The stage is formally set: The Boston Celtics will face the Dallas Mavericks within the NBA Finals, a sequence that has no scarcity of compelling storylines.
The Celtics, who swept the Indiana Pacers within the Japanese Convention Finals, have been the most effective workforce within the NBA all season. Nevertheless, Luka Doncic and the playoff-tested Mavericks, coming off a five-game sequence win over the Minnesota Timberwolves, are positioned to stop Boston from hanging banner No. 18.
Listed below are 5 explanation why Dallas will defeat the Celtics in six video games within the 2024 NBA Finals. Sport 1 is Thursday at Boston.
Doncic would be the greatest participant on the court docket
Whereas it would not assure a successful final result, having probably the most proficient participant in a sequence is an enormous benefit for a workforce. Luckily for the Mavericks, they not solely have probably the most proficient participant within the sequence, however they’ve somebody who’s on an all-time nice trajectory in Doncic.
The 25-year-old hasn’t slowed this postseason after averaging an Affiliation-leading 33.9 factors, 9.2 rebounds and 9.8 assists through the common season en path to a third-place end in MVP balloting. Though two of his per-game averages have dipped to 28.8 factors, 9.6 rebounds and eight.8 assists within the playoffs, Doncic leads all gamers in factors and assists this postseason. Doncic controls the tempo of each sport he performs in, which ought to proceed through the NBA Finals.
Jayson Tatum’s inconsistency might spell bother for the Celtics
Tatum has constructed a popularity of being an inconsistent postseason performer and hasn’t helped his case throughout Boston’s present playoff run. Though the five-time All-Star is averaging 26 factors, 10.4 rebounds and 5.9 assists in 14 video games, he is taking pictures simply 44.2% from the ground and 29% from three-point vary.
Tatum hasn’t had consecutive video games throughout this postseason by which he shot no less than 50% from the sector. His sporadic play hasn’t burned the Celtics but, however an underwhelming outing or two might show detrimental to his workforce’s title hopes.
Kyrie Irving’s NBA Finals expertise
Boston and its former start line guard Irving assembly as soon as once more within the postseason is simply one of many many desirable storylines the Finals has to supply.
Since leaving the Celtics to hitch the Brooklyn Nets in 2019, Irving is 7-11 when dealing with his former workforce, together with the playoffs. Nevertheless, it hasn’t been a lot of a rivalry in a while, as Irving is 0-10 over his previous 10 video games in opposition to the Celtics, which incorporates being swept within the first spherical of the 2022 playoffs.
Even so, Irving has proved he can take his sport to a different stage through the NBA Finals, one thing Boston’s duo of Tatum and Jaylen Brown has but to do. In 13 Finals video games, Irving is averaging 27.7 factors, 4.2 assists and 4.2 rebounds and taking pictures 46.8% from the ground and 39.5% from past the arc. Boston’s stifling protection will not make it straightforward on him, however count on Irving to show again the clock and have a couple of good performances.
Dallas’ path has it higher ready for the Finals
You’ll be able to solely play the workforce in entrance of you, however there isn’t any query the Celtics have had a a lot simpler path to the NBA Finals than Dallas. Every opponent the Mavericks confronted throughout their run to the Finals received no less than 51 video games and made up three of the highest 4 seeds within the Western Convention. In the meantime, the Celtics confronted the Nos. 8, 4 and 6 seeds within the Japanese Convention, all of whom handled important accidents.
Regardless of Pacers All-Star level guard Tyrese Haliburton being unavailable for Video games 3 and 4 of the Japanese Convention finals, Boston struggled in opposition to Indiana. In accordance with ESPN Analytics (h/t New York Put up), Indiana had no less than a 90% win chance sooner or later within the second half in three totally different video games in opposition to Boston. The Celtics fought exhausting to earn these wins, however they will not be so lucky in opposition to Dallas if they’ve to beat comparable adversity.
Mavericks have the large males to deal with Kristaps Porzingis
Former Maverick Porzingis, who has been sidelined with a calf damage since Sport 4 of Boston’s first-round playoff sequence in opposition to the Warmth, would be the workforce’s largest X issue within the Finals. On Wednesday, the 7-foot-3 middle shared on X that he’ll “be again in line quickly.”
Whereas it appears Porzingis is probably going on monitor to return for the beginning of the Finals, he’ll nonetheless be affected by his damage. But even when he weren’t banged up, Dallas’ middle rotation will make issues troublesome on Porzingis, as Daniel Gafford and Dereck Energetic II are relentless rim runners who will persistently be lob threats all through the Finals.
The Mavericks additionally might use Maxi Kleber as a small-ball 5 to drag Porzingis out to the perimeter, which ought to permit for Doncic and Irving to have extra success within the paint.
