NBA PLAYOFFS THREAD

[DAF86]

Kyle directing traffic and telling KAT where he needed to be. Such a high IQ player. Always liked him. Too bad he couldn't shoot for shit.

[NASpurs]

Didn't like Luka's game today. Mavs played better when he wasn't playing or holding the ball so much. Not surprised he's at a -13

[Knoxxx]

Doncic with the push off, then jumps into Towns bleah.

[DAF86]

KAT is such a dumbass. :lol

[scott]

Just when I thought the Pups were going to collapse, Ant comes up with a very Jordan-like clutch jumper

[MultiTroll]

Goober got away with a Warriors level moving screen to free up Edwads for that possible clinching shot.

I mean he was dancing with his feet as well as doing the Apemond elbows.

[Knoxxx]

Edwards so dumb, shoots with 10 seconds the first possession, then a long 2 the next.

[GAustex]

A little harder to swallow in Dallas

[NASpurs]

Holy shit Luka

[lefty20]

lmao T'Pups

[Knoxxx]

Doncic runs around like he has a turd in his pants. We can abuse him with Castle next season.

[NASpurs]

Wolves: All Talent, No Brain Cells

[scott]

What in the bullshit is that foul call on the 4pt play? Weak shit.

[scott]

What in the bullshit is that foul call on the 4pt play? Weak shit.

Ball don't lie

[MultiTroll]

Ant Edwards coached by Craig Popplevich ahead by 6 with less then 20 seconds left? :lol

[DAF86]

Luka is quite the mediocre free throw shooter, tbh.

[GAustex]

Doncic runs around like he has a turd in his pants. We can abuse him with Castle next season.

Looking at life through Spurs tinted glasses

[scott]

Nasty Naz had enough of this shit

[NASpurs]

Megamind with the high IQ play

[taps]

Reffing in this game is utter dogsh!t. Tired of Luca and his bullsh!t. Fvck the mavs

[scott]

Blowing a 3-0 lead would be fitting for the city of Dallas, hope it happens. Not counting on it.

[Knoxxx]

Looking at life through Spurs tinted glasses

Is there any other way?

[taps]

Luca still begging for a call

[Knoxxx]

Reffing in this game is utter dogsh!t. Tired of Luca and his bullsh!t. Fvck the mavs

I can’t believe how dumb T Wolves are buying all the pump fakes or how fat and lazy Doncic looks out there. What a pair of shit teams.

[DAF86]

Can somebody explain me why the Wolves' coach doesn't play Reid over Gobbert in crunch time?

[MultiTroll]

Didn't like Luka's game today. Mavs played better when he wasn't playing or holding the ball so much. Not surprised he's at a -13
Was esp disappointed with his 95-92 three point chuck.

MN was in disarray on defense and a lot of better options were available.
He went for the rushed hero ball 3. Indeed the crowd would have went nutts but it was a rushed shot.
MN would have tightened up with a basket there.

[Knoxxx]

Luca still begging for a call

The guy is hot garbage. Did like how he got stuffed on that last play. Can’t believe he didn’t get another phantom foul call on the 3 PTer just before.

[MultiTroll]

SMH all the chit he's pulled and yet Draymond Green gets a gig on TNT national crew.

PT Barnham.

Channel change.

[taps]

Megamind with the high IQ play

Brains of the operation tbh.

[Knoxxx]

Next season I want to tag team Castle and Sochan on the donkey while Wemby steals his filthy little trash talking soul.

[Fizziksman]

the hilarity of the Mavs blowing this lead will probably lead to a complete collapse of the current Luka era.

[taps]

Camera shot of Lively on the bench and he was swerving his head looking woozy from the noise and pressure. KAT’s donkey punch on Lively play of the series so far tbh

[MultiTroll]

What in the bullshit is that foul call on the 4pt play? Weak shit.
Ran it back twice and i cannot see any contact at all.
Perhaps another angle would show some but looked like a totally blown call Warriors Kombe Lakers style.

[taps]

Jason Ki throwing Lucca under the bus saying if he had converted the 4 point play they could have won.

[Knoxxx]

Ran it back twice and i cannot see any contact at all.
Perhaps another angle would show some but looked like a totally blown call Warriors Kombe Lakers style.

Can’t believe they give that dopey spaz calls like that, so lame.

[NASpurs]

Brains of the operation tbh.

The smartest kid in special ed.

[Tyronn Lue]

I fear the Wolves may have waited just a bit too long to wake up. Had they pulled out game 3 maybe, but it seems like an insurmountable obstacle now, that backdoor sweep requirement.

[MultiTroll]

Lively is a key imo.

If he ain't 100 then Dallas has problems.

Keebler was meh.

[GAustex]

Is there any other way?

Yes
SA is just not all that no matter who they draft. Luka will abuse Castle

[z0sa]

KAT turned in a good game, I wonder what Lively not being on the court has to do with that as well? It's clear Lively is an important cog who puts them over the top with his hustle and dare I say, leadership.

[SouthernFryd]

Never realized what a middle-school baby Luka was. I liked his off-court persona...

[Pauleta14]

I would LOVE it if the Mavs were the 1st team to be eliminated after 3-0

[r0drig0lac]

https://x.com/fastbreakbreak/status/1795649384488861775

[Spurs Homer]

Lots to consider. Would love for BOS to win and see DAL and LAL fanbases in shambles. BOS winning really doesn't change the title race landscape at all for non Lakers fans league wide and Spurs fans specifically. Do not want DAL to have 2 Mavs are the Spurs rivals and 1 was bad enough.

More I think about it gotta feel like the league actually wouldn't want to disrupt the LA BOS 17/17 tie whereas I also think the league would not want BOS to lose two recent trips to the Finals either. So it's difficult to reconcile.

But with the Kyrie back in BOS narrative I could see the league wanting DAL to be the champ.

-Luka is a better FMVP than anyone on BOS Tatum would be a weak FMVP imho

-preserves the LA BOS title count tie storyline at 17/17

-Kyrie returns to BOS and punks them storyline is rich

-encourages Euro product expansion

You got it all wrong...
LAL have only the titles from LOS ANGELES - not Minneapolis
Boston CANNOT win another title - because the Wemby era is all about catching Boston ultimately

Let Dallas win their title and remain full, fat and happy - just like the Nuggets.

Tatum is the biggest kobe-loving pretender and a bonafide choker - cannot stomach seeing that phaggot win a title,

[RC_Drunkford]

where are you guys who said Karl-Anthony Clowns is the best shooting big of all time and he's a better shooter than Nowitzki? :lmao

[lefty]

where are you guys who said Karl-Anthony Clowns is the best shooting big of all time and he's a better shooter than Nowitzki? :lmao
KAT himself was the one who said that lol

[RC_Drunkford]

KAT himself was the one who said that lol

yeah and idiots here agreed with him :lol

[heyheymymy]

Just wanted to interject that I don't view DAL as our rivals. As a franchise, we are a clear class above them. The Spurs, Celtics and Lakers are the elite franchises in the NBA everyone else falls in the tiers below. The Lakers are, and will continue to be, our main rival. Dallas is a cute team that from time to time gives us a little bit of headache. I put them in the same category as OKC and Memphis in that regard. I'd put Houston in a higher rivalry class than Dallas. We don't have too much of a direct history with GSW (though 1991 and 2017 playoffs specifically come to mind), but I'd even put them ahead of Dallas.

