2024 NBA FINALS: #1 Boston Celtics vs #5 Dallas Mavericks (Game 1: Thursday June 6th)

[Triple7]

Yeah but Dallas has number one. It’s always hard to bet against the team that has the best player in the series. And Kyrie is number 3. So that’s 2 of the top 3 players in the series.

Yeah, but same thing happened against the nuggets with Jokic, and look what happened. Also Kyrie over Brown is up for debate.

No it isn’t. Hell Tatum over Kyrie is more open for debate at this point. But Kyrie is a very solid 3 imo.

Lol. Like what kyrie did game 4?
Not saying Kyrie can’t be better than the Jays, because he’s super talented offensively, but saying he’s a clear cut above brown is just homerism at its finest lol.

[Castle Black]

Team with the best player almost always wins (those Warriors vs Cavs series were outliers). Luka is far and away the best player in this series, and he's playing like the best player in the world right now. Man is on a mission and I don't see how he's going to be stopped. He's unguardable right now. Kyrie is an incredible Robin who's also super clutch in big moments. And, perhaps most importantly, Dallas is playing lights out Defensively right now. They just look like a team of destiny to me. Mavs in 6, though I'd love to be wrong.

[HotRocks34]

Legler:

Luka best player in the Finals
Mavs win the Finals

Watch on YouTube

[ajones9219]

Here are the current odds. Celtics in 5 by far the most likely per Vegas

Celtics in 5: +280
Celtics in 7: +400
Celtics in 6: +500
Mavericks in 6: +550
Celtics in 4: +650
Mavericks in 7: +850
Mavericks in 5: +1200
Mavericks in 4: +2500

[jc23]

Boston against the world

Oh god. This is so fake. Your mom and everyone is saving Celtics are favored in this series. Stop it.

Not here

post above said at the time more have the celtics picked to win. Dallas is just more likable. which is odd of a kyrie team i know.

[ajones9219]

Team with the best player almost always wins (those Warriors vs Cavs series were outliers). Luka is far and away the best player in this series, and he's playing like the best player in the world right now. Man is on a mission and I don't see how he's going to be stopped. He's unguardable right now. Kyrie is an incredible Robin who's also super clutch. And, perhaps most importantly, Dallas is playing lights out Defensively right now. They just look like a team of destiny to me. Mavs in 6, though I'd love to be wrong.

This just flat out isn't true.

We literally just saw the actual best player in the world Jokic get dropped in the second round to a team that just got clapped in 5.

[Triple7]

Celtics haven’t played anyone good lol

Who cares. You play what’s infront of you. We played the best in our last finals run. Beating KD and nets, game 7 against the bucks and heat, and we lost in the finals. How you get there doesn’t matter.

[sunsbg]

A final to look forward to unlike previous one. No play-in teams this year though Mavs looked like one until trade deadline. After that they were one of the top teams. Celtics were always the team to beat in East, so easier path to the finals should not be used against them.

To win the title Mavs need consistency from Luka and Kyrie. Based on RS game after trade deadline Boston's strategy was let Luka take his and limit everybody else and it did work back then. A smart team that will do the same until there is a different result. Kyrie providing enough help for Luka is the x factor for Mavs. For Celtics to win, they need in shape KP and Tatum not doing another choke job in the finals.

Kyrie and KP playing against former teams adds to the entertainment.

[jc23]

have to believe that even is porz is healthy he will be rusty and not ready to play 30+ finals minutes. I wonder how much the time off will help Luka's knee.

[Triple7]

Legler:

Luka best player in the Finals
Mavs win the Finals

Watch on YouTube

Lol. Legler predicted the wolves would win in 6 against the mavs. What he predicts means jack haha.

[ajones9219]

have to believe that even is porz is healthy he will be rusty and not ready to play 30+ finals minutes. I wonder how much the time off will help Luka's knee.

I'd be more concerned if they didn't have so many practices scheduled between now and June 6. He may come out a bit rusty but I am not concerned for the series overall. He literally started this season absolutely cooking from game 1 after rehabbing a foot problem for over a month. We'll see

[Castle Black]

Team with the best player almost always wins (those Warriors vs Cavs series were outliers). Luka is far and away the best player in this series, and he's playing like the best player in the world right now. Man is on a mission and I don't see how he's going to be stopped. He's unguardable right now. Kyrie is an incredible Robin who's also super clutch in big moments. And, perhaps most importantly, Dallas is playing lights out Defensively right now. They just look like a team of destiny to me. Mavs in 6, though I'd love to be wrong.

