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

[ITYSL]

Thanks for sharing the post. The C’s handling of the Luka PnR is the most intriguing part of the series for me. The C’s have the personnel to try so much more than Mavs other PO opponents.

I’m so ready for G1 and glad it is finally the day! GL to the C’s fan!

Same to you!

[UNCBlue012]

Majority of ESPN experts think the Mavericks are favored. I can’t tell if people are just *really* leaning into the idea that “the team with the best player is favored” idea or if people are just *really* overthinking it https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/40279206/2024-nba-finals-predictions-celtics-mavericks-series-mvp

Jerry Bembry and Bobby Marks also picked the Pacers to win the Eastern Conference Conference Finals… and they were swept. Some of these “experts” are solid, but most of them are just biased talking heads.

[Celts17Pride]

Majority of ESPN experts think the Mavericks are favored. I can’t tell if people are just *really* leaning into the idea that “the team with the best player is favored” idea or if people are just *really* overthinking it https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/40279206/2024-nba-finals-predictions-celtics-mavericks-series-mvp

This is bizarre to me, the numbers couldn't be more clear, at least the knowledgeable (Lowe, Bontemps, Pelton) ones are going with Celtics.

Legler has Mavs in 7 though, I'll roll with Legs over all the other analysts.

Legler also said the Celtics/Pacers series was going to be a lot tougher than people think and that it was going 7 games with the Pacers quite possibly winning the series.

[He_Got_Game]

This is what everyone said about the Clippers, Thunder, and TWolves vs the Mavs.


The Clippers, Thunder, and TWolves all beat the Celtics this season BTW

The Celtics would have had a harder time with any of those 3 teams than Dallas. This is a straight up mismatch. Of all the West teams this is the easiest draw outside of Phoenix.

That just isn't realistic. Celtics might win this series but a healthy and hot Mavs team is more difficult than any of those teams. We really haven't seen the Mavs firing on all cylinders until now.

More difficult for the Celtics? No they are not. The Mavs have two guys who will take 50 shots and the other guys waiting for a pass. That's not going to be enough.

[Patches Perry]

All I can say is, after this long of a layoff, the overreactions after game 1 will be spectacular. I'm going Celtics in 7 but I'm not confident. I could see Dallas in 6 as well. I would be surprised if it was a 4 or 5 game series either way.

Good luck Boston and Dallas fans. Enjoy and appreciate the experience!

[ForeverTFC]

The ignorance coming from the pro-Dallas side in this past week has just been astounding. This inevitable Finals victory will be very satisfying.

Celtics fans are so sensitive these days. This wasn't even about you guys. But yes, these Celtics. Becuase that team is of the same generation. Obviously their .500 record and the time lapsed makes clear that there has been roster turnover. But we are in the same era, that's all I meant.

I don't think LeBron and KD are going to care about whether Kyrie wins with another team at this point. To the best of my knowledge KD and Kyrie are close friends who want each other to succeed, and LeBron has nothing to feel insecure about from his time playing next to Kyrie, so I'm not really sure what the original post was hinting at. But nobody feels like KD's legacy has been bolstered by winning in five in the first round against a bad Celtics team that is "from the same generation" as this year's actually good one, when those two teams only share three active players from the playoffs roster and two of them are Luke Kornet and Payton Pritchard.

I agree with you. I never said KD's legacy was bolstered by beating that team. And of course injuries contributed to things, but those Celtics went to the ECF the year before. I was trying to make the same point as you in general; that Kyrie potentially winning this year has no bearing on Lebron or KD's legacy and neither are hoping he loses as a result. I only included the Celtics to show how dominant the Nets were pre-injury as that was the last semi-healthy playoff series they played.

Again, my post had nothing to do with the Celtics.

[HMFFL]

Al Horford is key and and the Celtics frontcourt. We know what to expect from Tatum, but Bostons size, and experience within their front court will be key to beating Dallas. The new additions to the Mavericks front court appear to be ready for the challenge. Horford's experience, leadership, and future gall of fame status will be a problem.

[azcatz11]

Celtics in 6. Tatum cements himself as a superstar and top 5 player in the league after this finals. Bill simmons hires Zach Lowe back to the ringer

[Yinwest]

This is bizarre to me, the numbers couldn't be more clear, at least the knowledgeable (Lowe, Bontemps, Pelton) ones are going with Celtics.

Legler has Mavs in 7 though, I'll roll with Legs over all the other analysts.

Legler also said the Celtics/Pacers series was going to be a lot tougher than people think and that it was going 7 games with the Pacers quite possibly winning the series.

For real? LMAO

[Mr B]

A bench big? Yeah that's true, Kornet did get hurt in the Pacers series...