How I view franchises:

1. All time W/L record (Spurs, Celtics, Lakers - in that order - hold the highest win % and are pretty significantly ahead of the #4 team, Utah). This metrics keeps teams like GSW (below .500) and Chicago (.509) from being in a higher tier.
2. Number of titles. Lakers and Celtics have a leg up on us here, but largely based on the pre-history of a league that had 6 or 8 teams and was full of dentists and plumbers. Since 1980, only the Lakers and Bulls have more. This metric prevents teams like the Jazz, Suns or Thunder (the 4, 5 and 6 teams in all time Win %) from being more highly regarded.
3. Sustained history of success. The Spurs, Lakers and Celtics have a history of success across multiple generations, not just one. A team like Chicago, for example, has never really done anything without #23.
4. Historically significant players. The Spurs have a multitude of HOF players across multiple generations. The Mavericks only really have 1 who built his career and reputation with the team (Dirk). Kidd and Nash spent most of his career (including their best years) on other teams. Every other Mavs HOF player just had some end of career years there.
5. Head to head rivalry. Spurs-Mavs might be fun regular season matchups... but we've played more significant games (in the regular season and post season) against other teams. Manu did gift the Mavs their first finals appearance in 2006 though.

We may be the Mavs rival, but they are not ours.

Edit: corrected typo in #3 to say "without" instead of "with"

Indeed a very important distinction and I agree. Maybe I should have used another word, nemesis perhaps.

I don't really ever view DAL as contemporaries with SA or championship equals at all. I view DAL Mavericks as the Spurs little brother lol just like PHX and OKC. It's a simple count there, 5 > 1

However DAL is an in-state rival and inter divisional rival to SA as both teams are in the Southwest division but I share your criteria (W/L %, title count etc) for overall league landscape as the objective measure of success as anyone would.

A lopsided or alternating rivalry is still a rivalry imho regardless of title count etc:

NFL: Green Bay Packers vs. Chicago Bears. NBA: Los Angeles Lakers vs. Sacramento Kings. MLB: Boston Red Sox vs. New York Yankees. NHL: Montreal Canadiens vs. Boston Bruins. NCAA football: Ohio State vs. Michigan. NCAA basketball: Kentucky vs. Louisville

the Red Sox-Yankees rivalry began when Boston sold Babe Ruth to the Yankees in 1919, one year after the Sox won the World Series. Thus began the Curse of the Bambino, where the Yankees won 26 titles in 86 years while the Red Sox suffered heartbreaking loss after heartbreaking loss and failed to win a single title. The curse was reversed in 2004, when the Red Sox erased a 3-0 series deficit and beat the Yankees. Since that comeback, the Red Sox have won four World Series crowns to the Yankees’ one and the rivalry has essentially flipped.

From the 1920s through the 1950s, Chicago held a decisive 49-26-6 edge. But from the 1960s through modern times, Green Bay leads the series 71-45 and is currently riding a six-game winning streak.

Overall, Kentucky holds a 37-17 series edge and it has won 11 of the last 14 meetings dating back to 2010. They have also met six times in the NCAA Tournament, with Kentucky winning four times.

Historically, the Wildcats own the Cardinals but try telling either team that it's not a rivalry though.

[lefty]

yeah and idiots here agreed with him :lol
:lol

[LeBowen]

yeah and idiots here agreed with him :lol

https://i.imgur.com/0u7JXDq.png

:lmao

[ace3g]

https://x.com/KevinOConnorNBA/status/1795595332052824206

[GAustex]

^that is embarrassing

[heyheymymy]

trust the process'd

[scott]

Indeed a very important distinction and I agree. Maybe I should have used another word, nemesis perhaps.

I don't really ever view DAL as contemporaries with SA or championship equals at all. I view DAL Mavericks as the Spurs little brother lol just like PHX and OKC. It's a simple count there, 5 > 1

However DAL is an in-state rival and inter divisional rival to SA as both teams are in the Southwest division but I share your criteria (W/L %, title count etc) for overall league landscape as the objective measure of success as anyone would.

A lopsided or alternating rivalry is still a rivalry imho regardless of title count etc:

NFL: Green Bay Packers vs. Chicago Bears. NBA: Los Angeles Lakers vs. Sacramento Kings. MLB: Boston Red Sox vs. New York Yankees. NHL: Montreal Canadiens vs. Boston Bruins. NCAA football: Ohio State vs. Michigan. NCAA basketball: Kentucky vs. Louisville

the Red Sox-Yankees rivalry began when Boston sold Babe Ruth to the Yankees in 1919, one year after the Sox won the World Series. Thus began the Curse of the Bambino, where the Yankees won 26 titles in 86 years while the Red Sox suffered heartbreaking loss after heartbreaking loss and failed to win a single title. The curse was reversed in 2004, when the Red Sox erased a 3-0 series deficit and beat the Yankees. Since that comeback, the Red Sox have won four World Series crowns to the Yankees’ one and the rivalry has essentially flipped.

From the 1920s through the 1950s, Chicago held a decisive 49-26-6 edge. But from the 1960s through modern times, Green Bay leads the series 71-45 and is currently riding a six-game winning streak.

Overall, Kentucky holds a 37-17 series edge and it has won 11 of the last 14 meetings dating back to 2010. They have also met six times in the NCAA Tournament, with Kentucky winning four times.

Historically, the Wildcats own the Cardinals but try telling either team that it's not a rivalry though.

Great points!

[RC_Drunkford]

https://i.imgur.com/0u7JXDq.png

:lmao

:lmao supreme idiocy right there

[GAustex]

Towns is a big disappointment

[NASpurs]

https://i.imgur.com/0u7JXDq.png

:lmao

Proof that not even NBA GMs know what the fuck they're talking about.

[Pauleta14]

https://x.com/KevinOConnorNBA/status/1795595332052824206

Sixers with 2 dudes who can't shoot smh

Wait a minute...

[ace3g]

Even crazier it was actually the same order/teams for the 1st four picks...


https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GOygRf0WgAA9B1K?format=png&name=smallhttps://pbs.twimg.com/media/GOygUgwWQAA3A4C?format=png&name=small

[Seventyniner]

The Sixers and Suns really shit the bed in those drafts.

[DAF86]

Sixers with 2 dudes who can't shoot smh

Wait a minute...

Folks here don't want to learn either. :lol

[Teamduncan21]

The Sixers and Suns really shit the bed in those drafts.

Fultz is supposed to be the shoot guy though. So that wasn't expected

[ambchang]

Fultz is supposed to be the shoot guy though. So that wasn't expected

I think he busted his shoulder.

Ben Simmons was doing really well until his brain was injured by feelings.