This just flat out isn't true.

We literally just saw the actual best player in the world Jokic get dropped in the second round to a team that just got clapped in 5.

That's why I said almost lol. Denver had no depth though and their role players couldn't throw it in the ocean the better part of that series. They win it if Joker gets any help in Game 7. Mavs are a well-rounded team who are playing really well defensively right now. Boston is going to have to shoot lights out from 3 in order to win this series and I just don't trust Tatum tbh, certainly not over Luka. Like I said though, I'd love to be wrong about this. I'm pulling for the Celtics, who are my second favorite team due to my dad growing up a Celtics fan.

[Triple M]

It will be critical to match up hunt Luka and Kai but i haven't seen anyone execute this strategy yet. However, the Celtics offense is probably best suited to attempt it and get the switches they want, because match up hunting is a corner stone to the Celtics offense. To give Dallas credit seems like Kai and Luka are playing their best defense and Lively and Gafford are a big reason for that as the back line support.

The Celtics will also hope to space the Dallas bigs but i could see the Mavs adjusting by putting smaller defenders on the Celtics bigs, e.g PJ on KP if available or Horford and have their bigs remain closer to the paint. It will be interesting if the Celtics can actually manuever the Maverick bigs around and then testing Luka and Kys defense.

The match ups i would go with from a Celtics perspective;
White on Kyrie
Brown on Luka
Jrue on DJJ
Tatum on PJ
Horford or KP(if healthy) on Gafford

White length might help on Kyrie but we might see Jrue here as well

I like Brown better on a 1 v 1 match up than playing off ball d but foul trouble and over excerting on D is a real concern

I like Jrue playing free safety so me might get matched up vs PJ than DJJ

If KP is healthy i hope he can defend against the lobs and the rim in general. Tatum will also need to tag the roller and hopefully his length can help as well.

We got a week so i hope everyone paces them self

It goes both ways. Kyrie and Luka needs to defend as well, and they will exert energy doing so.

Yea agreed. the idea is manuever the Mavs bigs and if you successfully reduce the Mavs effectiveness in protecting the rim than i believe could expose Ky and Luka on defense. So far it hasn't happened but i think the Celtics are suited to attempt it.

[Triple7]

It will be critical to match up hunt Luka and Kai but i haven't seen anyone execute this strategy yet. However, the Celtics offense is probably best suited to attempt it and get the switches they want, because match up hunting is a corner stone to the Celtics offense. To give Dallas credit seems like Kai and Luka are playing their best defense and Lively and Gafford are a big reason for that as the back line support.

The Celtics will also hope to space the Dallas bigs but i could see the Mavs adjusting by putting smaller defenders on the Celtics bigs, e.g PJ on KP if available or Horford and have their bigs remain closer to the paint. It will be interesting if the Celtics can actually manuever the Maverick bigs around and then testing Luka and Kys defense.

The match ups i would go with from a Celtics perspective;
White on Kyrie
Brown on Luka
Jrue on DJJ
Tatum on PJ
Horford or KP(if healthy) on Gafford

White length might help on Kyrie but we might see Jrue here as well

I like Brown better on a 1 v 1 match up than playing off ball d but foul trouble and over excerting on D is a real concern

I like Jrue playing free safety so me might get matched up vs PJ than DJJ

If KP is healthy i hope he can defend against the lobs and the rim in general. Tatum will also need to tag the roller and hopefully his length can help as well.

We got a week so i hope everyone paces them self

It goes both ways. Kyrie and Luka needs to defend as well, and they will exert energy doing so.

Yea agreed. the idea is manuever the Mavs bigs and if you successfully reduce the Mavs effectiveness in protecting the rim than i believe could expose Ky and Luka on defense. So far it hasn't happened but i think the Celtics are suited to attempt it.

