THE 2024 NBA FINALS: Dallas Mavericks vs Boston Celtics

[Melonhead]

TLDR; Mavs are the greatest and the schedule is at the bottom of the post

I mean what else is there to say? We're looking at the one of the biggest single season turnarounds in NBA history. We've collectively said get Luka some defensive size around him and a rim runner and he will go to work. Well, we got that and more. An unforgettable special run. But its not over yet, time to finish the job!

I'm going to link thespiralgoeson post because its absolutely worth a read, and we have a week until game 1 so what else are you doing anyway:

https://www.dallas-mavs.com/vb/showthread.php?t=40764

As of now, we have thespiralgoeson and MFFL attending a finals game so send them good vibes and help get the team a win!

Couple of stats that I liked:

Dereck Lively first guy to finish a series shooting 100% fg (16/16)

Luka first player to lead the entire playoffs (up to the finals) in points, rebounds, and assists

Kyrie Irving and Luka Doncic are the first starting backcourt to each have at least 30 points in the same game 4 times in a postseason in the last 50 years

Second 5 seed to ever make the finals (Bubble Heat in 2020)

Only the Lakers and Rockets have ever beat three 50 win teams in a postseason. Mavs have beat 3 of the top 4 seeds to reach the finals.

NBA FINALS SCHEDULE
Game 1: Thurs June 6 @ 7:30ct
Game 2: Sunday June 9 @ 7:00ct
Game 3: Wed June 12 @ 7:30ct
Game 4: Friday June 14 @ 7:30ct
Game 5: Monday June 17 @ 7:30ct
Game 6: Thurs June 20 @ 7:30ct
Game 7: Sunday June 23 @ 7:00ct

GO MAVS!!

[Thespiralgoeson]

The Mavs are huge underdogs in this series, make no mistake. All the numbers, all the odds, and basically everything logical tells me the Celtics are the better team and should win this series.

But you know what? We have Luka Doncic, they dont. Fuck' em. Mavs in 7.

[DevinHarriswillstart]

Yeah but the old rule is to bet on the hottest team at the end of the season. We were that team.

We defend. We score. We rebound. We have length.

We don't have a great bench which is why I hope Hardy plays a slightly bigger role.

[DevinHarriswillstart]

Good grief, Luka still bleeding from his knee after game 5. That boy needs some rest.

And did you see Finley grab the beer away from Luka? Like, is that really a thing where he isn't allowed to drink beer? lol.

[EricaLubarsky]

https://www.instagram.com/p/C7o4hRbs...M3N3Fna3Q3Zw==

[MFFL]

2019: Lakers miss playoffs
2020: Lakers title

2021: Warriors miss playoffs
2022: Warriors title

2023: Mavs miss playoffs
2024: ?

[MFFL]

And

2021-22: Warriors beat the Suns on Christmas. Result: Won the NBA Finals.

2022-23: Nuggets beat the Suns on Christmas. Result: Won the NBA Finals.

2023-24: Mavericks beat the Suns on Christmas. Result: ???

[ShaggyDirk]

Mavs in 5

[tap2390]

Mavs in 6. LFG!

MJ -> Kobe -> Lebron -> Luka

[Scoobay]

Here's to hoping that a Mavs championship will bring old members back on to celebrate. Come on back Kg Vet, Smiles, Fluid41, Underdog, maledan50, sike, etc...

[EricaLubarsky]

Pingus Zingus full contact practice. Looks like he will play

[minkbarn]

Originally Posted by EricaLubarsky

Pingus Zingus full contact practice. Looks like he will play

Boston has done well without him but the level of competition ramps up now. They have a lot more options on both ends when he's available.

[Scoobay]

Luka Doncic and the Lobgoblins
The Dallas Mavericks have weaponized the alley-oop like no one else

https://www.basketballpoetry.com/p/l...the-lobgoblins

"In total, the Mavs have 54 total playoff alley-oop slams in 17 games. Second-place Denver totaled nine in nine games; Minnesota only accumulated six in three rounds (their collective inability to find Gobert on lobs is criminal)."

That's a crazy stat... for the playoffs -
gafford fg% - 61.4%
lively fg% - 66.7%

[G-Man]

Sure the Celts are favored, mainly because of their stellar record. But I think there is less there than meets the eye.

Boston won most of those games playing in the East, where fully half the teams failed to win more than half their games. That translates to almost 30 games against Eastern conference losers, vs the Mavs only getting about 14 games against losing West conference teams, where only 4 teams were below .500.

I think a lot of Boston's individual statistics are also inflated by lack of competition. So, statistically, Boston and Minnesota had the best defenses. But how hard is it to shut down your division when half the teams stink, versus in the West where 12 of the 16 had a legitimate chance to make the playoffs, and were fighting for it until the very end.

Speaking of records, the Mavs only lost 4 games after they put Gafford and Jones in the starting lineup, March 7. Luka didn't play in three of those losses, and most of the starters sat in two of them. The Celts lost 6 games after March 5th. They lost to Cleveland without Donovan Mitchell, and lost twice to Atlanta. They have coasted through the playoffs, without facing a single 50 win team, or beating anyone who wasn't missing one or more of its most important players. The Mavs beat three 50 win teams, and Kawhi is the only major player that was missing.

I have been saying since the playoffs started that no one, including the Mavs themselves, know how good this team really is. As far as I can tell, they are still getting better. Maybe even better than the team almost everyone is picking to beat them.