[NASpurs]

Luka going nuclear

[lefty20]

Luka 70 piece incoming, tbh

[Strategic]

Damn Luke

[z0sa]

Luka the real MVP

[Gibbz]

The Sixers and Suns really shit the bed in those drafts.

Sixers it's more bad luck, really. Both Simmons and Fultz were consensus #1 in those drafts, Simmons being considered a home run #1. But yeah that is some trash for Phoenix.

[Tyronn Lue]

Imagine Victor and Luka on the same team.

[NASpurs]

Congrats to the Mavs on going to the Finals

[mo7888]

Imagine Victor and Luka on the same team.

It'd be league over.... too bad it can't happen..

[Big Empty]

6’2 Kryie’s a defensive FORce! Jk no but Dilly could be Wemby’s Kyrie

[skin27]

Good Offense beating Good Defrense.
Mavs vs wolves series is aone example.

[NASpurs]

Good Offense beating Good Defrense.
Mavs vs wolves series is aone example.

Didn't the Mavs have the best defense after the All Star break? *

It's not like they're chump change on that end :lol

*edit* Last fifteen games.

[Tyronn Lue]

Fathead looks lost out there. Kind of wanted to see Kyle vs Derrick.

[NASpurs]

Fathead flopping when Kyrie touched him :lol

[NASpurs]

Fuck that, that's an ejection. Hate to see it.

[Tyronn Lue]

Didn't make a play at the ball. Should be a flagrant but not sure about F2.

Injury was neck, this is head I think.

[skin27]

Didn't the Mavs have the best defense after the All Star break? *

It's not like they're chump change on that end :lol

*edit* Last fifteen games.

Mavs dont play defense at all lmao

[NASpurs]

Mavs dont play defense at all lmao

Look at the stats

Saying they don't play defense when Minny has 40 to end the half :lol

[Tyronn Lue]

Dallas with the foot on the neck of the wolves, maybe too early but goddamn.

[NASpurs]

Look at Dallas not playing defense :lol

[Tyronn Lue]

Fathead is afraid to shoot, refuses to.

[skin27]

Look at the stats

Saying they don't play defense when Minny has 40 to end the half :lol
Mavs arent a good defensive team at all lmao.. they are beating the wolves by making shots and clutch shots.

[Strategic]

KAT throwing it to Anderson with the shot clock running out

[ace3g]

https://x.com/MikeACurtis2/status/1796332923928400345

[NASpurs]

Minny's bending down and spreading those cheeks. What has mini Jordan done anyway :lol

[Tyronn Lue]

AE is taking what he's given right now. In this 3pt driven league, no lead is safe.

[GAustex]

Lol^

[gilmor2002]

You got it all wrong...
LAL have only the titles from LOS ANGELES - not Minneapolis
Boston CANNOT win another title - because the Wemby era is all about catching Boston ultimately

Let Dallas win their title and remain full, fat and happy - just like the Nuggets.

Tatum is the biggest kobe-loving pretender and a bonafide choker - cannot stomach seeing that phaggot win a title,

Boston is not about Tatum any more; more Brown, Holiday and good grief - White.

[TD 21]

The Celtics will be favored, but this has unfortunately got Mavericks in 6 written all over it.


It'd be league over.... too bad it can't happen..

Good. I don't want to win in a Warriors type way where they start on the 2 yard line, nor see an unprecedented player in Wembanyama stifled to watch the Doncic show (which is a lot like the prime Harden show, but that was shunned) and his deplorable behavior that's predictably spun into him being a "killer".

[Spurs Homer]

Those first two games the wolves played at denver- the refs allowed the wolves to foul at will and the wolves defense looked suffocating and everyone was crowning the wolves after they went up 2-0 going home….

the refs suddenly started calling fouls against the wolves in game 3 and the run was over although they did outlast a tired nuggets team…

against dallas- the wolves never got away with fouling at will and their defense looked normal…

[R. DeMurre]

I just have to wonder how many people look at Doncic and say "I don't understand why he's so good because my Eye Test tells me he's slow and unathletic?"

[Russ]

https://x.com/MikeACurtis2/status/1796332923928400345

I remember talking to Jimmy before a flight to Game 1 of the 2007 Finals against Cleveland.

We were at the waiting area of the gate for a flight from LA to SA.

Jimmy knew I was a Spurs fan so he tried to impress me with his knowledge.

He said, I know a Spurs player who is going to be good that you've never heard of.

I said, Do you mean Luis Scola?

He kind of looked at me like I had somehow insulted him (after acknowledging that I was correct) and didn't say that much more to me the rest of the way.

Except that he proclaimed how much he hated Southwest Airlines.

[BatManu20]

Dallas is going to ring tbh. They'll beat the Celtics in 5 or 6 tbh. They're clicking on all cylinders right now and Luka is playing like the best basketball player in the world at the moment. Team with the best player almost always wins (those Warriors vs Cavs series were outliers). Tatum and Jaylen Brown are also both known to shrink in big games too, and Boston lives and dies by the 3. Mavs defense has also been insane in these playoffs. They feel like a team of destiny.

[Ice009]

Darn, yeah, I'm going Boston all the way. I don't care how many rings they have, I'm OK with them getting another. I can't find myself going for Dallas. No way, I am still furious about 2006 every time I think about it. Fuck that.

Boston, I like Al Horford, the guy is a true professional. He was sent to Philadelphia, then sent to OKC when they were at their worst and I hated seeing that as he didn't deserve that. He was nothing but a pro in both those places, and then Boston bought him back which was the right thing to do. He's stepped up every time he's been asked to. He's not a superstar, but a very solid role player/solid starter.

Porzingis, I don't remember how it ended in Dallas, but I think he got some blame for their playoff failures (not totally his fault IMO), so I hope he's able to play and perform as he was a huge part of Boston's regular season finishing on top.

Jaylen Brown, I have liked his game (not sure if a Kahwi trade was ever on the cards?), I don't care if he's underperformed in big games, hopefully he can right that in these finals.

D-White, I loved him on the Spurs. I wish Derrick the best. I was a bit down on him due to being injured quite often and not being able to string consistent runs together when he was playing (not sure if he was playing hurt some of the time). The Spurs weren't going anywhere, so I felt it was best to trade him to a team he has a chance to win on. I felt the Spurs did the right thing with the trade and I had no objections. Hated to see him go, but it was the right move at the time. It's bittersweet as he'd be the perfect fit on the team right now, but likely no Victor if he's still here, so it had to go down this way (Same with Dejounte, wouldn't mind him back either, but no Wemby with him staying, so again, I choose Vic. Would love to have had both these guys with Vic). Derrick's been great on defense for the Celtics and is now also starting to be better on offense/a little bit more consistent. Also provides really good playmaking too. Very versatile player. Celtics really should have made the finals last year after Derrick's heroics in game 6 on the road in Miami.

Jrue Holiday, another guy in the D-White mold, absolutely great teammate and love his defense, so I wish him the best too.

