Let's talk about Boston Celtics

[GermanFan120]

Since Boston Celtics have officially made it to the final, let's talk about them.

1) What's their strengths / weaknesses compared to Mavs?
2) Does Mavs have a shot beating them in a 7 games series?
3) If so, what are the things to be addressed for Mavs to beat Boston?
4) How do you like the match up?
etc etc...

This was my prediction before the playoffs, which I still stand with it now.

I am making my predictions now before playoffs begins: (just for fun)

3 NBA final outcomes in the following particular order:

1) Jokic vs. Embiid in the final
2) Nuggets will beat the Celtics in the final
3) Mavs will lose to the Celtics in the final

[HMFFL]

My main concern about Boston is their experience. They've been in this situation multiple times and have continued to revamp their roster. They're the strongest they've ever been in recent years. Tatum and Brown are dangerous, Al Horford is nothing but a winner, and we get to match up with KP.



I expect Kyrie to continue to be focused. He's actually the most focused on I have seen him since hitting a game winner in the Finals for Cleveland. You're welcome LeBron.



Our frontcourt can battle with Bostons but keep Maxi away from the inside.



I have over 50k on Dallas winning the series against Minnesota.



However, keep in mind, Luka will be the best player on the court in the Finals. I like our chances!

[GermanFan120]

Bump this thread!

Luka and Ky would have to be in nuclear mode for us to beat the Celtics.

The 2011 defensive team led by a superman Dirk on offense can beat a way better Miami trio, maybe this year we can upset the Celtics too.

Tatum + Brown + Holiday + White <<<<<<< Lebron + Wade + Bosh

And Luka is just as good as Dirk or even arguably better. Kyrie is also way better than Jet.

Again, our defense must be perfect in this series. So far I am not too worried about our defense anymore, Kidd has done a GREAT job.

[fuller4379]

Positives
1. The Celtics didn't play particularly well in the playoffs. The team also has a recent history of chocking in the post season.
2. Crystal Porzingis is not going to be at full health.
3. The Mavericks have been in clicking ever since the trade deadline. The Mavericks are battle tested by beating 3 50 win teams to make it to the finals. We got two inexperienced playoff teams in Minnesota and Oklahoma, but we still took them down.
4. All the Mavericks have bought into their roles and are playing great team basketball right now. We have the two best offensive players on the court with Kyrie and Luka. Lively should also get his 10-12 points in dunks every game.

Negatives
1. This is a tough matchup. Our strength on offense is two perimeter shooters in Luka and Kyrie, but Boston has very good perimeter defenders.
2. The Celtics have a bunch of two-ways players.
3. Boston is deeper than the Mavericks.

The optimist - Mavs in 6
The realist - Celtics in 7

[tleikheen]

I predict alot of hate against KP that has nothing to do with basketball......... it will be hard to talk about the playoffs when KP hate enters any conversation about the games.
Like it or not KP will stretch out the defense of the Mavs . IF Gaff and Lively guard KP they'll have to cover a lot of ground defensively . KP shoots Curry/Lilliard range routinely. Gaff and Lively been dunk masters throughout the playoffs . We'll see if KP gets caught like Gobert choosing between Luka/Kyrie drives or sticking with the dunk masters defensively.

[GermanFan120]

Positives
1. The Celtics didn't play particularly well in the playoffs. The team also has a recent history of chocking in the post season.
2. Crystal Porzingis is not going to be at full health.
3. The Mavericks have been in clicking ever since the trade deadline. The Mavericks are battle tested by beating 3 50 win teams to make it to the finals. We got two inexperienced playoff teams in Minnesota and Oklahoma, but we still took them down.
4. All the Mavericks have bought into their roles and are playing great team basketball right now. We have the two best offensive players on the court with Kyrie and Luka. Lively should also get his 10-12 points in dunks every game.

Negatives
1. This is a tough matchup. Our strength on offense is two perimeter shooters in Luka and Kyrie, but Boston has very good perimeter defenders.
2. The Celtics have a bunch of two-ways players.
3. Boston is deeper than the Mavericks.

The optimist - Mavs in 6
The realist - Celtics in 7

I agree with you 100%.

[Darren]

When it comes to experience, it depends on whether or not the supporting cast could elevate their game to meet the challenges. I have no idea until the end of game 1. Both teams pose difficult mismatches to one another. However, based on regular season record and 3 points statistics, things doesn't look good as of now. It has to start with guarding the perimeter properly and shoot well at least from corner. Make good use on the depth and make good decisions barring any changes on court. This is the Finals. Nothing is given. It should be a great experience for the young group.