The celtics needs to apply constant pressure by attacking inside, with the occasional 3’s if open. If the celtics resort to jacking up stupid 3’s non stop, then this series will be hard and long, and outcome not in our favor

[HotRocks34]

Legler:

Luka best player in the Finals
Mavs win the Finals

Watch on YouTube

Lol. Legler predicted the wolves would win in 6 against the mavs. What he predicts means jack haha.

https://www.the-sun.com/sport/11450549/tim-legler-first-take-timerwolves-mavericks/

Legler was asked if the T-Wolves were "in trouble" after losing the series opener on their home court.

"I picked Dallas to win the series," he explained, "And last night just showed me why when you watch the game."

[FarBeyondDriven]

I feel horrible for Celtics fans. They easily have the best team in the NBA and should trounce the Mavericks but it's simply not in the script. Luka has been anointed the next face of the league. He needs the ring and FMVP to justify the in-coming full-court press from the media over the next decade. It is what it is. Officiating is going to be obnoxiously terrible to get this to happen. Brace yourselves.

[ajones9219]

Team with the best player almost always wins (those Warriors vs Cavs series were outliers). Luka is far and away the best player in this series, and he's playing like the best player in the world right now. Man is on a mission and I don't see how he's going to be stopped. He's unguardable right now. Kyrie is an incredible Robin who's also super clutch in big moments. And, perhaps most importantly, Dallas is playing lights out Defensively right now. They just look like a team of destiny to me. Mavs in 6, though I'd love to be wrong.

This just flat out isn't true.

We literally just saw the actual best player in the world Jokic get dropped in the second round to a team that just got clapped in 5.

That's why I said almost lol. Denverf had no depth though and their role players couldn't throw it in the ocean the better part of that series. They win it if Joker gets any help in Game 7. Mavs are a well-rounded team who are playing really defensively right now. Boston is going to have to shoot lights our from 3 in order to win this series and I just don't trust Tatum tbh, certainly not over Luka. Like I said though, I'd love to be wrong about this. I'm pulling for the Celtics, who are my second favorite team due to my dad growing up a Celtics fan.

Depending on how you feel Ant vs Durant

Ant beats Durant who is arguably better
Last season Butler beats Tatum and Giannis who are absolutely better
Last season Tatum beats Embiid
2022 Tatum beats Embiid/KD/Giannis
2022 Steph beats Luka (Most had Luka above Steph but that one is close)

I can go further back but the best player loses to the better overall team literally all the time every season.

[ajones9219]

I feel horrible for Celtics fans. They easily have the best team in the NBA and should trounce the Mavericks but it's simply not in the script. Luka has been anointed the next face of the league. He needs the ring and FMVP to justify the in-coming full-court press from the media over the next decade. It is what it is. Officiating is going to be obnoxiously terrible to get this to happen. Brace yourselves.

lol this board claims we have the refs on the payroll so it's a clash of the titans

[AussieCeltic]

I totally respect that, he's your guy and that's fine. I don't think he is on the Luka or Shai level of scoring but I'll be watching intently for him to prove me wrong and take over this series.

You aren’t watching enough games. Tatum was a 30 ppg scorer a year ago, is an elite scorer who had to sacrifice e shots for Porzingis and Jrue.

He is a terrific scorer and plays high level defense and is one of the best two way players in the nba, as is Brown.

I am a fan of Tatum, and agree with everything you say. I just don't think he's a guy teams will send hard double teams to at halfcourt to get the ball out of his hands due to being such a scoring threat. Both Luka and Shai see that routinely. He is certainly elite though, and I'd take him as one of the 5-7 best players in the league.

Go watch the Miami series and see how they were defending him.

They double and even tripled him but he continued to make the right play and didn’t force things. He only took 15 shots per game that series which was the least amount since 2019.

That’s Spo, the best coach in the NBA doing that so clearly he thinks he’s a scoring threat worthy to scheme around.

[ajones9219]

Legler:

Luka best player in the Finals
Mavs win the Finals

Watch on YouTube

Lol. Legler predicted the wolves would win in 6 against the mavs. What he predicts means jack haha.

https://www.the-sun.com/sport/11450549/tim-legler-first-take-timerwolves-mavericks/

Legler was asked if the T-Wolves were "in trouble" after losing the series opener on their home court.

"I picked Dallas to win the series," he explained, "And last night just showed me why when you watch the game."

He picked the Wolves to win the title before the WCF started. Bro flip flops like everyone in the national media.