Tatum, I was a fan of early on, but I cooled on him the past few years as I think he's been Boston's biggest letdown in big playoff games they've lost the past few years. This is a chance for him to turn that around, but he's very Kobish as far as chucking goes. He really needs to play smarter and more efficient if Boston are going to win.

Hopefully it's a great finals series. Don't mean to detract from the finals, as apart from all this, I am more interested/hope the Spurs can get Victor some help and start building a great team around him.

[benefactor]

Dallas is going to ring tbh. They'll beat the Celtics in 5 or 6 tbh. They're clicking on all cylinders right now and Luka is playing like the best basketball player in the world at the moment. Team with the best player almost always wins (those Warriors vs Cavs series were outliers). Tatum and Jaylen Brown are also both known to shrink in big games too, and Boston lives and dies by the 3. Mavs defense has also been insane in these playoffs. They feel like a team of destiny.
Get your bet locked in. Celtics have opened a big favorite.
https://sports.yahoo.com/nba-finals-betting-the-celtics-open-as-a-big-favorite-over-the-mavericks-121825510.html

[Texas_Ranger]

if Dallas somehow manages to stop Boston from making a bunch of 3s, then they got a chance... But idk how Lively and Gafford will even guard those Boston bigs. Especially Gafford... Oh, and Luka&Irving need to pretty much play just as good as vs Minnesota, if not better... It will be also fun to see if Jones Jr and PJ can hit shots with all this pressure.

[JPB]

Porzingis status and shape will be a big factor. He's reportedly set to return for game 1 (might be some intox). If he's good to go and not too far from full shape, that's a difference maker.

[Extra Stout]

Boston lives and dies by the 3, and in previous years they’ve struggled to get over the top against tough playoff opponents. This year they for all intents and purposes got a bye through the entire Eastern Conference playoffs, so it’s not as though they’ve overcome that bugaboo. Dallas will have the two best players on the floor, and the two best finishers. I think the Mavs pull off the upset.

[LaMarcus Bryant]

Can't see anybody with an ounce of nba knowledge watching the mavs play and think an untested eastern conference team has a remote chance.
Should be mavs in 5 but nba will protect lakers east and stretch it to 6.

[MultiTroll]

Should be mavs in 5 but nba will protect lakers east and stretch it to 6.
You see Brown slap hit McConnel right in the face mid air and only get a common foul?

[TD 21]

Boston lives and dies by the 3, and in previous years they’ve struggled to get over the top against tough playoff opponents. This year they for all intents and purposes got a bye through the entire Eastern Conference playoffs, so it’s not as though they’ve overcome that bugaboo. Dallas will have the two best players on the floor, and the two best finishers. I think the Mavs pull off the upset.

Tatum is a better overall player than Irving, but Irving is a better shot creator/maker.

[Ice009]

Porzingis status and shape will be a big factor. He's reportedly set to return for game 1 (might be some intox). If he's good to go and not too far from full shape, that's a difference maker.

I'd easily favour them if they had Porzingis healthy, but unfortunately they don't, and I always feel dubious bringing a player back into a finals series if they hadn't played earlier. I remember the 2009 Orlando Magic were playing great going in to the finals with Rafer Alston starting for them, then they bring Jameer Nelson back for the finals, and I think that threw their rhythm and team chemistry off (not saying they would have won, but I think they would have had a better chance leaving it as it was with Rafer starting). I hope the same doesn't happen for Boston when Porzingis comes back. Having said that, Boston did play huge parts of the regular season with him, so hopefully he slots back in and they pick up where they left off from.


Boston lives and dies by the 3, and in previous years they’ve struggled to get over the top against tough playoff opponents. This year they for all intents and purposes got a bye through the entire Eastern Conference playoffs, so it’s not as though they’ve overcome that bugaboo. Dallas will have the two best players on the floor, and the two best finishers. I think the Mavs pull off the upset.

Kyrie is not better than Tatum as a player. He's a better finisher and shot creator, but that is it (He's never been a great PG or playmaker, he's just a great one on one player). I don't know why people are elevating Kyrie so high when they trashed him for the past 4 or 5 years (for the record, I am very high on Kyrie and didn't trash him the past 3 or 4 years like most people have done in the media and here). Boston as a team, is also not trash. Just because they weren't tested, doesn't mean they're trash like people are thinking. They might be at a disadvantage having not gone against high quality opponents, but during the regular season, they proved they were legit.

[z0sa]

Boston might be the favorite due to their depth and 3 point shooting, but Dallas has the two best players on the court. Mavs in 6 if they keep the games close.

[Extra Stout]

I’ve just seen too many years’ worth of the Celtics getting bogged down late in close games against the really good teams to think that this time will be any different. When the 3’s aren’t falling, Tatum and Brown struggle as playmakers to create good shots late. Meanwhile, we just watched Doncic and Irving make mincemeat of an elite defensive team.

The Mavs have been a different team since getting Gafford and Washington acclimated.

[LeBowen]

Porzingis is the key.
If he's healthy and can give them 30mpg while shooting high percentages, I can't see the Mavs winning.
Their defense looked great so far, but every opponent had non-shooters on the floor and then someone else also shat the bed if we talk 3pt shooting. (Read: Chet and KAT.)
Celtics can play 5-out for 48 minutes with healthy Porzingis which means Mavs rim protection won't be as nearly as good.

Celtics also don't have a weak link offensively when it comes to putting the ball on the floor and attacking the basket. Everyone can punish mismatches or bad closeouts.
There's no O'Neale, Dort or McDaniels in this series, every Celtic can run shoot, attack the rim and even run PNR. Tbh, Brown is the only questionable ballhandler for them.
There won't be any rest for Luka or Kyrie on defense, I expect Celtics to relentlessly attack them.

Still, as already said Celtics tend to have these awful runs where they just resort to chucking, MDA Rockets style, and they lose winnable games because of it.
This is also the series where Tatum needs to show he's an actual MVP level player. Numbers are there, accolades if we talk deep playoff runs are there, but he's never shown us any all-time great performances every MVP candidate has.
There will surely be a couple of games where he needs to be the difference maker and not Brown, Derrick or Jrue. Those games probably decide the series.

Overall, Mavs can certainly win this, but their margin for error is much lower. If Luka and Kyrie don't average close to 60ppg combined, they won't win.

Celtics haven't really been tested in the East, but it's not their fault. They're a 64 win team that cruised to the finals.
Fwiw, they won both games against the Mavs this season, scored 138 in their last meeting.

[TD 21]

Tatum is not an MVP caliber player (check his "catch-all" metrics); that's always been their problem or at least biggest one is that they're trying to win a championship without the most important piece.

With how relatively open the league is at the moment and how complete they are, they have a shot to pull it off, but I'd never count on that construct doing so.

[R. DeMurre]

One cool aspect of this year's finals is that it marks the second year in a row that will feature a superstar from a country that was formerly part of Yugoslavia. Lots of younger NBA fans understandably don't know about the history of basketball in Europe, but for many years Yugoslavia competed with the USSR in multiple Olympics and World Cups from the 70s onward for the title of best team outside of the NBA, a run that started in 1970 with a FIBA World Cup gold where Yugoslavia defeated both the USA and the USSR. Basketball in a beloved sport in all of the former Yugoslavian countries, and Nikola Jokic and Luka Doncic are the beneficiaries of that tradition.

