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

[RB34]

I think people are underrating the Mavs a bit. I like the celtics odds if Porzingis is healthy enough to contribute, but I expect it to be a close series.

Most people are picking the Mavs.

[baldur]

I think people are underrating the Mavs a bit. I like the celtics odds if Porzingis is healthy enough to contribute, but I expect it to be a close series.

Only sportsbooking companies underrate the mavs.

[vulture]

First thing I’m watching for is if Celtics switch their centers when luka runs pick and roll. Will the Celtics put their centers on Derrick jones or pj Washington to force luka to use those guys as screeners?

The Celtics have done a good job this postseason of hitting the pressure points and hunting the right matchups. Will the mavs double when Tatum/brown hunt Luka/kyrie?

If the Celtics continue to hit the right notes especially in crunch time, it’s their series. If Luka leads the dance and stresses the Celtics centers then mavs have a good chance.

This should be fun so let’s get it!

You do realize that Luka can call for anyone to set the screen right? Luka will always get the more favorable matchup to switch on to him. It’s not just centers he picks on.

Who is he going to pick on?

Next on the list would be white and Pritchard. After what Jimmy did to jrue last playoffs I wonder if he becomes a target and will he hold up?

Can’t wait for Thursday.

[dc]

I think people are underrating the Mavs a bit. I like the celtics odds if Porzingis is healthy enough to contribute, but I expect it to be a close series.

I think most people are giving them a solid shot, with Boston still being the favorite. Anytime you beat 3 50+ win teams in consecutive series and have the best player, you're obviously a really good team and have a shot to win the next series.

Celts didn't have anything in terms of a real test to get to the Finals, but they can't pick who they play. I know people are disappointed with them in that the Pacers had a real shot to win 3 games, but when it got to crunch time the Celts made all the necessary plays and shots they needed to win, and it came from multiple people.

I think people give Boston the advantage because of how good they've been wire to wire, how they're difficult to defend with 5 guys on the floor who can all shoot the ball and because they now have Finals experience that they didn't have 2 years ago.

People are giving the Mavs a chance because they have the best player, have beaten 3 high quality opponents to get to the Finals and have been hot down the stretch after integrating the guys they got in trade. Celts are the favorites as they should be, but it wouldn't be some shocking upset to see the Mavs win, IMO.

[playa-hater]

I was told don't come on here.. They warned me.. They said people on here are delusional.. So I checked it out myself. And they were right.. More people picking Dallas to win over Boston..

I think Boston would win the series minus KP but with KP Boston Should win in 5 or 6.

Dallas will not be able to hide Luka on some poor offensive player like he has done throughout the playoffs.. Boston's least offensive threat will kill him..

Against Minnesota Luka was basically playing free safety all by himself in the Lane..

I will definitely rejoin this thread And eat crow if Boston loses.. But for the 200ish people that picked Dallas you guys better show up..

[BeiBeau]

I was told don't come on here.. They warned me.. They said people on here are delusional.. So I checked it out myself. And they were right.. More people picking Dallas to win over Boston..

Boston fans echo chambers thinking others are delusional? Shocker.

Also you’re bad at math. More people are picking Boston.

[KyRo23]

Not sure why everyone is **** on Kyrie and Luka's defense... they have been more than okay. I didn't see much "hiding them" on lesser players. Speaking of which, who have Tatum and Brown had to guard this post season? I have no dog in this fight at all, but I'm just not seeing some of these takes

[dygaction]

Read on Twitter

[Darthlukey]

I think people are underrating the Mavs a bit. I like the celtics odds if Porzingis is healthy enough to contribute, but I expect it to be a close series.

Most people are picking the Mavs.

Based on talent alone, the Celtics should easily win this series. But the Celtics dont play up to their talent where the Mavs seem to be clicking at the moment, making them the easier choice at the moment

[manlisten]

Some might dismiss this as irrelevant but I think the gambling lines provide a very strong indicator of who will win this series. Boston might be favored but they are the weaker team entering the Finals. They swept Indiana but only covered once in 4 games whereas the Mavs covered in 4/5 including winning outright as dogs in 3 games. The teams are trending in opposite directions as Dallas is peaking and Boston has been gradually becoming a less reliable cover all throughout the playoffs. I'd say Dallas has a great chance to Ride their momentum into an upset and I'd also expect them to cover game 1 if not steal it straight up.