LMAO

As a Mavs fan, I know a little about KP's history (even if the recovery time has been adequate)... and I know the soleus injuries well, it seems like you recovered, everything is fine and suddenly goodbye... Especially with all that tension of a final... I don't have a crystal ball and I don't want anyone to get hurt, but I don't see KP lasting the entire series.

Yes, I'm worried about that. I hope they ease him in on the minutes so that he can build into it.

So will KP start or come off the bench tonight?

[The_Ghost_of_JB]

As a Mavs fan, I know a little about KP's history (even if the recovery time has been adequate)... and I know the soleus injuries well, it seems like you recovered, everything is fine and suddenly goodbye... Especially with all that tension of a final... I don't have a crystal ball and I don't want anyone to get hurt, but I don't see KP lasting the entire series.

Yes, I'm worried about that. I hope they ease him in on the minutes so that he can build into it.

So will KP start or come off the bench tonight?

I was thinking the same thing. I think Joe has Al start and KP coming off the bench.

[Myth_Breaker]

Let's go Dallas! Mavs in 6*! Let Luka become 3rd international Finals MVP in 4 years! And 6th overall counting Hakeem - Nigerian with also US citizenship...

*OK, I know that damned Celtics are favs on paper, but it still does not change the fact that the above is doable and even quite likely. So down with the Boston evil empire!

[Mr B]

Majority of ESPN experts think the Mavericks are favored. I can’t tell if people are just *really* leaning into the idea that “the team with the best player is favored” idea or if people are just *really* overthinking it https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/40279206/2024-nba-finals-predictions-celtics-mavericks-series-mvp

This is bizarre to me, the numbers couldn't be more clear, at least the knowledgeable (Lowe, Bontemps, Pelton) ones are going with Celtics.

Tim Legler is a well respected analyst and former player. Who did he pick?

[Micah Prescott]

The Celtics would have had a harder time with any of those 3 teams than Dallas. This is a straight up mismatch. Of all the West teams this is the easiest draw outside of Phoenix.

That just isn't realistic. Celtics might win this series but a healthy and hot Mavs team is more difficult than any of those teams. We really haven't seen the Mavs firing on all cylinders until now.

More difficult for the Celtics? No they are not. The Mavs have two guys who will take 50 shots and the other guys waiting for a pass. That's not going to be enough.

It was enough to almost sweep the Wolves, but okay

[Mr B]

This is bizarre to me, the numbers couldn't be more clear, at least the knowledgeable (Lowe, Bontemps, Pelton) ones are going with Celtics.

Legler has Mavs in 7 though, I'll roll with Legs over all the other analysts.

Legler also said the Celtics/Pacers series was going to be a lot tougher than people think and that it was going 7 games with the Pacers quite possibly winning the series.

Lowe had Dallas losing to the Clippers so there’s that too. Oh he also had Dallas losing to OKC and the TWolves.

[Mr B]

That just isn't realistic. Celtics might win this series but a healthy and hot Mavs team is more difficult than any of those teams. We really haven't seen the Mavs firing on all cylinders until now.

More difficult for the Celtics? No they are not. The Mavs have two guys who will take 50 shots and the other guys waiting for a pass. That's not going to be enough.

It was enough to almost sweep the Wolves, but okay

Who had the #1 defense this year? Also who won Defensive Player of the Year? Asking for a friend.

[Celts17Pride]

Legler has Mavs in 7 though, I'll roll with Legs over all the other analysts.

Legler also said the Celtics/Pacers series was going to be a lot tougher than people think and that it was going 7 games with the Pacers quite possibly winning the series.

Lowe had Dallas losing to the Clippers so there’s that too. Oh he also had Dallas losing to OKC and the TWolves.

Which just proves my point, none of them know a damn thing. Their opinions carry about the same weight as the 500+ opinions in this thread.

[Prestige]

This long layoff before the Finals was a mistake by the NBA. It killed all momentum, discussion and buzz about the playoffs online and offline. It feels like the off-season already started.

[KingofTheClay]

This is bizarre to me, the numbers couldn't be more clear, at least the knowledgeable (Lowe, Bontemps, Pelton) ones are going with Celtics.

Legler has Mavs in 7 though, I'll roll with Legs over all the other analysts.

Legler also said the Celtics/Pacers series was going to be a lot tougher than people think and that it was going 7 games with the Pacers quite possibly winning the series.

All these people have their mouths up Leglers schlong.

This moron only knows how to glaze Dallas, every other take he has is wrong nowadays.


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[GWVan]

Yes, I'm worried about that. I hope they ease him in on the minutes so that he can build into it.

So will KP start or come off the bench tonight?

I was thinking the same thing. I think Joe has Al start and KP coming off the bench.

I think the start KP for short minutes and try to go to him earl to get him going and see what he's got