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

[The Corey's]

Meaning that everything you are stating is your own opinion. Based on your own perception. Not the best available sources (polls, odds).
This is getting nowhere. I don't think you understand the difference.

You think I don't understand the difference between opinion and fact?

Just say you got Dallas and you're offended by my take and be done with it.

This time tomorrow this very poll will reflect exactly what I said because unlike you I've been reading the threads the last few weeks.

Celtics in 5.

Not offended at all. That seemse to be your thing. Triggered because I dared to question a made up narrative. This is hilarious.

Definitely not triggered that you asked me to quantify my take. Either you been reading the threads or you haven't.

Obviously you haven't.

Even the poll within this thread has this series as a push which is ridiculous. Mavs have no chance.

This time tomorrow it will fully be in Dallas side because that's how the general board feels, which is what I said. You won't be anywhere to be found though when that happens I'm sure.

[Swish1906]

So Tatum is their 3rd biggest player in their rotation? Otherwise it’s just old Horford and KP. I can see the Celtics getting in the same problems the Thunder had if KP isn’t ready for 30+ mins

Oh dear lord. That is a bad take. Celtics are huge in starting lineup even without zinger, who will play.

6-4 Holiday
6-5 white
6-6 brown
6-9 Tatum
7-2 zinger

They are not skinny either. 4 of the 5 would be considered big for their position while Tatum is a very good rebounder and defender.

NBA.com has White as 6-4 and Tatum as 6-8. White weights 20-40lbs less than DJJ/Luka, one of them he has to defend when Brown is on Luka. Of course White and KP are skinny…

[Admiral-Kizaru]

Celtics in five. Luka will win a title same day, but it won’t be this year. Celtics have five of the best seven players and homecourt. Now or never.

Celtics had 5 of the 7 best players in the Warriors seires, and Curry beat you guys in 6.

Sometimes you just need the best player on the court. Mavs have that, by far. Hoping its a competitive series. Anyone can take it.

LOL, they absolutely did not have 5 of the best 7 players in that series.

Steph
Tatum
Brown
Wiggins
Horford
White
Williams
Smart
Draymond
Poole
Klay

Draymond and Smart are about interchangeable. 4/7 or 5/7 seems about right. Let's not forget that everyone was calling that Celtics team a "generational" defense.

[Bob Ross]

Let's go Dallas. I dislike both teams but would rather not see porzingis get a ring

Just curious why you dislike Porzingas so much?

He was the first bit of real hope via the draft we had in NY in a long while. He was kind of a douchebag but we overlooked it cause we thought we had a star. Then he demanded out and he's been dead to me ever since

[No-more-rings]

This series is going to be one hell of a fight, but I still think Dallas takes it in 6 or 7 games.

[SA37]

Luka's gonna introduce Celtics fans to what it's like to be on the other end of a Larry Bird ass whooping.

Mavs in 6, basketball world will be in shambles because of another chubby euro winning the finals

It's going to be an extremely entertaining series. Boston could really have used Grant Williams in this series to matchup with Doncic. Still, the Celtics match up better than probably any team with Irving/Doncic. Holiday and White on Kyrie + Brown and Tatum on Doncic.

I like the Celtics in 6.

[chrisab123]

The media and the fans will heavily favor Dallas, and Vegas will have the Celtics as the favorite. Its going to be a good series.

[Johnny Tomala]

Celtics in 6.

[Johnny Firpo]

The media and the fans will heavily favor Dallas,

No way this happens. I expect the media picks to be 60-40% to Celtics or close to 50-50 at worst. More fans will probably root for the Mavs though, since the Celtics is such a huge franchise, and as such, many teams actively root against them (just like the Lakers).

[itrsteve]

Does this series for the Celtics count? I know the last three didn’t. I just wanted to know what the Asterisk Army decided.

[GrandTheftRondo]

Celtics had 5 of the 7 best players in the Warriors seires, and Curry beat you guys in 6.

Sometimes you just need the best player on the court. Mavs have that, by far. Hoping its a competitive series. Anyone can take it.

LOL, they absolutely did not have 5 of the best 7 players in that series.

Steph
Tatum
Brown
Wiggins
Horford
White
Williams
Smart
Draymond
Poole
Klay

Draymond and Smart are about interchangeable. 4/7 or 5/7 seems about right. Let's not forget that everyone was calling that Celtics team a "generational" defense.

On what planet was Draymond worse than White and a hobbled Williams?

[GrandTheftRondo]

Does this series for the Celtics count? I know the last three didn’t. I just wanted to know what the Asterisk Army decided.

If we win don’t worry it will be because of Luka’s knee

[Lakers In 5]

My crystal ball says Dallas will win this in 6 games.

[The-Power]

So Tatum is their 3rd biggest player in their rotation? Otherwise it’s just old Horford and KP. I can see the Celtics getting in the same problems the Thunder had if KP isn’t ready for 30+ mins

The Thunder's main issue was their offense not working, though. Their defense was doing fine despite struggling a bit on the glass.

[Petergrifindor]

It's going to be a great Finals.

I hope Boston is not as good as I believe them to be.

I think they will space the floor on the offense, force Gafford and Lively to leave the paint, and search for Luka constantly.

To me they are the favorites, but Dallas... Dallas have our kid.

[CD_41]

I'm rooting for my Mavs, but I really respect Boston and think they're the favorite for a reason.

I also think that KP is one of the x factors that could push this in Boston's favor since he is a matchup problem for them (and also for a lot of others teams of course).

A lot of people are pointing out the Celtics defensive personel for guarding Luka, but he is one of the few players that can figure out a team over a series. I think that the Celtics absolutely need to win the first two games therefore.

It'll be really interesting to see Boston in crunchtime against the well-oiled Mavs. The Mavs these playoffs are almost Nuggets-like in that they get really good shots in crunchtime and obviously have two amazing closers.

The problem for the Mavs is though, that the Celtics are crazy deep, have home court and are flexible with their lineups.

My head says Boston in 6, my heart says Mavs in 6. Let's hope for a great series.

[art_tatum]

Imo mavs have the two of the top 3 performers in this series. So I think mavs in 6. Celtics win two on hot shooting

[The-Power]

Of course it’s Brown against Luka, Jrue vs Irving and then you have White against DJI or PJ…absolutely undersized

What do you think are DJJ or Washington going to when matched up with White? If you think that will be a winning match-up, I think you're in for disappointment. Also, the Celtics are going to switch a ton (in addition to switching up primary coverages). This series will not be decided by a pre-planned individual match-up.

Mavs' front court is younger, taller, quicker. Clear advantage Mavs.

The Celtics primary front court rotation is Brown, Tatum, Porzingis and Horford, while it's DJJ, Washington, Gafford and Lively for Dallas. There is a clear advantage indeed – but not for the Mavericks. The advantage for Dallas is their back court. If you truly believe that Dallas' front court clears Boston's front court, you should expect an easy sweep.

[indiegrind]

Get big Al his ring. Celtics in 6.

[UNCBlue012]

This is pretty simple for me: I wouldn’t be “shocked” to see the Mavs pull it off because playoff basketball is such a crapshoot, but Boston’s got much better high-end depth and a better overall roster than Dallas, especially if Porzingis is good to go, so my expectation is that the Celtics win this in six. Luka and Kyrie have/are incredible, and they’ll get their own… but I just trust the better, frankly, more rested, roster in a long series.