🏀🏀🏀 OFFICIAL 2023-24 NBA Finals Thread Boston Celtics V. Dallas Mavericks 🏀🏀🏀

[Scottish Punk]

It's crazy that there is a full two days before the next game. This isn't even the travel part of the series. I was expecting game two on Saturday. Lot's of time for film study and adjustments for the next game.

[Nomad]

Originally Posted by Above the Rim

Obviously other areas of concern for Dallas such as they just didn't shoot and pass well.

But getting D. Lively into foul trouble early was a major factor as he might be their best defender, especially in the paint. Very early in the game, Jaylen Brown did his best dirty work and got Lively called with a couple quick fouls. The commentators said how Jaylen Brown launched himself into Lively and got the foul calls on the rookie. Lively didn't think he committed the fouls and almost got a tech. A lot easier for Boston with Lively now on the bench.

Dude was doing that to Haliburton and got him chest x-rayed. SMH.

[ninjabum87]

Originally Posted by Nomad

Rest my case.

Amazing how even the poll becomes after the game.

Cause their actual playoff road to the finals was one of the easiest in recent memory. They had the Pacers in the ECF for crying out loud. Pacers are a play in team at best in the West.

[Bosoxfan5990]

Originally Posted by ninjabum87

Cause their actual playoff road to the finals was one of the easiest in recent memory. They had the Pacers in the ECF for crying out loud. Pacers are a play in team at best in the West.

If they sweep the Mavs, what does that say about the West?

[pac213up]

Originally Posted by Bosoxfan5990

If they sweep the Mavs, what does that say about the West?

First, I think fans got caught up in the Luka hype. Rightfully so given how gifted an offensive player he is. Unfortunately for the Mavs the Celtics are going to exploit the heck out of his lack of defensive ability.

Second, I don't think most fans realize how good the Celtics were this year. Forget the # of wins. They were excellent on both sides of the ball and won something like 20 games by 20 or more points including 3 games at or over 50pts. This is a far more talented team than the one that went to the Finals a couple of years ago.

[Bosoxfan5990]

Originally Posted by pac213up

First, I think fans got caught up in the Luka hype. Rightfully so given how gifted an offensive player he is. Unfortunately for the Mavs the Celtics are going to exploit the heck out of his lack of defensive ability.

Second, I don't think most fans realize how good the Celtics were this year. Forget the # of wins. They were excellent on both sides of the ball and won something like 20 games by 20 or more points including 3 games at or over 50pts. This is a far more talented team than the one that went to the Finals a couple of years ago.

Understood, but they don't want to give them any credit.

[rms13]

Originally Posted by Bosoxfan5990

If they sweep the Mavs, what does that say about the West?

The problem with the current narrative is that the C's pretty much have to sweep the Mavs to get any respecct. They didn't play anyone in the regular season. They didn't play anyone in the east in the play offs. They easily beat the WC champs in game 1 and the only thing people can say is "but Tatum isn't as good as Luka!" And even if they get the sweep I still don't think they will get respect from any non Celtics fans unless maybe they get the sweep and hold Luka under 20 ppg for the series.

[Scottish Punk]

Originally Posted by rms13

The problem with the current narrative is that the C's pretty much have to sweep the Mavs to get any respecct. They didn't play anyone in the regular season. They didn't play anyone in the east in the play offs. They easily beat the WC champs in game 1 and the only thing people can say is "but Tatum isn't as good as Luka!" And even if they get the sweep I still don't think they will get respect from any non Celtics fans unless maybe they get the sweep and hold Luka under 20 ppg for the series.

There is some of that, but nobody is going to care in 5 years about the narrative going in. The championship still counts. NBA finals are littered with teams getting an advantage because another star player is hurt. I am not a Boston fan, but this teams does have the "Win everything convincingly or it's a failure" attached. As far as Luka, you are never going to hold him under 20. He has the ball almost the entire time an will make sure he gets his numbers at 20 shots or 30 shots. Plus, he is just going to make step backs and in the paint leaners that are well defended. He is exploitable on defense and doesn't move on offense when Kyrie is running the ball. You know he is just going to stand at the 3-point line, no worries about cutting or screening,

[rms13]

Originally Posted by Scottish Punk

There is some of that, but nobody is going to care in 5 years about the narrative going in. The championship still counts. NBA finals are littered with teams getting an advantage because another star player is hurt. I am not a Boston fan, but this teams does have the "Win everything convincingly or it's a failure" attached. As far as Luka, you are never going to hold him under 20. He has the ball almost the entire time an will make sure he gets his numbers at 20 shots or 30 shots. Plus, he is just going to make step backs and in the paint leaners that are well defended. He is exploitable on defense and doesn't move on offense when Kyrie is running the ball. You know he is just going to stand at the 3-point line, no worries about cutting or screening,

I agree it won't matter how they won the title in the future if they do win. And I know Luka is going to get 30 ppg regardless of the outcomes of the games. And I know that non Boston fans hate all Boston sports. And it's not just Boston, there are other teams/cities that you are either a fan of or you hate. As long as the Celtics are winning there will be haters. But this is a great team when they are all on the court. They would match up well against a lot of teams that have won titles. And even though they can't keep Luka from shooting and hitting shots, they sure harrassed the hell out of him every time he was trying to bring the ball up court to the point he wanted other guys to bring it up and I think they can keep doing that. And as long as Porzingis is healthy, he takes away the lob game from Dallas which is one of the things that has made them so good. And he screws up defensive assignments where you get Dallas switching and having guys who are a foot shorter trying to guard him.