[GermanFan120]

For some reason, I don't worry too much about Brown and Tatum.

But I somehow fear Pritchard and White to go off on us and completely out shine our bench scoring.

[ozwizard8]

Positives
1. The Celtics didn't play particularly well in the playoffs. The team also has a recent history of chocking in the post season.
2. Crystal Porzingis is not going to be at full health.
3. The Mavericks have been in clicking ever since the trade deadline. The Mavericks are battle tested by beating 3 50 win teams to make it to the finals. We got two inexperienced playoff teams in Minnesota and Oklahoma, but we still took them down.
4. All the Mavericks have bought into their roles and are playing great team basketball right now. We have the two best offensive players on the court with Kyrie and Luka. Lively should also get his 10-12 points in dunks every game.

Negatives
1. This is a tough matchup. Our strength on offense is two perimeter shooters in Luka and Kyrie, but Boston has very good perimeter defenders.
2. The Celtics have a bunch of two-ways players.
3. Boston is deeper than the Mavericks.

The optimist - Mavs in 6
The realist - Celtics in 7

There are good points made here but interestingly Boston might not be deeper than Mavs in terms of bench. I think they have a solid 6-men rotation. Their 7th-8th-9th-10th men are not that good in case of an injury.

PG-SG:
Celts: White-Jrue-Pritchard
Mavs: Kyrie-Luka-Exum-Hardy

SF-PF:
Celts: Brown-Tatum-Hauser-Tillman
Mavs: DJJ-PJ-THJ-Markieff

C:
Celts: Horford-KP-Kornet
Mavs: Gafford-Lively-Maxi

Do you trust Kornet playing 15mpg or Maxi playing 15 mpg? They just have Pritchard for a bench pg, while the Mavs have Exum-Hardy. So depth-wise Mavs are not that bad.

However, playoffs are not necessarily played with 9-men rotation. So its more important to have better 6-7 men.

* Best player in the series: Luka
* 2nd best: Tatum or Kyrie?
* 3rd best: Brown or Kyrie?
* 4th-8th best: Jrue or Kyrie or KP or PJ or Lively?
* Role players: Horford or DJJ-Gafford-Maxi-Green?
* Bench: Hardy-THJ-Maxi or Pritchard-Hauser?

Kyrie doesn't need to be the 2nd best player on the court. But he should be in contention for 3rd or 4th spot. Then, we need PJ and Lively to step up. We cannot afford Luka being best but Celtics players being 2nd-3rd-4th-5th best players in the series.


1. Luka
2. Tatum
3. Brown
4. Kyrie
5. Jrue
6. Lively
7. PJ
8. KP
9. Horford
10. DJJ
11. Gafford
12. Maxi
13. Pritchard

If after series we feel this was the packing order, then we would probably win the series.
You can think like Lively-PJ being better than KAT, and Gafford-DJJ being better than Naz-Gobert. Or in OKC series Kyrie wasn't better than SGA but he was in that 3rd best player territory which was enough.

[MassimoPayne]

Celtics are deeper but does that matter? I expect maximum of 8-9 guys playing.
It might matter for a long regular season or injuries. But not for the finals. No one cares about the third player of a position

[41Dirk41]

We need Gafford and Lively dominate the paint with alley ops, rebounds and blocks.

Let Boston shoots long 2 and not a lot of 3s (yeah it's hard i know).

Probably in the first game Kidd will allow White and Brown to take some 3s and see their % before make adjustments.

This will be the PJ and DJJ series, they will handle the best duo of G/F in the league. Hard job.

[41Dirk41]

Celtics are deeper but does that matter? I expect maximum of 8-9 guys playing.
It might matter for a long regular season or injuries. But not for the finals. No one cares about the third player of a position

Unless Hauser or Pritchard will hot for 3 i see Boston play in 6 (with KP).

We are deeper but probably with less quality from 3 to 6 man.

[ozwizard8]

This series so far is:

1. Luka
2-3-4. REFS
5-6. Brown-Jrue
7-8. Kyrie-Tatum
9-12 Lively-Horford-PJ-GAfford

Celtics have the 5 of the best 6 people on the court. Their REFs are clutch. Always swinging the momentum other than G4.

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I wish the Mavs were also allowed to defend like this with no call all series. TWolves should be unhappy as they never allowed to this ****. Yes its possible to slow down Luka like that...