Great logic.

Uses previous gambling lines to say Mavs are going to win. Completely dismisses the current gambling lines that say Celtics are favs.

The previous gambling lines also had Boston as the favorite and they failed to cover 75% of the time against Indy. That's the point. They're the favorites because they have home court advantage and a better record, NOT because they're performing better RIGHT NOW...which they aren't. That's how you make money betting on the NBA.

[Special_Puppy]

Haven’t seen this mentioned at all, but the Celtics have substantially more playoff experience than the Mavericks which does matter historically https://neilpaine.substack.com/p/the-oklahoma-city-thunder-are-rolling

[Bob8]

I was told don't come on here.. They warned me.. They said people on here are delusional.. So I checked it out myself. And they were right.. More people picking Dallas to win over Boston..

I think Boston would win the series minus KP but with KP Boston Should win in 5 or 6.

Dallas will not be able to hide Luka on some poor offensive player like he has done throughout the playoffs.. Boston's least offensive threat will kill him..

Against Minnesota Luka was basically playing free safety all by himself in the Lane..

I will definitely rejoin this thread And eat crow if Boston loses.. But for the 200ish people that picked Dallas you guys better show up..

I can't understand how fans picking their team or team they like more can be questionable? That's as normal as it gets. The only laughable thing is Celtics fans being outrageous about fans not picking Celtics, like you're some kind of dynasty or having roster like prime Warriors. Yes you have good starting lineup, but you're far from some of those great past teams.

Celtics can be favourites and Mavs still having a solid chance to win. Vegas is saying you have 66% to win, which is very good probability, but Mavs having 33% is still not exactly improbable, what Celtics fans want us to believe. If Mavs win 1 of first 2 games, odds will change dramatically.

[Bob8]

Haven’t seen this mentioned at all, but the Celtics have substantially more playoff experience than the Mavericks which does matter historically https://neilpaine.substack.com/p/the-oklahoma-city-thunder-are-rolling

Sure, difference is that Kyrie is the only 1 with the ring among superstars and Luka is playing tough, championship games in much more hostile environments than it will be in Boston since 2017. Kinda doubt anything can influence their play. And those 2 are Mavs whole offensive system.

https://youtu.be/ou-jHJrE1Is?si=0jSRsm8ivmXYQG2F

[Bolivar]

Haven’t seen this mentioned at all, but the Celtics have substantially more playoff experience than the Mavericks which does matter historically

Eastern conference playoff experience and one losing Finals series

[FarBeyondDriven]

ill take the refs in 5.

yep. Get your popcorn ready. Mavs in 6. Luka new face of the league per the script.

[Johnny Firpo]

I was told don't come on here.. They warned me.. They said people on here are delusional.. So I checked it out myself. And they were right.. More people picking Dallas to win over Boston..

I think Boston would win the series minus KP but with KP Boston Should win in 5 or 6.

Dallas will not be able to hide Luka on some poor offensive player like he has done throughout the playoffs.. Boston's least offensive threat will kill him..

Against Minnesota Luka was basically playing free safety all by himself in the Lane..

I will definitely rejoin this thread And eat crow if Boston loses.. But for the 200ish people that picked Dallas you guys better show up..

First of all, 240 votes for the Celtics, 220 for the Mavs. Second of all, Doncic did not play free safety in the series. Also, Doncic and Irving has been targeted all the time in the playoffs, yet so far the results:

Luka Dončić

Guards/Forwards FG% against Luka in playoffs: 39%
First in total deflections during the playoffs for all players
Tied for second in total steals during the playoffs for all players

Kyrie Irving

Guards/Forwards FG% against Kyrie in playoffs: 38.7%
Second in total deflections during the playoffs for all players
Tied for first in total steals during the playoffs for all players
Third in total loose balls recovered on defense during the playoffs for all players

They are playing the defense of their lives while continuously being targeted. Now here comes the surprise to you, I think the Celtics are the favorites, precisely because the Celtics' players will be not be dumb to methodically attack Doncic and Irving so they can prepare for it, going away from the game plan. The Celtics is hard to defend not because of their ISOs, but their efficient/quick team ball. On defense, you don't really have much of a time to react against the Celtics, because they will shoot so quickly, and Doncic or Irving are better defenders against slower ISOs then against quick movement and actions and elite shooting. If the Celtics try to ISO on every possession against Doncic or Irving, that will play exactly into the hands of the Mavs.

