NBA FINALS, Gm 1 – Mavericks @ Celtics – 8:30PM, Thurs, June 6, 2024

[zoyathedestroya]

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I'm QUESTIONABLE for the game. My psyche is injured. I'm not built for this. In the words of Kobe...

[zoyathedestroya]

It's official. We got the big guy back.

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I just want him to play well and not get reinjured, even if it's just for 20-25 minutes.

[31to6]

man the torpedoes

[The Corey's]

As long as KP isn't abused on defense (because he's hurt) then I don't see a problem here.

Dallas isn't worthy of this moment. They have a trash star and a trash head coach. Luka is every bit as sensitive as anyone in the league.

If I have to hear about how he played in Europe at 16 with insane crowds again I'm gonna puke.

This is the same dude getting into it with fans on the sidelines cause they said **** that triggered his sensitivities.

[Hal14]

It's official. We got the big guy back.

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I just want him to play well and not get reinjured, even if it's just for 20-25 minutes.

Exactly. That's why I think it might be best to bring him off the bench.

What if we get to a game 7 but we don't have KP because we played him too many minutes and then lose in game 7?

I like that 25 number. Would like to limit his mins to 25 to decrease the chances that he gets hurt again.. maybe even 20 mins in game 1 to ease him into it more.

[Boston508]

Guys, we're gonna win. This month is my birthday month.. I'll be 36. 3×6=18.

[zoyathedestroya]

Regular starting five is back!

[zoyathedestroya]

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[165bows]

It's official. We got the big guy back.

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I just want him to play well and not get reinjured, even if it's just for 20-25 minutes.

That’s all they’ll need from him imo.

At any rate inhadnt really thought about KP’s post game that much, wonder if that would be a big weapon this series.

[zoyathedestroya]

It's official. We got the big guy back.

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I just want him to play well and not get reinjured, even if it's just for 20-25 minutes.

That’s all they’ll need from him imo.

At any rate inhadnt really thought about KP’s post game that much, wonder if that would be a big weapon this series.

If you want to ease him in, less postups to start, more popping for threes. Opens up driving lanes too. I think the more confident he is with his legs, he'll get more mismatch postups against the Mavs guards/wings.

[zoyathedestroya]

Honestly more interested in how KP holds up on defense. Just him being on the floor impacts our offense in a positive way. But how well can he move on D. 'Cos we can be sure Mavs are going to attack him every time down. Cs can do stuff to protect him but there will be possessions where he will have to guard the perimeter (though I think we go mostly drop with him) and also recover in the paint. Will his legs hold up?

[bisme37]

I took one for the team and tried to watch NBA Today again. They opened this episode by asking if anyone "trusts" Tatum... since Luka has been dominating the playoffs and Tatum "hasn't been his best." (Five minutes after Tatum gave a great answer to a question about why he's been nitpicked and scrutinized more than any player, which they ignored.)

It's just not even real life lmao. A few weeks ago there were threads on the GB about how Luka was sucking all postseason, and Mavs fans weren't even disagreeing. They were just saying to leave him alone because he was injured or something. Meanwhile JT is over here leading the best team in the NBA in every statistical category.

[Fencer reregistered]

Why aren't we wearing green??? that's bs

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No traditional uniforms at all, it seems.

That said, I've gotten used to this year's white uniforms with the "wrong" shade of green.

[London2Boston]

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?s=46

[Parliament10]

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[brackdan70]

Guys, we're gonna win. This month is my birthday month.. I'll be 36. 3×6=18.

Happy Birthday. May your rando numerology be auspicious.

[Boston508]

Guys, we're gonna win. This month is my birthday month.. I'll be 36. 3×6=18.

Happy Birthday. May your rando numerology be auspicious.

Thank you! Let's get number 18!

[bisme37]

We won the simulated title!

So, how will this series play out? We asked our partners at Strat-O-Matic -- who accurately predicted the Celtics' regular-season record down to the exact game -- to simulate the 2024 NBA Finals, with detailed box scores and recaps for every game.

