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

[zimpy27]

I think this is pretty fair. I’ve argued Tatum > Doncic a ton in the past. He does vary quite a bit in his 3 point shooting production and that changes a lot, when he’s on forget about it.

Still think Tatum is a more complete player and much easier to build a team around. Also think Tatum could take a G league team to the playoffs and he’s not someone you could tank a season with.

For those that say he’s not a top 5 player and is only good because he’s got some elite team around him - let’s see all your old posts lionizing Jaylen Brown and maybe Smart too and throw in a couple old ones of yours about how good the Philly/OKC version of Horford was. Then I’ll buy what you are selling lol.

Do you think Brad Stevens is a good coach? Would you say he was one of the best in the league or average? Is he a lot worse than Spo?

Brad Stevens would be a top 3 coach if he decided to come back.

People need to go back and look what he did with the teams he had. They outperformed/exceeded expectations every single year he was coach.

What’s crazy is, he might actually be a better GM.

I think he's a better coach than he is a GM. He's a good GM but he was one of the best coaches I've seen in the past decades.

[LaLover11]

I think Celtics faked Porz Injury to have him healthy for the Finals. They didn't need their full team to make it

[Texas Chuck]

I think Celtics faked Porz Injury to have him healthy for the Finals. They didn't need their full team to make it

Narrator: The Celtics did not fake KP's injury

[Wargreymon]

I think Celtics faked Porz Injury to have him healthy for the Finals. They didn't need their full team to make it

[jc23]

It was a real injury; boston just had the good fortune of not needing him in the east playoffs. If the NBA finals started 2 weeks ago we would have seen Porz on the court already imo.

[prejt]

Mavs in 6 or BOS in 7

Mavs aren't losing a game7, not with the clutch players they have. If the Cs are going to win, which they could, they'll have to blow the mavs out 4 times in less than 7 games.

[Sweet Serenity]

Mavs in 6 or BOS in 7

Mavs aren't losing a game7, not with the clutch players they have. If the Cs are going to win, which they could, they'll have to blow the mavs out 4 times in less than 7 games.

Can we stop pretending like the Mavs are the Jordan Bulls or the KD Warriors ?

[LaLover11]

Mavs in 6 or BOS in 7

Mavs aren't losing a game7, not with the clutch players they have. If the Cs are going to win, which they could, they'll have to blow the mavs out 4 times in less than 7 games.

Can we stop pretending like the Mavs are the Jordan Bulls or the KD Warriors ?

Relax both those teams were always mostly the favorites
Which the media doesn't think the Mavs are Sadly


Mavs are winning in 6

[nikster]

That’s true. I don’t think many people believe that at this point in time he is a better player than Luka.

This version of Luka is better than this version of Tatum. At the start of this year I rated Tatum higher simply because Luka didn't defend and played slowly. However Luka's increased pace on offense, willingness to get off the ball early and put effort in on the defensive end (I still don't think he's a great defender but is serviceable now) puts him past Tatum for impact.

They both have some growth left in them but I don't see Tatum passing Luka unless Luka regresses again or Tatum somehow has some massive unforseen leap in him left. This version of Luka is amazing (and scary as an opposition fan).

I'm still extremely happy with Tatum though.

I think this is pretty fair. I’ve argued Tatum > Doncic a ton in the past. He does vary quite a bit in his 3 point shooting production and that changes a lot, when he’s on forget about it.

Still think Tatum is a more complete player and much easier to build a team around. Also think Tatum could take a G league team to the playoffs and he’s not someone you could tank a season with.

For those that say he’s not a top 5 player and is only good because he’s got some elite team around him - let’s see all your old posts lionizing Jaylen Brown and maybe Smart too and throw in a couple old ones of yours about how good the Philly/OKC version of Horford was. Then I’ll buy what you are selling lol.

I don't think its any easier to build around Tatum. While Tatum is the better defender, Lukas not so bad that (especially thos year) that it's that hard to adjust your roster. Tatum lacks the playmaking and is why the Celtics made a move for a guy lack Jrue. I also can't imagine any iteration of the Celtics where Luka does not fit well if you just swap Tatum and Luka.

And carrying a G league team, I think is meaningless argument. Nobody can do that, he's never come close to being in that position, and nothing about his skillset screams floor raiser.

[reload141]

Luka
Shai
Jokic
Mitchell
Brunson

There is no world in which Tatum has been a top 3 player in the playoffs.

There are only two players left who are contending, that’s Luka and Tatum.

Take a seat champ.

Tatum getting carried by an easy path and a great team doesn’t make him good. Just another Celtics fan who is a smart as a rusted shovel.

You’re cute.

When you develop an actual basketball opinion let us know.

