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

[Broadcaster]

TBF Mavs fans are saying literally every metric we can use to compare these teams isn't accurate or relevant because they basically all favor the Celtics

No it’s because the Mavs are a completely different team than they were for 2/3 of the season. They are also playing a much better than they were at the start of the playoffs. So trying to use any metric from the regular season is irrelevant. This is not the same Mavs team that Boston faced at any point during the season.

The Mavs aren't good enough to beat the Celtics. There isn't a reasonable person on earth who thinks that.

This ya but attitude going one way is old dawg.

Hell of an opinion you have there.

[The Corey's]

No it’s because the Mavs are a completely different team than they were for 2/3 of the season. They are also playing a much better than they were at the start of the playoffs. So trying to use any metric from the regular season is irrelevant. This is not the same Mavs team that Boston faced at any point during the season.

The Mavs aren't good enough to beat the Celtics. There isn't a reasonable person on earth who thinks that.

This ya but attitude going one way is old dawg.

Hell of an opinion you have there.

Finally. Someone who acknowledged it as a opinion.

[RoyceDa59]

Celtics have the best player and 3rd best player.

Celtics have 5 of the top 7 players, though, realistically.

The Kyrie and Porzingis narratives make this a very interesting series.

In the end I think Celtics outlast the Mavs and beat them in 7.

[durden_tyler]

What's interesting here is that Tatum has low-key been a top 3 player all playoffs. The only thing sub standard is his 3 point shooting right now. 29%.

He's still giving us 26/10/6 this post season. However, if his 3 point shooting returns to "average", or rather, if he was hitting the 3 at a normal clip this post season, he'd be giving us 28/10/6 on 60%ts this post season.

He's also doing that with elite defense. If Tatum's 3pt shot returns to his norm, there's a good shot he gives the Mavs a good 29/10/6 this series.

He's due for good 3pt shooting, and if he gets his rhythm going even just above average this series, he's gonna give the Celtics like 30/10/6 with elite defense.

With Doncic a little bit injured, Tatum WILL outplay him a few games if his 3pt shot comes back.

Hauser has also been ice cold from 3. And he's a 40% 3pt shooter.

Luka
Shai
Jokic
Mitchell
Brunson

There is no world in which Tatum has been a top 3 player in the playoffs.

Yet he is the Finals MVP favorite. At some point this series, you’ll admit he’s one of the top superstars in the league.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[CodeBreaker]

Why the **** is the start of the Finals delayed until Thursday. Stupid.

To give Luka enough rest

[The Corey's]

I was just thinking. The Wolves only won 3 of their final 10 games.

When you look at it from that angle the Mavs beating them really doesn't look all that impressive.

[ajones9219]

It's a one game sample size (post trade) and the Mavs were in a pretty bad slid then, I'm not sure how accurate/important that is. They have won 7 in a row after the trade, and I remember we thought we were the shiznit, then bamm, we lost 111-133 to the Pacers, 119-121 aganst the Cavs, then we won one, but the Raps scored 125 on us even in that game, and then we lost to you guys 110-138, but then also lost to the Sixers 116-120 and then again to the Pacers 120-137. So that was EASILY the worst defensive form for that team during that two weeks, for whatever reason. That team wouldn't even have advanced against the Clippers. But I guess it can still show that the Mavs was, and maybe can still be the more inconsistent defensive team.

TBF Mavs fans are saying literally every metric we can use to compare these teams isn't accurate or relevant because they basically all favor the Celtics

No it’s because the Mavs are a completely different team than they were for 2/3 of the season. They are also playing a much better than they were at the start of the playoffs. So trying to use any metric from the regular season is irrelevant. This is not the same Mavs team that Boston faced at any point during the season.

That isn't how the NBA works, especially when your core is literally the same. If you TRULY believe that literally no metrics are useful to compare the two teams then just go back to the Mavs board and come back once the games start. I'm not saying this to be mean, but literally what is the point of discussing the series if you're just going to say any discussion topics are just irrelevant.

I personally think any metrics are both fair game and relevant if Kyrie and Luka were on the floor.

[brackdan70]

Celtics have the best player and 3rd best player.

Celtics have 5 of the top 7 players, though, realistically.

The Kyrie and Porzingis narratives make this a very interesting series.

In the end I think Celtics outlast the Mavs and beat them in 7.

Did you mean Mavs have best and third?

[brackdan70]

Why the **** is the start of the Finals delayed until Thursday. Stupid.

To give Luka enough rest

And time to carb load

[Texas Chuck]

Yet he is the Finals MVP favorite. At some point this series, you’ll admit he’s one of the top superstars in the league.

So nobody gets upset, let be me clear from the jump Tatum is an awesome player. Top 5 in the world, awesome maybe.

But he's the Finals MVP favorite because he's the best player on a team pretty heavily favored right? He isn't the MVP favorite because most people believe he's a better player than Luka Doncic.

[Archx]

I was just thinking. The Wolves only won 3 of their final 10 games.

When you look at it from that angle the Mavs beating them really doesn't look all that impressive.

Agreed. Beating Pacers team without their star looked way more impressive.

[The Corey's]

I was just thinking. The Wolves only won 3 of their final 10 games.

When you look at it from that angle the Mavs beating them really doesn't look all that impressive.