[R. DeMurre]

I was thinking about this dynamic after having a conversation with a friend who's a big soccer fan. He was complaining about the influence that Saudi Arabia now has on the world soccer scene because they can throw more money at players than most other places. I imagine for many years-- and probably still-- many Europeans felt the same way, wishing they could stay at home and make money playing their sport, rather than relocating to the USA. I remember many years ago after Arvydas Sabonis went back to Europe despite more lucrative offers to stay, I read an interview he gave to a newspaper in Lithuania, and he said something along the lines of "I didn't like the American lifestyle or culture nearly as much as I do the European..." of course, he played for the infamous Jailblazers, so his view of American culture was probably at least a little bit skewed :lol.

[JPB]

I was thinking about this dynamic after having a conversation with a friend who's a big soccer fan. He was complaining about the influence that Saudi Arabia now has on the world soccer scene because they can throw more money at players than most other places. I imagine for many years-- and probably still-- many Europeans felt the same way, wishing they could stay at home and make money playing their sport, rather than relocating to the USA. I remember many years ago after Arvydas Sabonis went back to Europe despite more lucrative offers to stay, I read an interview he gave to a newspaper in Lithuania, and he said something along the lines of "I didn't like the American lifestyle or culture nearly as much as I do the European..." of course, he played for the infamous Jailblazers, so his view of American culture was probably at least a little bit skewed :lol.

NBA is honestly not just about the money for europeans. That remains a dream for any kid playing BB, as the best, most entertaining league in the world full of stars... Most BB fans in Europe, specially younger ones, barely care about or watch local competitions. It's all about the NBA.

[R. DeMurre]

NBA is honestly not just about the money for europeans. That remains a dream for any kid playing BB, as the best, most entertaining league in the world full of stars... Most BB fans in Europe, specially younger ones, barely care about or watch local competitions. It's all about the NBA.

I was in Serbia last year, and that is definitely not what I saw. People were extremely excited about Serbian basketball, and pissed that Jokic was taking off the FIBA tournament. I thought I'd connect with people by being a Jokic fan, but I wound up being the apologist and telling Serbs that all will be forgiven if Nikola gets them an Olympic Gold :lol.

[ace3g]

C7otzJqgnQb

[JPB]

I was in Serbia last year, and that is definitely not what I saw. People were extremely excited about Serbian basketball, and pissed that Jokic was taking off the FIBA tournament. I thought I'd connect with people by being a Jokic fan, but I wound up being the apologist and telling Serbs that all will be forgiven if Nikola gets them an Olympic Gold :lol.

Yeah, you're right about national teams, specially in die hard BB countries like former Yougoslavia ones, or Turkey/Grece, maybe not so much in western european countries where football (soccer) is vampirizing everything. But my main point was NBA remains the ultimate dream for euro players, as the best, most competitive league in the world, plus ofc better money (in most cases).

The thing about these "young, new" countries like Serbia or Slovenia, who are not economically or politically dominant, is that sport, and BB in particular, is really a way to rally everyone behind the nation and affim their identity, pride and relevance, speciailly if you consider the "tensions" and resentment that are still very strong in the aftermath of the war.

[spurs1990]

I mean we are all rooting for Dallas here if no one else, right? Texas pride and all that.

Tbh I've never even encountered a Mavericks fan in real life so it's not like gloating is factor.

[tonight...you]

I mean we are all rooting for Dallas here if no one else, right? Texas pride and all that.

Tbh I've never even encountered a Mavericks fan in real life so it's not like gloating is factor.
Born and raised in Texas.

Fuck the Mavs.
Fuck the Rockets.

Let them burn and rot before glory.

[LeBowen]

Born and raised in Texas.

Fuck the Mavs.
Fuck the Rockets.

Let them burn and rot before glory.

+1

I don't hate the Mavs that much, but I want Celtics to win it just because of the Lakers fans meltdown and obviously Derrick is our guy.

[GAustex]

FTM
Luka is ok
FTL
Go Celts
D White

[Pauleta14]

FUCK THE MAVS and Marc Cuban

[weeks]

C7otzJqgnQb

lmao finley smooth as silk taking that beer away :nope

[lefty]

GO MAVS GO

[Amuseddaysleeper]

I mean we are all rooting for Dallas here if no one else, right? Texas pride and all that.

Tbh I've never even encountered a Mavericks fan in real life so it's not like gloating is factor.

no fucking way, fuck the mavs

[KingKev]

GO MAVS GO

Frfr. Kyrie all grown and mature now also. Who doesn’t love a redemption story!?!?

Honestly though a 7 game series bout bodes well for all.

[TD 21]

So because Irving, who was so toxic he lost significant money on and off court and was running out of chances, has been on his best behavior, that automatically means he's grown and matured five minutes after the fact?

This is the oldest move in the playbook for a fallen superstar/star, basketball or otherwise. Look no further than Bryant.

[taps]

Fvck the mavs.
Fvck nazi kyrie

[BatManu20]

I dig Kyrie’s comeback story tbh, but it’s still fuck the Mavs forever. I can’t stand Mark Cuban’s bitch ass either. Plus, the Celtics winning would piss off lakers fans royally as Boston would surpass them with 18 rings. I’m all for it. With that said, Mavs in 6 I fear.

[z0sa]

Finals at last. I'm very excited for this matchup! Hoping for some absolutely great NBA basketball, biases and shit-talking aside.

[LeBowen]

Porzingis taking a dump all over the Mavs organization and smearing it in Cuban's face. :lmao:lmao:lmao:lmao

Giving them a Wemby preview for the next decade, tbh.

[CorrectCrusader]

What a run by the celtics. KP is incredible

[ace3g]

Largest 1Q lead in Finals history.

[lefty20]

Brown crossing Luka and jamming it down Kyrie's throat. You love to see it.

[CorrectCrusader]

Mavs getting shit on lmao. They're gonna get swept

[z0sa]

Jesus, Mavs getting their asses spanked. I called em in 6 if they kept the games close - looks like that's gonna be real difficult with their current defensive scheme.

[spurraider21]

KP abusing mismatches in the post has been his main role for the C's all year

[LeBowen]

This is embarrassing.
We all knew Mavs will have a hard time defending Celtics spacing, but scoring just 30 points in 20 minutes with no gameplan whatsoever is terrible.

[CorrectCrusader]

This is embarrassing.
We all knew Mavs will have a hard time defending Celtics spacing, but scoring just 30 points in 20 minutes with no gameplan whatsoever is terrible.

The problem is that only 2 of the mavs starters can shoot 3s.

[LeBowen]

The problem is that only 2 of the mavs starters can shoot 3s.

Obviously, but both Luka and especially Kyrie got forced into so many bad decision.

This Celtics team is more or less spot on how I envision future roster around Wemby.
Just imagine him in KP's place. Can't do shit against it.