[Bob8]

I was told don't come on here.. They warned me.. They said people on here are delusional.. So I checked it out myself. And they were right.. More people picking Dallas to win over Boston..

I think Boston would win the series minus KP but with KP Boston Should win in 5 or 6.

Dallas will not be able to hide Luka on some poor offensive player like he has done throughout the playoffs.. Boston's least offensive threat will kill him..

Against Minnesota Luka was basically playing free safety all by himself in the Lane..

I will definitely rejoin this thread And eat crow if Boston loses.. But for the 200ish people that picked Dallas you guys better show up..

First of all, 240 votes for the Celtics, 220 for the Mavs. Second of all, Doncic did not play free safety in the series. Also, Doncic and Irving has been targeted all the time in the playoffs, yet so far the results:

Luka Dončić

Guards/Forwards FG% against Luka in playoffs: 39%
First in total deflections during the playoffs for all players
Tied for second in total steals during the playoffs for all players

Kyrie Irving

Guards/Forwards FG% against Kyrie in playoffs: 38.7%
Second in total deflections during the playoffs for all players
Tied for first in total steals during the playoffs for all players
Third in total loose balls recovered on defense during the playoffs for all players

They are playing the defense of their lives while continuously being targeted. Now here comes the surprise to you, I think the Celtics are the favorites, precisely because the Celtics' players will be not be dumb to methodically attack Doncic and Irving so they can prepare for it, going away from the game plan. The Celtics is hard to defend not because of their ISOs, but their efficient/quick team ball. On defense, you don't really have much of a time to react against the Celtics, because they will shoot so quickly, and Doncic or Irving are better defenders against slower ISOs then against quick movement and actions and elite shooting. If the Celtics try to ISO on every possession against Doncic or Irving, that will play exactly into the hands of the Mavs.

I can understand that Celtics fans don't know much about Luka's and Kyrie's D, they're not watching Mavs much, like Mavs fans don't watch Celtics much. Baffling thing about Finals discussion is that they're just dismissing how Mavs got to the Finals, like they were playing against lottery teams. OKC was #1 seed in the West and Wolves beat champions with the best player of the league. Instead of giving credit to Mavs, they're rather dismissing their opponents. OKC and Wolves were betting favourites too. Their fan bases were as sure of winning as Celtics fans. I guess not anymore. Something is being confident in your team, every fan should be confident, something totally else is this arrogant bull we're reading here.

[hagredionis]

Luka is first in total steals.

[Johnny Firpo]

I was told don't come on here.. They warned me.. They said people on here are delusional.. So I checked it out myself. And they were right.. More people picking Dallas to win over Boston..

I think Boston would win the series minus KP but with KP Boston Should win in 5 or 6.

Dallas will not be able to hide Luka on some poor offensive player like he has done throughout the playoffs.. Boston's least offensive threat will kill him..

Against Minnesota Luka was basically playing free safety all by himself in the Lane..

I will definitely rejoin this thread And eat crow if Boston loses.. But for the 200ish people that picked Dallas you guys better show up..

First of all, 240 votes for the Celtics, 220 for the Mavs. Second of all, Doncic did not play free safety in the series. Also, Doncic and Irving has been targeted all the time in the playoffs, yet so far the results:

Luka Dončić

Guards/Forwards FG% against Luka in playoffs: 39%
First in total deflections during the playoffs for all players
Tied for second in total steals during the playoffs for all players

Kyrie Irving

Guards/Forwards FG% against Kyrie in playoffs: 38.7%
Second in total deflections during the playoffs for all players
Tied for first in total steals during the playoffs for all players
Third in total loose balls recovered on defense during the playoffs for all players

They are playing the defense of their lives while continuously being targeted. Now here comes the surprise to you, I think the Celtics are the favorites, precisely because the Celtics' players will be not be dumb to methodically attack Doncic and Irving so they can prepare for it, going away from the game plan. The Celtics is hard to defend not because of their ISOs, but their efficient/quick team ball. On defense, you don't really have much of a time to react against the Celtics, because they will shoot so quickly, and Doncic or Irving are better defenders against slower ISOs then against quick movement and actions and elite shooting. If the Celtics try to ISO on every possession against Doncic or Irving, that will play exactly into the hands of the Mavs.

