RealGM

To help out slow and clunky RealGM in this big championship match-up, the intent is to breakdown the bunch of categories/talking points in the 2024 NBA Finals: Dallas Mavericks vs Boston Celtics best-of-seven match-up. More importantly, we can also discuss the specifics of this talking point separately, rather than one big thread (which will still exist).

So first up, the superstars in this Celtics vs Mavs match-up;

Luka Doncic + Kyrie Irving vs. Jayson Tatum + Jaylen Brown

Can Doncic and Irving continue their impressive chemistry and lead their team to the title? Will Luka Magic appear for the entire series or just select games and will it be enough? Who's more clutch? Luka or Tatum?

Can Brown and Irving continue their good run, spotty at times but crucial in most games so far this playoffs? Is this going to be more of a Batman/Robin thing or will we get Batman/Superman them throughout the series?

(Edited below, adding some stats):

Career numbers (vs Celtics):

Kyrie Irving (26 games, 1 with Mavs, 7 with Nets, rest with Cavs): 23.3 points, 3.9 rebounds, 5.0 assists
Luka Doncic (11 games): 29.9 points, 8.8 rebounds, 7.5 assists

Career numbers (vs Mavs):

Jayson Tatum (14 games): 24.5 points, 9.1 rebounds, 3.2 assists
Jaylen Brown (13 games): 22.3 points, 5.8 rebounds, 2.4 assists

Lets go Dallas ! Kyrie finally gets his revenge

Love the storyline on this one. Kyrie possible revenge on Boston. Porzinguis playing against his former team

DAL should be heavily favored. BOS does not have the composure offensively to keep up with Luka and Ky.

They may have done well in the clutch during these playoffs, but they were playing against injured teams.

the most important celtic - jrue.

Kryie/Doncic easy

kidd vs. mazzula!

The Celtics defense is ideally suited to limit Doncic.

It isn't particularly suited to stopping Kyrie, but he also hasn't beaten them in any game in the past 3 years.

Fencer reregistered wrote:The Celtics defense is ideally suited to limit Doncic.

It isn't particularly suited to stopping Kyrie, but he also hasn't beaten them in any game in the past 3 years.

Conversely, Tatum and Brown have not been tested by any defense these playoffs. Let's see what kind of schemes Dallas run against them but i think that's one of the underrated and crucial moves Kidd will take.

Tatum the weak link.

I got Luka/Kyrie

If Tatum played both sides like Brown I would take Boston, but he doesn't. Luka/Kyrie just on another level offensively.

Perimeter shooting from the roleplayer and the amount of easy big men buckets are going to determine the winner. Not the stars

Hopefully we're going to get a competitive finals...rooting for the Mavs but that Boston team is loaded in the backcourt, they're the favorites for a reason...should be a good finals

durden_tyler wrote:

Fencer reregistered wrote:The Celtics defense is ideally suited to limit Doncic.

It isn't particularly suited to stopping Kyrie, but he also hasn't beaten them in any game in the past 3 years.

Conversely, Tatum and Brown have not been tested by any defense these playoffs. Let's see what kind of schemes Dallas run against them but i think that's one of the underrated and crucial moves Kidd will take.

Good point. The Celtics haven't faced any defenders better than Bam Adebayo or Evan Mobley, who as we all know can't hold a candle to the immortal Daniel Gafford.

Fencer reregistered wrote:

durden_tyler wrote:

Fencer reregistered wrote:The Celtics defense is ideally suited to limit Doncic.

It isn't particularly suited to stopping Kyrie, but he also hasn't beaten them in any game in the past 3 years.

Conversely, Tatum and Brown have not been tested by any defense these playoffs. Let's see what kind of schemes Dallas run against them but i think that's one of the underrated and crucial moves Kidd will take.

Good point. The Celtics haven't faced any defenders better than Bam Adebayo or Evan Mobley, who as we all know can't hold a candle to the immortal Daniel Gafford.

Sarcasm asside, DJJ should be able to contain one of Tatum/Brown in stretches. So that's the key defender for me.

Scoundreldays wrote:Love the storyline on this one. Kyrie possible revenge on Boston. Porzinguis playing against his former team

Yeah, agree. The main story is Kyrie/Boston, but I’d be surprised if KP doesn’t have some quiet bitterness about his time in Dallas. If he’s healthy, and as if the Finals isn’t enough on its own, I’m sure he’ll have a little extra something in terms of motivation.

durden_tyler wrote:

Fencer reregistered wrote:

durden_tyler wrote:
Conversely, Tatum and Brown have not been tested by any defense these playoffs. Let's see what kind of schemes Dallas run against them but i think that's one of the underrated and crucial moves Kidd will take.

Good point. The Celtics haven't faced any defenders better than Bam Adebayo or Evan Mobley, who as we all know can't hold a candle to the immortal Daniel Gafford.

Sarcasm asside, DJJ should be able to contain one of Tatum/Brown in stretches. So that's the key defender for me.

OK. But who will defend the other Jay? Who will defend White?

More to the point -- who will Dallas leave open from 3, if anybody?

***

Offensively Luka/Kyrie have a slight advantage. When you factor in defense and the fact that Luka doesent play it at a high level its Tatum/Brown. there gonna hunt Luka and wear him down.

5 of the top 7 players and 2 of the top 3 in this series play for Boston. Lukas gonna get his but were gonna see a lot of stat lines like Luka 37/9/10 with Boston winning by 10.

Lukas gonna ball out but Kyrie is gonna piss down his leg just like he has the last 10 times hes played Boston.

One of the primary reasons Boston is so good... they have at least SIX really good players.

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.