[165bows]

This version of Luka is better than this version of Tatum. At the start of this year I rated Tatum higher simply because Luka didn't defend and played slowly. However Luka's increased pace on offense, willingness to get off the ball early and put effort in on the defensive end (I still don't think he's a great defender but is serviceable now) puts him past Tatum for impact.

They both have some growth left in them but I don't see Tatum passing Luka unless Luka regresses again or Tatum somehow has some massive unforseen leap in him left. This version of Luka is amazing (and scary as an opposition fan).

I'm still extremely happy with Tatum though.

I think this is pretty fair. I’ve argued Tatum > Doncic a ton in the past. He does vary quite a bit in his 3 point shooting production and that changes a lot, when he’s on forget about it.

Still think Tatum is a more complete player and much easier to build a team around. Also think Tatum could take a G league team to the playoffs and he’s not someone you could tank a season with.

For those that say he’s not a top 5 player and is only good because he’s got some elite team around him - let’s see all your old posts lionizing Jaylen Brown and maybe Smart too and throw in a couple old ones of yours about how good the Philly/OKC version of Horford was. Then I’ll buy what you are selling lol.

I don't think its any easier to build around Tatum. While Tatum is the better defender, Lukas not so bad that (especially thos year) that it's that hard to adjust your roster. Tatum lacks the playmaking and is why the Celtics made a move for a guy lack Jrue. I also can't imagine any iteration of the Celtics where Luka does not fit well if you just swap Tatum and Luka.

And carrying a G league team, I think is meaningless argument. Nobody can do that, he's never come close to being in that position, and nothing about his skillset screams floor raiser.

Hmm maybe check out the net rating of the lineups with half the bench plucked out of the G league.

Vs. the guys that thrived in Boston like Grant Williams but couldn’t play in Dallas.

[Lalouie]

i want the celts to wins for or because of jrue

but DAMN

the mavs are the hottest team in the last several weeks
, and this series will be tight all the way
, and if this series IS the mavs have the best closers in the nba

the elephant is kp and i think the celts have been holding him back because i think they think they didn't need him. it's a chance they took it paid off

[Dundalis]

That’s true. I don’t think many people believe that at this point in time he is a better player than Luka.

This version of Luka is better than this version of Tatum. At the start of this year I rated Tatum higher simply because Luka didn't defend and played slowly. However Luka's increased pace on offense, willingness to get off the ball early and put effort in on the defensive end (I still don't think he's a great defender but is serviceable now) puts him past Tatum for impact.

They both have some growth left in them but I don't see Tatum passing Luka unless Luka regresses again or Tatum somehow has some massive unforseen leap in him left. This version of Luka is amazing (and scary as an opposition fan).

I'm still extremely happy with Tatum though.

I think this is pretty fair. I’ve argued Tatum > Doncic a ton in the past. He does vary quite a bit in his 3 point shooting production and that changes a lot, when he’s on forget about it.

Still think Tatum is a more complete player and much easier to build a team around. Also think Tatum could take a G league team to the playoffs and he’s not someone you could tank a season with.

For those that say he’s not a top 5 player and is only good because he’s got some elite team around him - let’s see all your old posts lionizing Jaylen Brown and maybe Smart too and throw in a couple old ones of yours about how good the Philly/OKC version of Horford was. Then I’ll buy what you are selling lol.

All teams that have Luka on it have an uber elite offensive initiator. Tatum's team doesn't. Tatum has the luxury of having numerous solid offensive initiators to take the focus off him. Does anyone actually think that if Tatum is the primary target of an elite defense where he doesn't have multiple offensive initiators alongside him as release valves, that he has the skillset to consistently destroy every single coverage? Cause that's what Luka can do, even if there is literally no one around him that can initiate offense whatsoever. Tatum doesn't have the skillset to defeat every defensive scheme as the primary initiator. That ability is worth significantly more than the defensive advantage Tatum has over Luka value wise.

[165bows]

i want the celts to wins for or because of jrue

but DAMN

the mavs are the hottest team in the last several weeks
, and this series will be tight all the way
, and if this series IS the mavs have the best closers in the nba

the elephant is kp and i think the celts have been holding him back because i think they think they didn't need him. it's a chance they took it paid off

This has been my point exactly, when has the streakier team won in the Finals? Not last year or the year before when Miami and Boston came off super hot streaks. Have to go back to Lebron’s finals with the lakers and it’s just not that common in basketball where the hot team beats the team with the better track record.

[ITYSL]

God! Still three more freaking days!!?!!

[Bob8]

i want the celts to wins for or because of jrue

but DAMN

the mavs are the hottest team in the last several weeks
, and this series will be tight all the way
, and if this series IS the mavs have the best closers in the nba

the elephant is kp and i think the celts have been holding him back because i think they think they didn't need him. it's a chance they took it paid off

This has been my point exactly, when has the streakier team won in the Finals? Not last year or the year before when Miami and Boston came off super hot streaks. Have to go back to Lebron’s finals with the lakers and it’s just not that common in basketball where the hot team beats the team with the better track record.

