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

[Mavrelous]

Talking about the team, Luka and Kyrie are making their teammates better and the best verions of themselves. Can't say that about Tatum and Brown.

Both teams have the right role players around Luka/Kyrie and Tatum/Brown. Did Luka made KP show his best version ? Now he's doing that next to Tatum and Brown who are not PGs anyway. Quite a contrast between these two combos and teams, which makes this series so interesting.

KP biggest problem was and is being healthy. He was injured in 1st series against Clippers and he played only 43 games next year.

And any "normal" team counting on him wouldn't make it past the 2nd round, Celtics could afford it because of their insane roster quality, massive injury luck to oponnents and weak conference to begin with.
Imagine KP being the center instead Chet or Gobert, and he misses game 3 and out? Suddenly top western teams become 1st rd underdogs...

[sol537]

Why is there such a big divergence between the public+pundits (who think that the series is a tossup or even that the Mavs are favored) and Vegas+”Sharps” (who think that the Celtics have a clear advantage)

Because most Celtics fans haven’t watched or paid any attention to what Dallas has been doing. They expect the Mavs to be the Pacers or the Cavs, but they’re not. The Mavs are MUCH better than any team the Celtics have faced. A good majority of Celtics fans seem to believe that this is just a formality they they win the Championship. Pundits actually watch the games. They see the Mavs are really good. They see the level of competition the Celtics have faced and know they are going to have trouble with Dallas.

This.

Boston hasn't looked great against the mediocre East teams. Some things I saw in the Indy series were quite concerning... Mavs are way better than Indy and Boston had to come from behind late in 3 of the 4 games. Boston had trouble containing Siakam and Nembhard, of all people. What will Luka and Kyrie do to them?

Then you got Boston fans underestimating how well Lively, PJ, Jones Jr., Hardy, Gafford, and Green have been playing in these playoffs. KP's health and rhythm will be a huge question mark this entire series and then after Hortford, you got a pretty awful Boston bench. Mavs have a big bench advantage IMO.

If Boston is playing hero ball in 4th quarters, Tatum is taking too many step-back threes, and the Boston bench gives them nothing (like they did in the Indy series)... Mavs are going to take this in 6 or 7. Boston should win on paper... absolutely. But games aren't played on paper. Mavs have the dawg in them right now. It's like the first Mr T. vs. Rocky fight in Rocky 3. Rocky was getting soft with lame opponents while Mr. T was uber hungry beating up on top talent.

I'll predict Mavs in 6 or 7.

[PierceFan4ever]

How on earth is there 73 pages without a game being played lmao

[Bob8]

Funny how saying Kyrie is better than Tatum is peak homerism, they are close in all advanced metrics and counting stats except rebounding, with slight advantage to Tatum, while same people will argue Tatum Vs Luka when they are nowhere near each other in counting stats and in advanced metrics.
I think Tatum is clearly a better player than Kyrie, but the distance from Kyrie to Tatum ( Both ~5 BPM, ~4.5 EPM, WS/48 favours Tatum .189 to .169) is significantly shorter than the distance from Tatum to Luka (10 BPM, 8 EPM, .22 WS/48), if you argue the latter, you lose any ground mocking the former...

Tatum isn't necessarily too close to Luka, but he's closer to Luka than Kyrie is to Tatum.

Jesus Christ man lol. Kyrie scores more effeciently in isolation. Tatum is still capable of being a 30ppg scorer on 60%ts. Kyrie can't run an offense like Tatum can, can't be an offensive engine like Tatum can, and certainty doesn't have the defensive impact Tatum does.

Tatum isn't the offensive player Luka is, and I'm not saying his defense makes him equal, but the defensive gap, and his own ability to run an offense has him closer to Luka than Kyrie is to him.

Tatum vs. Luka

https://stathead.com/tiny/Kp9RN

Tatum vs. Kyrie

https://stathead.com/tiny/7fYVe

[In-N-Out 247]

this gap from the end of the conference finals to the beginning of the Finals is just killing all of the momentum.

[Special_Puppy]

Why is there such a big divergence between the public+pundits (who think that the series is a tossup or even that the Mavs are favored) and Vegas+”Sharps” (who think that the Celtics have a clear advantage)

Because most Celtics fans haven’t watched or paid any attention to what Dallas has been doing. They expect the Mavs to be the Pacers or the Cavs, but they’re not. The Mavs are MUCH better than any team the Celtics have faced. A good majority of Celtics fans seem to believe that this is just a formality they they win the Championship. Pundits actually watch the games. They see the Mavs are really good. They see the level of competition the Celtics have faced and know they are going to have trouble with Dallas.

