rand___]

Series is over. Kyrie has mental block against the Celtics. 0-11 since stepping on Lucky?

so many people think hes the kyrie that lit up the GSW in 2017...

its like they dont realize that was 7 years ago, Kyrie is a mental midget these days, thats now 11 straight losses to boston

Naw man, look who defended him from Warriors and who's defending him now. That's the difference. This Kyrie is almost as good as the Cavs' Kyrie.

[bisme37]

GG Mavs fans. See ya again Sunday.

[Fencer reregistered]

Why are adds even taking over the site on laptop this is too much.

I never see ads on this site.

Firefox FTW.

[Infinite Llamas]

Just a reminder Svi Mykhailuk has scored more points in the NBA Finals than Joel Embiid

Best player in the world ROFL

I thought the same thing. But it’s more than just Embiid.
Nique, Vince, Lillard, Donovan Mitchell, Carmelo…

Svi and Kornet can say they have more Finals points than all those guys COMBINED

[Patches Perry]

ESPN just told me no point it watching anymore. Whoever wins game 1 wins 70%+ of the time?

Yeah but the other 30% of the time, the team that loses game 1 wins 100% of the time.

[cupcakesnake]

Mavs fans have been saying that Lively is the key. OK. LMAO.

What's funny? Lively has been a defensive monster all playoffs long.

He's not a difference maker in this series. If he's your key, you are toast.

It's 1 game.
Mavs will need to unlock the lob threat against this Boston D.

I do think Lively's rim protection is less crucial in this series than against OKC and Minnesota because Boston has way more outside shooting.

Not really sure what you (or Mavs fans) mean by "key". Lively has been having an excellent playoffs though. I see no merit in you laughing at him.

[Tha Cynic]

The fact this board is so focused on Tatum’s performance compared to Dallas’ garbage performance as a team tells me all I need to know about the hate. Kyrie Irving was literal trash out there yet not a peep made about him. Or anyone really in Dallas including Doncic who wasn’t even good for his standards. That’s what should be focused on

It's most likely because people understand that the Mavs are overmatched with two great players and a bunch of scrubs. Would the other Mavs starters even come off the bench for the Celtics?

Tatum is just an easy target because he gets talked about like he's a superstar but he's really more in Brown's tier. Whoever is making the moves to build this team is who should get all the praise. This team is stacked like the Billups Detroit Pistons. I compare them to that sort of team rather than a team lead by stars.

You may or may not think this but I dont want to hear this notion of the Mavs role players are scrubs now and the Celtics are stacked after half the people here picked the Mavs to win the series.

The people probably just want the Mavs to win this. There is no way anyone thinks this Mavs team matches up well against this Celtics team lol. 3 of the Mavs starters are Lively, Jones, and Washington and I only notice them because they play starter minutes. I don't even know who's on their bench other than Gafford lol. The Celtics got the best matchup they could have gotten out of the West imo.

[AussieCeltic]

Tatum learned two years ago what Edwards learned this season.

LeBron carrying teams for years and people loving it has got people obsessed with having one dude carry their team all season.

It’s absurd.

How can you watch that game and think Tatum simply has to score more???

He missed some shots but his unselfishness led to easy 3s for the Celtics all night.

Mavs don’t have a chance at defending that.

You can disguise it however you like. Performing in the Finals matters. Especially for “superstar” players. 6-17 16 points isn’t gonna cut it. And 6 of those 16 came in garbage time when he was the only starter in the game. All the big time players get judged in the finals. That was a dud game from Tatum

First off, he was 6-16

Second off, his last field goal with over 7 minutes left and both teams starters in.

He scored 1 free throw after that.

But sure, make up some fake story lines to try fit your bull narrative.

Also aren’t you a Miami fan? Probably love Jimmy even though he scored 13 points in game 1 of the finals last season.

[reload141]

personally I don't care what y'all think about Tatum. He can be the GOAT, or he can be tobias harris. All I care about is 3 more wins.

No mate, it matters.

Remember that time that “insert player who has never been to the Finals name” played?