It depends how you look at Mavs. If you look at Mavs from beginning of the season without PJ and Gafford, who are starters now, Lively without a single game played in Nba and injury plagued roster, 0 chances for the Mavs. But if you look at Mavs after everyone came back from injuries and trades being made, that's totally different case. New Mavs can and want to play good D, they're good rebounding team, and have 2 great half court players and closers. This new Mavs had great last 1/3 of RS and beat 1st, 3rd and 4th team in the West, which all had better records than any team except Celtics in the East.

[165bows]

i want the celts to wins for or because of jrue

but DAMN

the mavs are the hottest team in the last several weeks
, and this series will be tight all the way
, and if this series IS the mavs have the best closers in the nba

the elephant is kp and i think the celts have been holding him back because i think they think they didn't need him. it's a chance they took it paid off

This has been my point exactly, when has the streakier team won in the Finals? Not last year or the year before when Miami and Boston came off super hot streaks. Have to go back to Lebron’s finals with the lakers and it’s just not that common in basketball where the hot team beats the team with the better track record.

It depends how you look at Mavs. If you look at Mavs from beginning of the season without PJ and Gafford, who are starters now, Lively without a single game played in Nba and injury plagued roster, 0 chances for the Mavs. But if you look at Mavs after everyone came back from injuries and trades being made, that's totally different case. New Mavs can and want to play good D, they're good rebounding team, and have 2 great half court players and closers. This new Mavs had great last 1/3 of RS and beat 1st, 3rd and 4th team in the West, which all had better records than any team except Celtics in the East.

Yes this is my point exactly.

[Bob8]

This has been my point exactly, when has the streakier team won in the Finals? Not last year or the year before when Miami and Boston came off super hot streaks. Have to go back to Lebron’s finals with the lakers and it’s just not that common in basketball where the hot team beats the team with the better track record.

It depends how you look at Mavs. If you look at Mavs from beginning of the season without PJ and Gafford, who are starters now, Lively without a single game played in Nba and injury plagued roster, 0 chances for the Mavs. But if you look at Mavs after everyone came back from injuries and trades being made, that's totally different case. New Mavs can and want to play good D, they're good rebounding team, and have 2 great half court players and closers. This new Mavs had great last 1/3 of RS and beat 1st, 3rd and 4th team in the West, which all had better records than any team except Celtics in the East.

Yes this is my point exactly.

My point is that Mavs are not hot team, they're very good team, which would have had pretty solid chances to win the West in RS, if they were together the whole season and weren't hit by numerous injuries.

Many Celtics fans are happy playing against Mavs, because they believe Mavs are in the Finals by accident. I wonder, if they had the same mindset, if Mavs would have finished RS first in the West?

[ajones9219]

It depends how you look at Mavs. If you look at Mavs from beginning of the season without PJ and Gafford, who are starters now, Lively without a single game played in Nba and injury plagued roster, 0 chances for the Mavs. But if you look at Mavs after everyone came back from injuries and trades being made, that's totally different case. New Mavs can and want to play good D, they're good rebounding team, and have 2 great half court players and closers. This new Mavs had great last 1/3 of RS and beat 1st, 3rd and 4th team in the West, which all had better records than any team except Celtics in the East.

Yes this is my point exactly.

My point is that Mavs are not hot team, they're very good team, which would have had pretty solid chances to win the West in RS, if they were together the whole season and weren't hit by numerous injuries.

Many Celtics fans are happy playing against Mavs, because they believe Mavs are in the Finals by accident. I wonder, if they had the same mindset, if Mavs would have finished RS first in the West?

They aren't in the finals by accident, they just aren't as good as the Celtics and don't match up well. I think everyone understands the Mavs are a good team.

[Bob8]

Yes this is my point exactly.

My point is that Mavs are not hot team, they're very good team, which would have had pretty solid chances to win the West in RS, if they were together the whole season and weren't hit by numerous injuries.

Many Celtics fans are happy playing against Mavs, because they believe Mavs are in the Finals by accident. I wonder, if they had the same mindset, if Mavs would have finished RS first in the West?

They aren't in the finals by accident, they just aren't as good as the Celtics and don't match up well. I think everyone understands the Mavs are a good team.

Why they don't match well? Because everyone from Celtics can shoot 3s? What about Mavs dominating paint points? What about dunks that are basically near 100 Fg%. What is better? Hitting 10 3s more with 40% or 10 dunks more? What about rebounding? Or maybe Mavs don't matchup well because everyone can switch on Luka? Nobody will give any kind of problem to Luka, if he shoots well.