2024 NBA Finals Simulation: Game results

Game 1: Celtics 135, Mavs 127

Spoiler:

Porzingis comes out firing in his first game action since April 29, hitting a pair of 3-pointers early in the first quarter to help Boston open up a double-digit lead.

The Celtics expand their lead to as many as 17 points, but the Mavs surge back behind a barrage of buckets from Doncic and Irving and take the lead early in the fourth quarter on a Derrick Jones Jr. 3-pointer.

Boston delivers with the game on the line, however, scoring the final 14 points of the contest -- including a dagger Porzingis 3-pointer with 40 seconds remaining -- to clinch a Game 1 win.

Porzingis finishes with 21 points while Tatum and Brown combine for 61 points (36 and 25, respectively) to survive brilliant performances from both Doncic (38 points, 15 rebounds and five assists) and Irving (31 points and eight assists).

Game 2: Celtics 128, Mavs 124

Spoiler:

Celtics fans get some early-playoff Game 2 flashbacks in this one, as the Mavs race out to a 10-point lead midway through the second quarter. But Jrue Holiday helps settle the C's down with eight straight points near the end of the first half, and Derrick White's 3-pointer helps Boston enter the break with a two-point lead.

The Celtics hold a two-point lead with under five minutes remaining when Tatum converts layups on consecutive possessions to put his team up by six. Dallas gets no closer than five until the closing seconds, as Boston earns another crunch-time victory to take a 2-0 series lead.

Tatum (34 points) and Holiday (24 points) pace the Celtics, while Doncic (35) and Irving (31) again are a two-man show for Dallas.

Game 3: Mavs 115, Celtics 108

Spoiler:

The Celtics hold their own early in Game 3 as the series swings to Dallas, taking a six-point lead into halftime. But the Mavs respond with a 38-point third quarter and add 30 more in the fourth, ripping off a 19-7 run down the stretch that balloons their lead to as many as 13 points with four minutes remaining.

Boston has no answer for Doncic -- who goes off for a series-high 43 points, nine rebounds and 10 assists -- while Irving chips in 24. Brown is the Celtics' high scorer at 27 points and Porzingis adds 22, but Tatum is limited to 21 points on just 14 shots.

Game 4: Celtics 118, Mavs 103

Spoiler:

The Mavs surge to a 12-point first-quarter lead and appear poised to tie the series at 2-2 heading back to Boston. But the Celtics deliver a strong response, limiting Dallas to just 13 points in the second quarter and taking a double-digit lead of their own in the third quarter.

The Jays do their thing -- 26 points from Brown and 24 from Tatum -- and Derrick White steps up with 20 points on four made 3-pointers, but it's Boston's defense that wins this game. Doncic makes just 10 of 25 shots for a series-low 26 points and commits three turnovers as the Celtics take a decisive 3-1 series lead with the chance to secure Banner 18 in Boston.

Game 5: Celtics 123, Mavs 103

Mission accomplished.

Spoiler:

The Mavs keep it close for two quarters before the Celtics send TD Garden into a frenzy with a 14-0 run late in the third that gives them a 94-77 lead. Boston's defense once again leads the charge, limiting Dallas to just 38 second-half points while forcing a total of 20 Mavs turnovers.

On the offensive end, Brown delivers 31 points on 60 percent shooting (12 of 20), while Tatum (27), White (23) and Porzingis (21) all top 20 points in a fitting end to a dominant season for the Celtics.

Two years after watching the Golden State Warriors celebrate the 2022 championship on their own floor, the C's get sweet redemption and kick off a Garden Party by securing their NBA-record 18th title in franchise history.

https://sports.yahoo.com/2024-nba-finals-simulation-predicts-195454652.html

[Mr_Mojo_Risin]

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A bit disingenuous having Kyrie as Australian given he was born in Australia to American parents and left when he was 2yo, then chose not to be available to play for Australia.

[The Corey's]

I'm about done with the ball washing of Dallas by the media.

Make them suffer