Agreed. Beating Pacers team without their star looked way more impressive.

Something the Mavs couldn't do.

[Archx]

I was just thinking. The Wolves only won 3 of their final 10 games.

When you look at it from that angle the Mavs beating them really doesn't look all that impressive.

Agreed. Beating Pacers team without their star looked way more impressive.

Something the Mavs couldn't do.

True.

[brackdan70]

Yet he is the Finals MVP favorite. At some point this series, you’ll admit he’s one of the top superstars in the league.

So nobody gets upset, let be me clear from the jump Tatum is an awesome player. Top 5 in the world, awesome maybe.

But he's the Finals MVP favorite because he's the best player on a team pretty heavily favored right? He isn't the MVP favorite because most people believe he's a better player than Luka Doncic.

That’s true. I don’t think many people believe that at this point in time he is a better player than Luka.

[Mr B]

I wonder how their team would handle a team with a offense as potent as the 2024 Indiana Pacers?

Oh wait. We actually have an answer for that.

Dallas lost Feb 25th 133 to 111.

Dallas lost March 5th 137 to 120


Both with PJ Washington on the roster.

Blah blah rotations ain't set blah blah regular season no one is trying, blah blah they haven't gelled.

Mavs played well but to **** on the Celtics for their efforts against the Pacers when Dallas couldn't contain their offense as recently two months ago is why I find it ridiculous to say the Celtics are in trouble based on how they've played vs the Mavs.

Based on that logic the the Nuggets beat the crap out of the Celtics in their last matchup and the Wolves beat the Nuggets and the Mavs beat the Wolves so that obviously means the Mavs are better than the Celtics right?

See how silly that logic sounds. That’s what your post sounded like.

The nuggets were the only team that could beat the Celtics. Thet had the big man that could score at will from anywhere on the court.

That’s exactly what the Wolves fans said.

[Mr B]

TBF Mavs fans are saying literally every metric we can use to compare these teams isn't accurate or relevant because they basically all favor the Celtics

No it’s because the Mavs are a completely different team than they were for 2/3 of the season. They are also playing a much better than they were at the start of the playoffs. So trying to use any metric from the regular season is irrelevant. This is not the same Mavs team that Boston faced at any point during the season.

The Mavs aren't good enough to beat the Celtics. There isn't a reasonable person on earth who thinks that.

This ya but attitude going one way is old dawg.

We will see

[BeiBeau]

What's interesting here is that Tatum has low-key been a top 3 player all playoffs. The only thing sub standard is his 3 point shooting right now. 29%.

He's still giving us 26/10/6 this post season. However, if his 3 point shooting returns to "average", or rather, if he was hitting the 3 at a normal clip this post season, he'd be giving us 28/10/6 on 60%ts this post season.

He's also doing that with elite defense. If Tatum's 3pt shot returns to his norm, there's a good shot he gives the Mavs a good 29/10/6 this series.

He's due for good 3pt shooting, and if he gets his rhythm going even just above average this series, he's gonna give the Celtics like 30/10/6 with elite defense.

With Doncic a little bit injured, Tatum WILL outplay him a few games if his 3pt shot comes back.

Hauser has also been ice cold from 3. And he's a 40% 3pt shooter.

Luka
Shai
Jokic
Mitchell
Brunson

There is no world in which Tatum has been a top 3 player in the playoffs.

Yet he is the Finals MVP favorite. At some point this series, you’ll admit he’s one of the top superstars in the league.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I never said he wasn’t a top superstar in the league. But there is no chance Tatum has been top 3 in these playoffs. Are we just going to be stupid here or what?

Tatum is the finals MVP favorite because he is the best player on the favorite to win the finals. If finals mvp always went to the best player in the finals despite who wins, Luka would be the betting favorite.

[Mr B]

Read on Twitter

It's been very interesting to see this narrative develop.

This is the same Luka who is constantly at odds with patrons in the stands because they hurt his little feelings.

Over and over we see this guy crying over some **** some rich slob on the sidelines whispered into his ear.

You’re not familiar with European fans and crowds are you. Luka feeds on the negativity. Boston has a reputation of having very vocal fans. Luka loves to silence vocal fans. So it will be interesting to see how this plays out.

[Mr B]

It's been very interesting to see this narrative develop.

This is the same Luka who is constantly at odds with patrons in the stands because they hurt his little feelings.

Over and over we see this guy crying over some **** some rich slob on the sidelines whispered into his ear.

Why are you such a sensitive guy?

Luka just loves to **** talk. Boston fans are not going to be able to contain themselves and Luka is gonna use it as fuel.

I'm sensitive because I know that crying into someone's ears doesn't actually make them better at basketball?

Luka isn't the guy you need to worry about. Irving is the one who turtles.

Luka would be undefeated if heckling inspired him to score baskets he otherwise would have missed.

Kyrie Irving turtles in big moments and big games? That’s what you’re hoping for?

[Mr B]

Celtics have the best player and 3rd best player.

Celtics have 5 of the top 7 players, though, realistically.

The Kyrie and Porzingis narratives make this a very interesting series.

In the end I think Celtics outlast the Mavs and beat them in 7.

Sorry to break it to you but the Mavs have the 2 best players in the series on their team.