2024 NBA FINALS: #1 Boston Celtics vs #5 Dallas Mavericks (BOS leads 2-0)

[hugepatsfan]

Tatum is frustrating compared to other superstars because he doesn’t have those games where gets you 40 and tons of assists. But thankfully he’s grown to where you can make him shoot like **** or you can make him have tunnel vision and jack up shots but you can’t do both. He’s not gonna force it if he doesn’t have good looks and he’ll get his assists. Hopefully he can get to another level doing both but at least he does one now usually.

[blueberrysticky]

I think Kidd is trying to get Tatum to do an iso competition with Luka

He is assisting but I think he might have gotten into his head

[brackdan70]

Replace Tatum with Luka and the Celtics team would’ve won a chip the previous seasons.

Real sharp take there sport. Thanks for the obvious.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

Luka exploded and the Mavs down 3.

The scary part the Celtics are playing bad and still winning. Not a good sign for the Mavs.

I think Boston will blow this open.

Luka can't do much more. Kyrie is pretty much in his bag. Dallas doesn't have others who can step up.

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[G R E Y]

Everyone wants to kill Tatum, but he is gonna have a trip double tonight.


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That's fine as long as you don't tell me he's a superstar. He's clearly not.

I don’t care. He is a top 8 player. He is giving the team what it needs. They are 13-2 in playoffs.

Consider….

3-15 from 3
Tatum 2-10
Luka 23 points.

Who is leading at end of first half?

Tatum is 2-10. The only problem with Tatum is he is missing shots. He is getting what he wants. And, 8 assists. Dallas doesn’t have enough talent.


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This isn't getting enough credit. Tatum used to be a heavy ISO tunnel vision player. He's improved his passing and willingness. He's helping his team even when struggling to score. Luka has 23 points, 3 assists, and Mavs are down. Which would a fan take?

[SportsGuru08]

Tatum has 8 assists at **** halftime and people are upset he’s not scoring while his team is ahead. Also if the Luka had real help stuff is kicking up again like clockwork

Because he's being propped up like he's some ultimate superstar when he clearly isn't

[Petergrifindor]

Boston didn't play particularly well and still have the lead.

Because Dallas played even worse.

[shotsquatch]

I hate advertisements so much they make me shake with rage.

[meh]

When Jones Jr. just completely turn down shooting a wide open 3, that was a bad sign for Dallas. He needs to be confident enough to take that shot.

[G R E Y]

Luka exploded and the Mavs down 3.

The scary part the Celtics are playing bad and still winning. Not a good sign for the Mavs.

I think Boston will blow this open.

Luka can't do much more. Kyrie is pretty much in his bag. Dallas doesn't have others who can step up.

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Well they do but Cs have done a good job mitigating other strengths. There's only been like 2 or 3 alley oops so far by the Mavs.

[TheNewEra]

Replace Tatum with Luka and the Celtics team would’ve won a chip the previous seasons.

you don’t have this team dynamic with that playstyle. Celtics are as great as they are because the guys on the team are locked into roles and adapt.

[prejt]

Kyrie's play has been mind-boggling, especially for someone who's been here before.

He's playing like he's mentally weak
Its weird to see him like this
Boston has good defense, but he's torched better
Maybe he revives in the second half, along with the team, who still seem nervous in general

[GeorgeSears]

Even though the Celtics are up 3, this series feels like it's going to be a sweep.

Luka/Kyrie aren't able to hunt mismatches, and the Celtics don't need to blitz either of them, this in turn allows the other defenders to stay home on the 3pt shooters and prevent kickout 3s that the Mavs have lived with the entire playoff run. It's why the Mavs are shooting so poorly from 3 in this series.

It's going to take a supernatural effort from Luka to steal a game.

[dockingsched]

Tatum has 8 assists at **** halftime and people are upset he’s not scoring while his team is ahead. Also if the Luka had real help stuff is kicking up again like clockwork

He’s 2 for 9, so it’s not like he’s passing up shots to focus on passing. He’s shooting like trash.

His shot isn’t falling so he’s not forcing it so why should he his team is ahead. Get the shots up to keep the defense aware but the last thing he needs to do is trying to force shots to appease a duel online against Luka.

May be im misunderstanding the criticism, I didn’t think it was that they’re upset he’s not shooting. It’s that if you’re gonna shoot 9 times, you better score more than 5 points.

[Tha Cynic]

Tatum is frustrating compared to other superstars because he doesn’t have those games where gets you 40 and tons of assists. But thankfully he’s grown to where you can make him shoot like **** or you can make him have tunnel vision and jack up shots but you can’t do both. He’s not gonna force it if he doesn’t have good looks and he’ll get his assists. Hopefully he can get to another level doing both but at least he does one now usually.

Tatum has never been a superstar, so it's unfair to compare him to one.

[SFrush]

That's fine as long as you don't tell me he's a superstar. He's clearly not.

I don’t care. He is a top 8 player. He is giving the team what it needs. They are 13-2 in playoffs.

Consider….

3-15 from 3
Tatum 2-10
Luka 23 points.

Who is leading at end of first half?

Tatum is 2-10. The only problem with Tatum is he is missing shots. He is getting what he wants. And, 8 assists. Dallas doesn’t have enough talent.


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This isn't getting enough credit. Tatum used to be a heavy ISO tunnel vision player. He's improved his passing and willingness. He's helping his team even when struggling to score. Luka has 23 points, 3 assists, and Mavs are down. Which would a fan take?

I'm definitely taking Luka. Tatum just has more talent around him.

[ConSarnit]

I can't see Dallas winning with this defense. Celtics are getting wide open shots all quarter long. Dallas is grinding isos

Their defensive strategy doesn’t work anymore.

1st round: Zubac
2nd round: Giddey
3rd round: Gobert
Finals: ?

The Mavs centers can’t just hang out in the paint anymore because the Celtics never play any non-shooters. In prior series their bigs could just wait for driving players. Now they actually have to make a decision of who to leave open.

[Domz]

Luka exploded and the Mavs down 3.

The scary part the Celtics are playing bad and still winning. Not a good sign for the Mavs.

I think Boston will blow this open.

Luka can't do much more. Kyrie is pretty much in his bag. Dallas doesn't have others who can step up.

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That's where I'm at. I just don't see the Celts continue to shoot this bad from 3 in the 2nd half. Either Kyrie and the role players are gonna have to make shots like they did in gm 5 against MIN or this gonna be a 2nd half blowout.

[meh]

Replace Tatum with Luka and the Celtics team would’ve won a chip the previous seasons.

you don’t have this team dynamic with that playstyle. Celtics are as great as they are because the guys on the team are locked into roles and adapt.

We already know Luka couldn't coexist with Porzingis. So no idea how it would work in reality.

[Joshyjosh]

Luka getting all he love like he’s not responsible for 90% of bostons points. At least get in a defensive stance my god