[BackToWax]

After watching game 1, if Luka and Kyrie don't combine for 70+ points per game for 4 wins, Dallas is not coming close to winning this series. Celtics have 5 of the best 7 players in this series. Big talent difference overall.

[blackbears86]

I'm confident Boston takes this, but I'm not ruling out Luka and company yet.

How the Mavs respond in game two will decide the series.

[SaveMeTheGum]

Still my favorite tweet of all time. Would love to see a sweep!!!!!!!!

[kluke84]

Originally Posted by pac213up

First, I think fans got caught up in the Luka hype. Rightfully so given how gifted an offensive player he is. Unfortunately for the Mavs the Celtics are going to exploit the heck out of his lack of defensive ability.

Second, I don't think most fans realize how good the Celtics were this year. Forget the # of wins. They were excellent on both sides of the ball and won something like 20 games by 20 or more points including 3 games at or over 50pts. This is a far more talented team than the one that went to the Finals a couple of years ago.

One game. A loss on the road. Funny only Dallas gets thr write off treatment after a game 1 loss on the road. Happened with Clippers. Happened with OKC.

Boston may well win this and are in a great position to do so but all the insta reactors sound oh too familiar. Let's see how game 2 goes!

[Nomad]

Is it worth dusting this one off and actually watching?

Last game that really grabbed me was G1 of Pacers-Celtics. After that, I think even Nesmith realized the cosmic fix was in.

[ninjabum87]

Originally Posted by Bosoxfan5990

If they sweep the Mavs, what does that say about the West?

Nothing other than how good the Cs actually are. They can be both really good and also not have faced challenging opponents in the playoffs.

[Nomad]

What if the games are all more lopsided than those against the Pacers? What if the Mavs fail to gain even the one win of the Cavs and Heat?

Been saying the East is stacked and hyper competitive. It's just grittier.

[yiguiri2002]

I'm starting to think OKC-Boston should have been the Finals but PJ Washington decided to become the best shooter in the league for a week.

[Chris P]

I love it..now Dallas isn't even worthy of being in the Finals

[Nomad]

Pretty soon people will be clamoring for Ant to be the champion Celtics slayer.

[kluke84]

Originally Posted by Chris P

I love it..now Dallas isn't even worthy of being in the Finals

The most ridiculous thing to say a team doesn't deserve to be in the finals and it's over and a 2nd round loser should be (to the finals rep no less).

What a trash team that dog walked:
PG
Kawhi
Russ
Harden
SGA (2nd MVP in votes)
Chet
Ant
DPOY
KAT

[Chris P]

Originally Posted by kluke84

The most ridiculous thing to say a team doesn't deserve to be in the finals and it's over and a 2nd round loser should be (to the finals rep no less).

What a trash team that dog walked:
PG
Kawhi
Russ
Harden
SGA (2nd MVP in votes)
Chet
Ant
DPOY
KAT

it's like nobody's every seen in a blowout in the finals in their life. Funny enough, listening to Bill Simmons talk about the Memorial Day Massacre where Boston beat the crap out of the Lakers in game 1 by 34 points only to lose in 6. Now don't twist my words, I'm definitely not saying the Mavs are going to come back and win the series or even the next game, I'm just saying that it's literally only 1 game. Boston came out impressively and smashed Dallas. But to act like all of a sudden the Mavs don't deserve to be here or aren't worthy enough or only got here because of a fluky PJ Washington series is ridiculous

[Chris P]

Originally Posted by kluke84

The most ridiculous thing to say a team doesn't deserve to be in the finals and it's over and a 2nd round loser should be (to the finals rep no less).

What a trash team that dog walked:
PG
Kawhi
Russ
Harden
SGA (2nd MVP in votes)
Chet
Ant
DPOY
KAT

It's also funny because now people downplay those wins. "Minnesota wasn't as good as we thought they were" "OKC beat themselves". Even though so many were calling the Denver-TWolves series "The Real Finals".

[yiguiri2002]

No one is downplaying anything, you guys need to relax. Don't get triggered so easily.

I think the Mavs deserve to be in the Finals but the top 4 in the West were very close and anyone could have made it. The difference between OKC and Dallas making it to the conference finals was literally PJ Washington shooting like Steve Kerr.

Dallas can win the next 4 games and that won't change a thing.

[blackbears86]

Originally Posted by Chris P

It's also funny because now people downplay those wins. "Minnesota wasn't as good as we thought they were" "OKC beat themselves". Even though so many were calling the Denver-TWolves series "The Real Finals".

Ummmm. Where is this coming from? Unless it was in another thread?


I'm not seeing anyone downplaying the Mavs, but I've seen PLENTY of posts saying the Celtics are soft, had a cake walk to the finals, played g-league teams etc.....

[Chris P]

Originally Posted by blackbears86

Ummmm. Where is this coming from? Unless it was in another thread?


I'm not seeing anyone downplaying the Mavs, but I've seen PLENTY of posts saying the Celtics are soft, had a cake walk to the finals, played g-league teams etc.....

In general not just here..but in here there are absolutely people downplaying the mavs...calling sweeps..saying they could win it all without porzingis, indiana is a more formidable opponent etc etc..i know you've been the most normal fan about it. The game 1 overreactions are just hilarious to me. People are absolutely acting like Dallas has no business being here.