[z0sa]

My initial impression is Luka is getting shoved and bullied constantly on the perimeter without a call. Awesome! I like the 90s ball on the perimeter, too bad the 3 point line has been gamed so hard by the Celtics that it's going to be impossible to come back.

[ace3g]

7:42 - 3rd





1
2
3
4
T


DAL
20
22
10

52


BOS
37
26
5

68

[z0sa]

LOL not starting KP for the 2nd half. The Mavs still have blown multiple opportunities to cut the lead down already.

[ace3g]

4:28 - 3rd





1
2
3
4
T


DAL
20
22
19

61


BOS
37
26
9

72

[lefty20]

Classing Celtics choking.

[ace3g]

Luka 3

4:27 - 3rd





1
2
3
4
T


DAL
20
22
22

64


BOS
37
26
9

72

[LeBowen]

Sit Tatum, tbh. As soon as he started Kobe-ing it, Mavs went on a run.
Ruins everyone's rythm.

[z0sa]

C's fans on Reddit saying the Celtics are big fans of living and dying by the 3, even when they don't need to. Will Tatum step up? Or is it Ant passing to Naz Reid all over again?

[z0sa]

Also, where's the KP switch play? I've seen one, and Luka robbed his ass like he was a convenience store in the ghetto.

[z0sa]

4 on lively after he travels. Rookie doing rookie things

[ace3g]

14.6 - 3rd





1
2
3
4
T


DAL
20
22
23

65


BOS
37
26
23

86

[GAustex]

Much ado over nothing
FTM

[lefty20]

Kyrie really shitting the bed big time. 12pts on 19 shots.

[z0sa]

Kyrie really shitting the bed big time. 12pts on 19 shots.

He's the problem right now. Dribbling off his foot, bounce passing to nobody in the backcourt, getting blocked on point blank layup attempts.

[LeBowen]

DJJ got blocked like five times.

[ace3g]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GPb-l2pXAAAy2eu?format=jpg&name=large

[z0sa]

KP has been a huge difference maker. He and Brown have made all those usually free layins anything but.

[lefty20]

Loby city got shut down for the Mavs tonight. Gafford & Lively had been feasting on that for like 20 easy pts/game.

[z0sa]

Man, I expected a great game of basketball. Mavs are a bunch of assholes, tbh

[Spurs Homer]

Still think the celtics will choke this series away….

mavs will steal game 2 and go home…

[CorrectCrusader]

Mavs are getting swept no question barring the common celtics choke in game 2

[timtonymanu]

lol Uncle Kyrie. Shitting the bed.

[lefty20]

Mavs Assists = 9

Celtics Blocks = 9

Gotta be first, right?

[Mikeanaro]

Celts need to win this championship, they´ve been shitting the bed lots of times, finals, conf finals.
This is now or never, Al Horford is such a fucking scrub, thank god they have Porzingis to get the job done.

[heyheymymy]

BOS in 6

[ace3g]

How did they know the Celtics would be in the Finals....

https://x.com/espn_macmahon/status/1799165206968303896

[Spurs Homer]

Mavs are getting swept no question barring the common celtics choke in game 2

same thing was said about the t wolves when they were up 2-0 going home...
Edwards was the new MJ
T wolves were the new dynasty...

they still beat the nuggets but then they flamed out...

mavs arent going away - they have been playing well, porzingis will be injured by game 3 or 4

still a ways to go...

[Ef-man]

How did they know the Celtics would be in the Finals....

https://x.com/espn_macmahon/status/1799165206968303896

What date is it in your universe?

Never mind, just bet the farm on Celtics winning game one against Mavs in 2024 NBA Finals. Or if the spread odds are better, take Celtics winning by 15 points or more.

You can thank me later. :tu

[mudyez]

BTW: Are we cheering for or against Dallas regarding the pick swap in about halve a century? Sure, the run will really help them keep Luka, but could the disease of more also make them explode cap wise and so on?

Is it still to early to think about that?

[LeBowen]

BTW: Are we cheering for or against Dallas regarding the pick swap in about halve a century? Sure, the run will really help them keep Luka, but could the disease of more also make them explode cap wise and so on?

Is it still to early to think about that?

This is their ceiling, more or less.
Their 2024 FRP goes to NY, 2027 GOES TO Charlotte, 2028 goes to OKC.
They have 2025 and 2026, which will obviously be in mid-late 20s.

Their payroll for the next season is at $173M with DJJ being FA.

Their only realistic move is to package one of their remaining picks with THJ's expiring contract.
Depending on how things go at the deadline, they could get a useful veteran, but major roster moves aren't an option.

Kyrie is 32 already, his contract ends in 2026, same goes for most of the supporting cast.
Really bad timing because at that point they won't have any tradeable picks.

To me it still seems like they blew their load too early and that this is their best chance.
Will stay on the same level next year, after that it's hard to tell. But I can't see a realistic option for them to get much better.

[rascal]

same thing was said about the t wolves when they were up 2-0 going home...
Edwards was the new MJ
T wolves were the new dynasty...

they still beat the nuggets but then they flamed out...

mavs arent going away - they have been playing well, porzingis will be injured by game 3 or 4

still a ways to go...

Boston is winning this year.

[MultiTroll]

Boston played about as well as they were able and Dallas played about as badly as they could. Esp outside of Doncic.
Sprinkle in the MavsRef to neutralize Lively / propel Brown after Dallas had pulled to within 8.

Dallas can make this 1-1 for sure and series back on.

Zinger had a career playoff game, quite literally.
Kobme Tatum resisted his chuckfest and dropped off good passes after driving into the key.

If Tatum keeps this up and Zinger remains in even a milder version of his coma, looking good for Celts.
But same was said before their puss out and gift giving to the Warriors.

So lets see.

[KingKev]

Hitting Dallas hard on the money line for game 2.

[exstatic]

Frfr. Kyrie all grown and mature now also. Who doesn’t love a redemption story!?!?

Honestly though a 7 game series bout bodes well for all.

Kyrie always melts everywhere, eventually. Give him another year, maybe two.

[rascal]

Hitting Dallas hard on the money line for game 2.

Celtics are the much deeper and better team

[Ice009]

I picked the Celtics a week or so ago, and now that I've seen Porzingis back, if he stays healthy, they're still the favorites IMO. I thought they were the best team all year. Not sure why people keep shitting on them. First, people said they weren't tested in the East playoffs, well, they just destroyed the Western Conference team in game 1 that supposedly was tested and went through tougher competition. It was just Porzingis being injured that I thought Dallas might have a slight chance, but if Boston finish the series at full strength, they'll win it all IMO. Still a long way to go, but as I said a week or so ago, Boston has been the better team all season, so I expect them to show it in this finals series. We'll see what happens. Hopefully since this is the finals, the refs let the teams play with physicality.

[heyheymymy]

BOS is on that SA 2014 trajectory, just a little out of order. SA lost WCF 2012, Finals 2013 and won Finals 2014.

BOS lost Finals 2022, lost ECF 2023 and now they seem very determined to not let this one get away. We will see how DAL responds, still a lot of series left.

