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

[chrisab123]

The Mavs are playing ZERO defense across the board. It's awesome inspiring to witness.

I wouldn't say that, they're definitely loading up on Tatum

The Mavs defense sucks. Hard. Brown is running circles around every single one of them.

But again, we were told about the Greatness of Mount Washington so clearly the Mavs are just toying with the Celtics right now. I mean PJ is better than Jrue defensively or at least thats what I was told on this board last week. Clearly the Mavs defenders are just luring the Celtics in before they lower the boom.

[50yrceltsfan]

Celtics are the best offensive team in the league. They're up 2 to 0 because as Luka said, they're the best team in the planet and their defense is unreal.

I know it hurts you but when you troll from a losing position you only keep people from taking you seriously.

Mavs never had a chance. Anyone who watches basketball knew this.

Everyone who watches basketball knows that series is not over with 2:0.

Mavs '24 = Bucks '21. Book it.

If Porzingis is done and Tatum keeps shooting like he has, Dallas could win the next 2, but I think Boston will hold serve at home to win in 6 or 7.

[The Corey's]

I wouldn't say that, they're definitely loading up on Tatum

The Mavs defense sucks. Hard. Brown is running circles around every single one of them.

But again, we were told about the Greatness of Mount Washington so clearly the Mavs are just toying with the Celtics right now. I mean PJ is better than Jrue defensively or at least thats what I was told on this board last week. Clearly the Mavs defenders are just luring the Celtics in before they lower the boom.

I don't know why Mavs fans thought those guys were going to contain the Celtics.

It was disrespectful to think the Celtics wouldn't perform better than the 3 teams they faced.

Not just the fans but the media bought into it.

When you're getting almost 30 from Jrue it really should bring into focus just how deep this team is.

[cjx]

Salutations my cerebral RealGM Fam,

Jaylen Brown is the best player in the world, and you know it's true ,

The NBA illuminati set things up to bring down Kyrie on the biggest stage ,

Celtics in 5 !!

[Darth Celtic]

The Mavs role players were getting catch and shoot corner threes all playoffs. The Celtics must have saw that top of break threes were low even when open and decided to stop libs and corner threes. There is a reason top of the break threes for Washington, Jones jr, and green are wide open. In fact, it seems pj is the only guy they even bother running out on for those shots, and barely.

To win the Mavs need to make non corner threes at a much higher percentage than it seems they have shot from there all year

[50yrceltsfan]

Has there been any other time when a team's star player has been trash and the team still wins the Finals?

Very odd scenario. Tatum is in rare company.

One rebound away from a triple double. I'll take that trash as a Celtics fan

He's 12-38 in the finals so far. That's trash. His problem is that he keeps chucking terrible shots even when he's cold as ice. He could have had 20 assists tonight if he'd pulled his head out of his ass. It was dumb, bad basketball.

He's not finishing at the rim normally for some reason. Has clanged a few in traffic from 3' that he normally makes. But his interior passing has improved - 12 assists and only 3 TO's. An assist is as good as a bucket, so if he had a more typical 7 assists and 10 more points, that's the same outcome.

[sam_I_am]

I feel bad for Dallas fans needing to count on Kyrie to come through. If only Dallas resigned Brunson.

Kyrie is supremely talented and when bringing his A game he can be amazing - as he was in run to finals at times. Unfortunely, he is so flaky you just never know when he is going to wig out. He looks like he is out of touch right now like the guy who played for the Nets.

[Curmudgeon]

Kyrie is just a sideshow. The story of this series is that the Celtics have played like crap on offense but Dallas still can't beat the spread.

[jg77]

Who else remembers when finals games were every other day?

[TinmanZBoy]

I want to remind people two series

15-16 championship: the first two games, Kyrie was beaten up and outplayed by even Shaun Livingston… you all knew the rest of the series

20-21 championship: Suns, the best team of regular season, won the first two games convincingly, Giannis and Bucks fight back and won the next four

[LewisnotMiller]

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

That happens when you're in the top tier of American players though. Edwards, Tatum, Brunson...they are all really good players, but clearly a rung below the absolute best.
In Boston's case there is enough talent around him that the Celts remain a viable championship contender anyway.