I didn't say anything about Celtics fans? I said Vegas+"Sharps" were the ones who think that the Celtics have a clear advantage.

[bisme37]

Hey look, actual basketball analysis.

Watch on YouTube

[Swish77]

How on earth is there 73 pages without a game being played lmao

Same thing I was thinking lol

[GSWFan1994]

The finals are always an awesome time of the year for me, because that's when me and my group of friends get together to watch the games, talk trash and eat some crap.

Everybody is old and has a family now, so it gets difficult to get together during the season, along with the meaningless games, but we try our best to reunite when the finals happens, when the stakes are high.

The time the games start is quite good as well for someone living in Brazil, they are starting at 9 pm here, so you won't feel like a zombie in the next day.

We will get together this sunday to eat some pizzas, then next friday as well too, and hopefully in game 7 (which will happen in a sunday IIRC) if all goes according to plan.

Here's wishing a wonderful, enjoyable experience for all of you guys. Greetings from Brazil, land of nowhere.

[bisme37]

Read on Twitter

[Green89]

Celtics are winning this fairly easily.

But I have to admit I havent really watched Dallas this postseason... I just dont really trust them, and I think this Boston team is indeed obscenely good.

Well, you could've just kept that for yourself, honestly. If you haven't watched Dallas at all this PO, then why can you even make a bold statement like this? It's not like you're even trying

I can see his point. When you watch the utter brilliance and awesomeness of the Celtics as a team, you know no others can stack up to their level, regardless of seeing the others play of not. It's just knowing good basketball when you see it.

And he didn't say he doesn't know Dallas, just that he hasn't watched them this playoffs. I mean you really don't need to see them to know Boston is going to win, right?

[Romeiro Celtic]

Celtics are winning this fairly easily.

But I have to admit I havent really watched Dallas this postseason... I just dont really trust them, and I think this Boston team is indeed obscenely good.

Well, you could've just kept that for yourself, honestly. If you haven't watched Dallas at all this PO, then why can you even make a bold statement like this? It's not like you're even trying

I can see his point. When you watch the utter brilliance and awesomeness of the Celtics as a team, you know no others can stack up to their level, regardless of seeing the others play of not. It's just knowing good basketball when you see it.

And he didn't say he doesn't know Dallas, just that he hasn't watched them this playoffs. I mean you really don't need to see them to know Boston is going to win, right?

I like your confidence, but let's not get dellusional here. Dallas has a great team and has been playing terrific basketball. I'm not saying they're going to win or that I don't want us to win. I just don't see that massive destruction that is going to happen. I see a very close and hard fought finals for both teams.

[CD_41]

Celtics are winning this fairly easily.

But I have to admit I havent really watched Dallas this postseason... I just dont really trust them, and I think this Boston team is indeed obscenely good.

Well, you could've just kept that for yourself, honestly. If you haven't watched Dallas at all this PO, then why can you even make a bold statement like this? It's not like you're even trying

I can see his point. When you watch the utter brilliance and awesomeness of the Celtics as a team, you know no others can stack up to their level, regardless of seeing the others play of not. It's just knowing good basketball when you see it.

And he didn't say he doesn't know Dallas, just that he hasn't watched them this playoffs. I mean you really don't need to see them to know Boston is going to win, right?

As I've stated a couple of times, the Celtics should be the favorites and it would not surprise me if they win the finals 4-1.
But what you're saying is just straight embarrassing. And you know this. Stop defending the BS.

[Mr B]

Why is there such a big divergence between the public+pundits (who think that the series is a tossup or even that the Mavs are favored) and Vegas+”Sharps” (who think that the Celtics have a clear advantage)

Because most Celtics fans haven’t watched or paid any attention to what Dallas has been doing. They expect the Mavs to be the Pacers or the Cavs, but they’re not. The Mavs are MUCH better than any team the Celtics have faced. A good majority of Celtics fans seem to believe that this is just a formality they they win the Championship. Pundits actually watch the games. They see the Mavs are really good. They see the level of competition the Celtics have faced and know they are going to have trouble with Dallas.