I like BOS in 6

[R. DeMurre]

Looking back on the Porzingis trade, it's amazing how little Washington got in return: Tyus Jones, Gallinari, Muscala, and pick #35. Boston got Porzingis and 2 FRPs. It was a daring move by Brad Stevens that has paid off, in part due to good luck. The thing that kept offers low on Porzingis-- who'd just had his best season as a pro-- was the worry of him being injury prone, and he did, in fact, miss a big chunk of these playoffs with an injury, only to be ready just in time for game 1 of the finals. If the timeline for that injury is two weeks later, the critics have a field day with it.

[TD 21]

It wasn't a "daring" move, it was a no brainer. Porzingis had quietly become one of the most underrated players in the league since he got traded to the Wizards and was fully healthy (or as close as he can be) for the first time in a long time and no longer miscast as the hub of the offense like he was with the Knicks post Anthony.

They got him for very little and at a time where their only other notable big was a 37 year old Horford.

A team trying to win a championship without a superstar needs as much star power as it can get to attempt to overcome whichever one(s) they inevitably run into.

[z0sa]

Mavs come out firing. Already more whistles for Mavs, looks like whatever complaints they sent in to the League are working thus far

[timtonymanu]

:lol Tatum

[LeBowen]

Mavs supporting cast getting exposed.
Luka has to 1v5 all series long to keep them in the game.

If Celtics threes start falling, it's going to get ugly again.

[z0sa]

Mavs supporting cast getting exposed.
Luka has to 1v5 all series long to keep them in the game.

If Celtics threes start falling, it's going to get ugly again.

Yeah, the Celtics shot about as bad as you can from 3 and are up. The problem really is Kyrie. If he's not being a 1B type player, the Mavs are simply not that good (as in, Finals berth-good).

The Celtics have decided they want Kyrie to beat them, basically. Doncic might put up 50 but that doesn't mean anything if everyone else - especially Kyrie - combines for 40.

[timtonymanu]

Tatum plays less like a mental midget and Celtics will blow this wide open again

[NASpurs]

Tatum getting carried by MVPingus

[z0sa]

:lol I truly don't get why they want to thrust superstardom on Tatum. He's a great player, don't get me wrong. But he's a facilitator/jack of all trades kind of guy. He's not even the best player on his own team in terms of making big-balls type of plays, especially offensively I'd say, in my limited experience watching him.

[Strategic]

Mavs making the game ugly. Good thing for the Celtics they paying Holiday 31 mil, he’s the only role player that’s come thru.

[SpursFan86]

Mavs looking like the 2007 Cavs right now :lol Everyone outside of Luka just looks like dogshit.

Although as good as Luka has been offensively, he’s been getting absolutely hunted on defense.

[timtonymanu]

Keep Tatum off the Olympics. What a loser tbh

[GAustex]

Go get ya ring Derrick

[z0sa]

The Celtics can't buy a 3 and the Mavs still look outmatched. It's on Kyrie to play better.

[z0sa]

Also, great to see DWhite taking caring of business. I wish badly he was still on our team, but I'll still take Wemby with the way the cards fell.

[z0sa]

:wow Porzingus injured again :wow :wow :wow
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
:lmao

[timtonymanu]

Fathead :cry

[LeBowen]

That's game.

As expected, Kyrie can't do shit against so many elite defenders.
Reminds me of that Blazers-Pelicans series when Jrue ruined Lillard.

[timtonymanu]

Also lol Milwaukee at trading jrue holiday

[Strategic]

Irving hands the ball tatum

[LeBowen]

Celtics really tried to choke it away.

Tatum passing on open shots all game long and they try to get him the ball in mid-post, then goes iso in true fashion of his idol.

Luckily for them, our boy Derrick got it covered.

[Strategic]

Was the ball on the rim before white touched it

[z0sa]

Derrick White making up for Tatum being anti-clutch.

[SpursFan86]

Bleh, I hate Boston but I just don’t see them losing at this point. Kyrie struggling against Jrue and Jaylen Brown + Mavs role players look overwhelmed.

Derrick White getting a ring is the lone bright spot I guess :lol

[z0sa]

Although the Mavs shouldn't really be thatconfident going home, if Kyrie can play better they are definitely in the ball-game. A real problem is their FT shooting - they left the game at the line in Game 2.

[scott]

The Celtics got Derrick White for an FRP projected in the 20s.

Just thinking that the CHI pick should be able to yield a nice player if we wanted to go that route.

[z0sa]

DWhite's block is the story of the Finals, at least thus far. The Mavericks haven't played their game at all through 2. Being home might help.

[rascal]

DWhite's block is the story of the Finals, at least thus far. The Mavericks haven't played their game at all through 2. Being home might help.

Celtics are the better team.

Dallas's best chance at a win is in the next game.

[lefty20]

It's cool. We got a guy on the job. The Great Forehead will stop them.

https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRDm_wTz72eNfNWSkYdokRRgAEia4ccl 6Etfg&s

Tbh...

[MultiTroll]

DWhite's block is the story of the Finals, at least thus far. The Mavericks haven't played their game at all through 2. Being home might help.
You mean Browns shove in the back / hold down of PJ?

We were robbed of seeing a Mavs close to -3 what happens next ending.

[Pauleta14]

One day a real debate will be needed about how much for all he brings on offense, Luka costs his team bc of his (lack of) defense...

Not sure the balance is positive

Even less sure why Spurs fans dream of having him playing fo us and messing up Wemby's career (bc of his stats padding obsession), in their wildest dream... :lol

He's the white James Harden

[Spurs Homer]

Next game will decide if the refs will give the Mavs the same home calls the celts got...if so it might be a 6-7 game series...

If celts still get away with obvious fouls - its pretty much over....having watched the nba all my life though it appears the refs have been mandated to guarantee a long series...

not to say the celts dont look better right now but the refs gave them every green light to hack away and mug the mavs ...

now if the mavs realize what the home team is getting away with and dont hang their heads - the refs might be ready to leave the door open for the mavs to go back to boston tied 2-2

seen this movie too many times...

[R. DeMurre]

Jrue Holiday has a case for Finals MVP, which will be nice for the whole Off vs Def debate generally, but especially in regard to Milwaukee's decision to choose Lillard over him-- a decision I wasn't a fan of. I thought the Bucks should've tried to improve in other areas where they were weaker rather than let go of a piece as valuable as Jrue.
Boston's kinda bucking the trend a little of having one clearly defined star as the leader, and has instead gone with incredible depth and high quality going 6 deep-- something that's going to be hard to maintain financially once Tatum signs his new contract. Tatum/Brown aren't Jordan/Pippen, or Steph/KD, but White/Holiday/Porzingis might be one of the best trios of support cast we've ever seen.

[R. DeMurre]

if Boston were down 2-0 right now, the big story would be Tatum's 31.6 FG%, but they're up and their depth has covered his poor shooting so far, and allowed him to contribute in other ways, like leading the team in rebounds & assists. It's such a luxury for the Celts to have their supposed best player have two subpar games and still be up 2-0.