Let all the hate pour out it’s ok but Tatum is doing everything needed for his team.

Not sure if you meant me or not, but I don't have any hate for Tatum, far from it. I rock his jersey from time to time, and see him as a top ten player in the world.

[Hoop Hunter]

So far it looks like Luka should be Finals MVP, from the losing team.

[Froob]

I know Dallas is in the finals but honestly feel like they are two rotation guys short. Need a skilled big and another reliable guard. It’s hard for your two best bigs to have basically zero bag and can’t shoot or pass.

[Mavrelous]

I know Dallas is in the finals but honestly feel like they are two rotation guys short. Need a skilled big and another reliable guard. It’s hard for your two best bigs to have basically zero bag and can’t shoot or pass.

The bigs are fine, Kleber coming back form the injury made the spacing switchable big less effective, they need a bench guard, THJ replacement basically, they managed to get by w/o one in western PO, but against the Celtics it's clear they are missing offensive punch.

[Hello Brooklyn]

LOL. Kobe was terrible in Game 7 of 2010. That loss haunts me.

But, this is an IQ test for people. Tatum shot poorly, didn’t play poorly. There is a huge difference with that.

18, 12 and 9 with good defense is not nothing to sneeze at.


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Kobe had a bad Game 7. But he was WAY better than Tatum was this series. And it was a different era of basketball where scoring was harder.

Tatum has shot terribly. Right now he is the last of the top 6 Celtics I want to see shooting an outside shot. But there is a real comparison with Kobe here. I understand it is a little easier to score now than it was then. But Kobe went 6 for 24 in a tight Game 7, shot poorly throughout and refused to pass the ball. Tatum had 12 assists yesterday. WAY better? If Perkins doesn't get injured late in that series and the Lakers destroyed the Celtics in rebounding in the 2nd half of Game 7, Kobe's legacy takes a hit.

Yes because Kobe was putting up 28 on about 40%. Tatum is putting up 17 on 31% from the field!!!!

So not only is he scoring way less. Hes way less efficient than even Kobe was. And Kobe did not shoot well that series. In an era where it was harder to score.

Its 2 games. But its hard to overstate how terrible Tatum has been in this series so far.

Not to mention Tatum has been horrible for this entire playoffs! Despite playing bad teams. Kobe was WAY better in previous rounds.

[Archx]

Yikes.

Read on Twitter

[sam_I_am]

I want to remind people two series

15-16 championship: the first two games, Kyrie was beaten up and outplayed by even Shaun Livingston… you all knew the rest of the series

20-21 championship: Suns, the best team of regular season, won the first two games convincingly, Giannis and Bucks fight back and won the next four

I remember that Milwaukeee comeback. Giannis was amazing and there was this other guy who played lock down defense and averaged nearly 20/10 over the last 4 games the Bucks won …. who does that guy play for now?

[al bondiga]

Who else remembers when finals games were every other day?

Yes, I remember... What makes me remember even more is that Boston is clearly poised to sweep Dallas.

These games are so meaningless that they should be back-to-back almost.

[brackdan70]

I know Dallas is in the finals but honestly feel like they are two rotation guys short. Need a skilled big and another reliable guard. It’s hard for your two best bigs to have basically zero bag and can’t shoot or pass.

The bigs are fine, Kleber coming back form the injury made the spacing switchable big less effective, they need a bench guard, THJ replacement basically, they managed to get by w/o one in western PO, but against the Celtics it's clear they are missing offensive punch.

Bigs are fine but not good enough. I also think they need a starting caliber big that can stretch the floor a bit. Yeah and a rotation quality two way guard would help as well.

[brackdan70]

I am absolutely stoked if Tatum can be the focal point of the opposing defense. Grab tough rebounds, 15-16 potential assists, and play stellar team defense. If he continues to play like that it’s an easy series for the Celtics. He is shooting poorly which is about 20% of the game. He has been exceptional at the other 80%.