[Dirkadirkastan]

Kyrie said himself that the Mavs' opponents have made the team better.

Can Boston claim anything remotely close to that? Can't blame them for playing the hand they were dealt, but are they even ready for the playoffs? Their credentials are almost purely on paper.

[minkbarn]

Originally Posted by G-Man

Sure the Celts are favored, mainly because of their stellar record. But I think there is less there than meets the eye.

Boston won most of those games playing in the East, where fully half the teams failed to win more than half their games. That translates to almost 30 games against Eastern conference losers, vs the Mavs only getting about 14 games against losing West conference teams, where only 4 teams were below .500.

The Celtics actually did have the best record in the league against the West though at 23-7.

[Melonhead]

Originally Posted by minkbarn

The Celtics actually did have the best record in the league against the West though at 23-7.

There?s probably some context to that but not much is going to change that they dominated the west in the regular season

[Thespiralgoeson]

The Celtics were one of the greatest regular season teams ever this year. Let's not sugarcoat it. They were an absolute juggernaut.

However, I will say that they've looked very beatable through most of the playoffs. Granted, KP was out of most if it, but still. They are totally untested. I think this is going to be a very close series. I think top to bottom, the Celtics are the better team, but the Mavs not only have the best player, but the best player by a pretty big margin. I think the gap between Luka and Tatum is fairly large. I think the same is true of the Wolves, and look what just happened.

There's been a lot of talk about how well the Celtics match up with Luka and all the guys they can throw at him, but that means nothing to me. I think there's no defense in all of basketball that Luka can't dissect with relative ease. This series is going to be decided by what the Celtics do offensively. Can we close out on their shooters or will they just rain threes on us all series? I both expect and hope Lively to get way more minutes in this series than Gafford. Lively is way better defending out on the perimeter.

[LukaMagic]

Originally Posted by minkbarn

Boston has done well without him but the level of competition ramps up now. They have a lot more options on both ends when he's available.

I haven't watched them play but I think that he is huge for them. Offensively they can go to him when other things stall. He can always shoot a 3 pointer. And he can also always post it up midrange. And none of those options are really guardable given his size. They already have many options, and then he is like a safety valve when things stall offensively. I think he was a huge reason why they had such a great record. A walking 20 points for them, and like a third option/star.

And I think that for them he plays absent pressure. He is not meant to be a major star. If he scores 16, it's not a big deal. He doesn't have to dominate the games.

[minkbarn]

Originally Posted by LukaMagic

I haven't watched them play but I think that he is huge for them. Offensively they can go to him when other things stall. He can always shoot a 3 pointer. And he can also always post it up midrange. And none of those options are really guardable given his size. They already have many options, and then he is like a safety valve when things stall offensively. I think he was a huge reason why they had such a great record. A walking 20 points for them, and like a third option/star.

And I think that for them he plays absent pressure. He is not meant to be a major star. If he scores 16, it's not a big deal. He doesn't have to dominate the games.

I saw every Celtics game this year and that's a good summary. When their offense might sputter he gives them good shots that are not available when he's out. Who knows though how hampered he'll be with his injury and layoff though. Giannis had the same injury and it led to complications.

[DevinHarriswillstart]

It cracks me up every time I see a Kyrie or Luka interview after a game. They come across so nice and aw shucks, and team Hela etc. etc. etc.

These guys are stone cold killers when the whistle blows. All the media stuff is a silly charade. Their job is to shove it down your throat then watch you choke.

And I love it.

Good luck to Boston when they boo these guys...

[dirt_dobber]

Originally Posted by DevinHarriswillstart

It cracks me up every time I see a Kyrie or Luka interview after a game. They come across so nice and aw shucks, and team Hela etc. etc. etc.

These guys are stone cold killers when the whistle blows. All the media stuff is a silly charade. Their job is to shove it down your throat then watch you choke.

And I love it.

Good luck to Boston when they boo these guys...

Bring it!

[tap2390]

I am super excited to see a full series of Luka vs Jrue (who NBA players think is the best defender in the league). Luka can prove once and for all that he is THE heir to Lebron this series.

[EricaLubarsky]

Most Alley-oop Dunks - 2024 Playoffs:

📊 Dallas: 45
📊 Denver: 9
📊 Oklahoma City: 8

This is the most Alley-oop dunks by a team since 2001.

[Thespiralgoeson]

Originally Posted by EricaLubarsky

Most Alley-oop Dunks - 2024 Playoffs:

📊 Dallas: 45
📊 Denver: 9
📊 Oklahoma City: 8

This is the most Alley-oop dunks by a team since 2001.

Yeah I've seen that stat. I gotta wonder who the 2001 team is. Is that the Lakers?

[DevinHarriswillstart]

Originally Posted by Thespiralgoeson

Yeah I've seen that stat. I gotta wonder who the 2001 team is. Is that the Lakers?

Has to be. Shaq oops were the shizzle.

[G-Man]

We have all seen playoff Luka. Do you think he has another gear to go to, to become Finals Luka?

I hope he does, and I suspect he unveiled Finals Luka in game 5 against the Wolves. Sure looked like he shifted into overdrive for that one.

I also think he will be fueled by the fact that none of the pundits are giving the Mavs a chance to win.

None of them thought we would beat the Lakers, or the Thunder, or Miami's big Three. Dirk had the last word on that one. I think Luke will too.


Thoughts?