The Pacers are a better offensive team than Dallas.

But the whole "who did they play to get here" thing is nonsense. Most of this Celtic core had an extremely tough path to the finals in 2022, and they're battle tested and playoff experienced... WAY more so than the Mavs..but because KP and Jrue are here, and and they haven't played the best competition, they're suddenly gonna get steamrolled?

Dallas fans are acting like they're going to steamroll the Celtics.

I've watched nearly ever game this post season. Sure, Dallas will be their best test...it's the NBA finals. But Dallas has not played on offense nearly as potentent as Boston's, and they haven't played a defense nearly as well matched as Boston's..

Celtics are the best offensive and defensive team Dallas will face. Dallas is the best defensive team Celtics will face, and the second best offensive team..Celtics still had a historically great regular season, and playoff run now.

The series will be competitive, but it's utterly assinine, and bad faith arguing to suggest that Celtics being favored is an egregious take.

This is Boston hatred. Nothing more.

Halliburton got injured in game 2 and didn’t play in games 3 and 4. Once he went out the series was done. They were not the challenge that Dallas will be for them. Also Donovan Mitchell was out in their series and Jimmy Butler was out in their series. So Boston has yet to face a team with their best player (aside from game 1 against the Pacers which Boston barely won. The Celtics won’t have that luxury against Dallas.

Also how many 50 win teams have the Celtics faced in these playoffs? How many 50 win teams has Dallas faced?

[xdrta+]

Why is there such a big divergence between the public+pundits (who think that the series is a tossup or even that the Mavs are favored) and Vegas+”Sharps” (who think that the Celtics have a clear advantage)

Because people chatter with their heart, but bet with their brain. Vegas odds reflect how the money is coming in.

[dakomish23]

https://youtu.be/

Watch on YouTube

?si=nNNE_ZzcFJfEsrL_

[Green89]

Well, you could've just kept that for yourself, honestly. If you haven't watched Dallas at all this PO, then why can you even make a bold statement like this? It's not like you're even trying

I can see his point. When you watch the utter brilliance and awesomeness of the Celtics as a team, you know no others can stack up to their level, regardless of seeing the others play of not. It's just knowing good basketball when you see it.

And he didn't say he doesn't know Dallas, just that he hasn't watched them this playoffs. I mean you really don't need to see them to know Boston is going to win, right?

As I've stated a couple of times, the Celtics should be the favorites and it would not surprise me if they win the finals 4-1.
But what you're saying is just straight embarrassing. And you know this. Stop defending the BS.

The above post of mine and what I'm about to say below is exactly at the obnoxious level as a lot of the Dallas are going to dominate posts in here. I'm just trying to keep the sides even with some of our own asinine, green goggle posts in support of the C's.

It's going to be an utter annihilation of Dallas, and everyone knows it.

[CD_41]

I can see his point. When you watch the utter brilliance and awesomeness of the Celtics as a team, you know no others can stack up to their level, regardless of seeing the others play of not. It's just knowing good basketball when you see it.

And he didn't say he doesn't know Dallas, just that he hasn't watched them this playoffs. I mean you really don't need to see them to know Boston is going to win, right?

As I've stated a couple of times, the Celtics should be the favorites and it would not surprise me if they win the finals 4-1.
But what you're saying is just straight embarrassing. And you know this. Stop defending the BS.

The above post of mine and what I'm about to say below is exactly at the obnoxious level as a lot of the Dallas are going to dominate posts in here. I'm just trying to keep the sides even with some of our own asinine, green goggle posts in support of the C's.

It's going to be an utter annihilation of Dallas, and everyone knows it.

"He said something stupid so I have the right to do the same thing."

[Green89]

As I've stated a couple of times, the Celtics should be the favorites and it would not surprise me if they win the finals 4-1.
But what you're saying is just straight embarrassing. And you know this. Stop defending the BS.

The above post of mine and what I'm about to say below is exactly at the obnoxious level as a lot of the Dallas are going to dominate posts in here. I'm just trying to keep the sides even with some of our own asinine, green goggle posts in support of the C's.

It's going to be an utter annihilation of Dallas, and everyone knows it.

"He said something stupid so I have the right to do the same thing."

Yes, exactly, we do agree on something!

[SlimShady83]

Mavs In 6 Baby and all the Luka haters can shut up hahaha