I can understand that Celtics fans don't know much about Luka's and Kyrie's D, they're not watching Mavs much, like Mavs fans don't watch Celtics much. Baffling thing about Finals discussion is that they're just dismissing how Mavs got to the Finals, like they were playing against lottery teams. OKC was #1 seed in the West and Wolves beat champions with the best player of the league. Instead of giving credit to Mavs, they're rather dismissing their opponents. OKC and Wolves were betting favourites too. Their fan bases were as sure of winning as Celtics fans. I guess not anymore.

They are very arrogant, yes, but I understand. They are a very good team that play dominant team ball. I can see a road map for this where they win easily. The frustrating thing about this series is that Mavs could do a lot of things well on any given night, but the Celtics forces games to be about the 3 point math. And if they win that by a landslide on any given night, they could win even if they get outrebounded and outscored in the paint by a lot. With that said, even though I view the Celtics as favorites, if I were a Celtics fan, I'd like to think I would have more respect for the Mavs, and would probably give them a little more credit, yes, even while still acknowledging that my team (the Celtics in this scenario) could be superior and the favorites.

[RB34]

First of all, 240 votes for the Celtics, 220 for the Mavs. Second of all, Doncic did not play free safety in the series. Also, Doncic and Irving has been targeted all the time in the playoffs, yet so far the results:

Luka Dončić

Guards/Forwards FG% against Luka in playoffs: 39%
First in total deflections during the playoffs for all players
Tied for second in total steals during the playoffs for all players

Kyrie Irving

Guards/Forwards FG% against Kyrie in playoffs: 38.7%
Second in total deflections during the playoffs for all players
Tied for first in total steals during the playoffs for all players
Third in total loose balls recovered on defense during the playoffs for all players

They are playing the defense of their lives while continuously being targeted. Now here comes the surprise to you, I think the Celtics are the favorites, precisely because the Celtics' players will be not be dumb to methodically attack Doncic and Irving so they can prepare for it, going away from the game plan. The Celtics is hard to defend not because of their ISOs, but their efficient/quick team ball. On defense, you don't really have much of a time to react against the Celtics, because they will shoot so quickly, and Doncic or Irving are better defenders against slower ISOs then against quick movement and actions and elite shooting. If the Celtics try to ISO on every possession against Doncic or Irving, that will play exactly into the hands of the Mavs.

I can understand that Celtics fans don't know much about Luka's and Kyrie's D, they're not watching Mavs much, like Mavs fans don't watch Celtics much. Baffling thing about Finals discussion is that they're just dismissing how Mavs got to the Finals, like they were playing against lottery teams. OKC was #1 seed in the West and Wolves beat champions with the best player of the league. Instead of giving credit to Mavs, they're rather dismissing their opponents. OKC and Wolves were betting favourites too. Their fan bases were as sure of winning as Celtics fans. I guess not anymore.

They are very arrogant, yes, but I understand. They are a very good team that play dominant team ball. I can see a road map for this where they win easily. The frustrating thing about this series is that Mavs could do a lot of things well on any given night, but the Celtics forces games to be about the 3 point math. And if they win that by a landslide on any given night, they could win even if they get outrebounded and outscored in the paint by a lot. With that said, even though I view the Celtics as favorites, if I were a Celtics fan, I'd like to think I would have more respect for the Mavs, and would probably give them a little more credit, yes, even while still acknowledging that my team (the Celtics in this scenario) could be superior and the favorites.

There are plenty of Celtics fans giving the Mavs credit. Some people in this thread have worked themselves into a frenzy, conversing with a select few posters and acting like all Celtics fans are evil and enjoy killing babies.

Post after post calling the entire Celtics fanbase arrogant, idiots, Klan members and all the rest. Can you not see the arrogance in that?