[Mugen]

DWhite saving Tatum's Kirby worshipping bum ass per usual tbh

[TD 21]

Jrue Holiday has a case for Finals MVP, which will be nice for the whole Off vs Def debate generally, but especially in regard to Milwaukee's decision to choose Lillard over him-- a decision I wasn't a fan of. I thought the Bucks should've tried to improve in other areas where they were weaker rather than let go of a piece as valuable as Jrue.
Boston's kinda bucking the trend a little of having one clearly defined star as the leader, and has instead gone with incredible depth and high quality going 6 deep-- something that's going to be hard to maintain financially once Tatum signs his new contract. Tatum/Brown aren't Jordan/Pippen, or Steph/KD, but White/Holiday/Porzingis might be one of the best trios of support cast we've ever seen.

Again, this is bereft of context. The Bucks decision, in so much as it was one, was made by Antetokounmpo who for the first time seemed like he was actually contemplating asking out and clearly wanted this to happen.

Lillard is also a half court offense unto himself (or at least was up until this season), the exact area they've struggled at in the playoffs throughout this era. Yes, even when they won the championship, which only happened because Irving and Harden were injured.

The Celtics did a nice job but also got lucky to get Holiday and Porzingis. This wasn't some grand plan and it's not going to be a repeatable formula in terms of roster construction.

[z0sa]

Celtics are the better team.

Dallas's best chance at a win is in the next game.

White's block prevented it going to 3 with something like 50 seconds left. Also, Mavericks would have been within one posession or maybe tied/leading by one, if they just hit their FTs. Just saying they're the better team isn't indicative of what could have occurred if White doesn't bail Tatum out and the Mavs hit a few more FTs.

I do agree the next game is a must-win, obviously.

[LeBowen]

Again, this is bereft of context. The Bucks decision, in so much as it was one, was made by Antetokounmpo who for the first time seemed like he was actually contemplating asking out and clearly wanted this to happen.

Lillard is also a half court offense unto himself (or at least was up until this season), the exact area they've struggled at in the playoffs throughout this era. Yes, even when they won the championship, which only happened because Irving and Harden were injured.

The Celtics did a nice job but also got lucky to get Holiday and Porzingis. This wasn't some grand plan and it's not going to be a repeatable formula in terms of roster construction.

Everyone wants Jrue as a third/fourth option.
Having him as second/third isn't as good.

While his defense is among the best in the league, his playoff shooting splits over 40 playoff games with the Bucks were 39/30/75, 18ppg.
Other than obviously injuries, subpar offense was always their downfall.

They definitely needed a point guard who's better offensively, but going all in on Lillard was a questionable decision, to say the least.

[R. DeMurre]

Again, this is bereft of context. The Bucks decision, in so much as it was one, was made by Antetokounmpo who for the first time seemed like he was actually contemplating asking out and clearly wanted this to happen.

Lillard is also a half court offense unto himself (or at least was up until this season), the exact area they've struggled at in the playoffs throughout this era. Yes, even when they won the championship, which only happened because Irving and Harden were injured.

The Celtics did a nice job but also got lucky to get Holiday and Porzingis. This wasn't some grand plan and it's not going to be a repeatable formula in terms of roster construction.


:lol Bereft is such a strong word, but ok. Either way, it's an interesting debate with regards to offense vs defense, and the other context would be that it was assumed Portland would trade Jrue since he wasn't on their timeline, meaning he could wind up on an opponent's roster-- Miami, Philly, Boston, etc... so also in the equation of Lillard's good offense and weak defense vs Jrue good defense and decent offense, there's the question if it's worth it knowing an enemy would gain quite a bit by adding Jrue. Anyway, cool stuff to think about.

[Obstructed_View]

I love Derek, and he has been great in the clutch, but that was a blatant foul. NBA refs are frighteningly bad.

Mavs played great team ball with lots of guys stepping up. In the finals they have turned back into what we might have expected of a Luka/Kyrie-led team.

[itzsoweezee]

Celtics demonstrating why the two-center lineup is not a recipe for success. The Mavs haven’t been able to pack the paint like they could against the timberwolves, so the Celtics are able to just abuse Luka on the defensive end.

[spurraider21]

One day a real debate will be needed about how much for all he brings on offense, Luka costs his team bc of his (lack of) defense...

Not sure the balance is positive

Even less sure why Spurs fans dream of having him playing fo us and messing up Wemby's career (bc of his stats padding obsession), in their wildest dream... :lol

He's the white James Harden
he has led a team to the nba finals. clearly he's a positive.

[TD 21]

Everyone wants Jrue as a third/fourth option.
Having him as second/third isn't as good.

While his defense is among the best in the league, his playoff shooting splits over 40 playoff games with the Bucks were 39/30/75, 18ppg.
Other than obviously injuries, subpar offense was always their downfall.

They definitely needed a point guard who's better offensively, but going all in on Lillard was a questionable decision, to say the least.

I mostly agree with this, but the last line misses the most important point of this that the detractors keep either missing or intentionally glossing over, which is Antetokounmpo was threatening to ask out and clearly wanted this trade to happen.

Unless it's Westbrook to the Lakers level bad (and no matter what you think of this, it was eons away from that), that was rightfully the determining factor.



:lol Bereft is such a strong word, but ok. Either way, it's an interesting debate with regards to offense vs defense, and the other context would be that it was assumed Portland would trade Jrue since he wasn't on their timeline, meaning he could wind up on an opponent's roster-- Miami, Philly, Boston, etc... so also in the equation of Lillard's good offense and weak defense vs Jrue good defense and decent offense, there's the question if it's worth it knowing an enemy would gain quite a bit by adding Jrue. Anyway, cool stuff to think about.

It really isn't because of the Antetokounmpo factor and the reality being that Lillard would solve their biggest need throughout the entirety of the era . . . the problem is, it looks like they got him a season too late and they were left with a gaping hole opposite him in the back court.

Not to downplay Holiday's contributions, but so much of this is luck. Right place, right time and yet every time it works out for someone and blows up in someone else's face, the hot take pundits push their agenda without considering the context.

[DAF86]

The Celtics have, on paper, the perfect roster build for today's NBA: two big guards, two interchangeable forwards, two mobile, skilled bigs. All above average defenders, all capable shooters, all can put the ball in the floor, all can pass. Not a single liabiity on any side of the floor. It really can't get much better than that. That's why they have a chance to ring without a true #1 guy, tbh.

This is what the Spurs should aim at, although it is way harder to accomplish than it seems.

[poopbox]

One day a real debate will be needed about how much for all he brings on offense, Luka costs his team bc of his (lack of) defense...

Not sure the balance is positive

Even less sure why Spurs fans dream of having him playing fo us and messing up Wemby's career (bc of his stats padding obsession), in their wildest dream... :lol

He's the white James Harden

So much of Luka's counting stats are wrapped up in his high usage rate that I legit don't know how "good" he is.

For every one of those game winners he makes over Gobert he misses 9 others...they just don't get talked about.

His inability to remotely guard anything other than a post up attempt kills the mavs on defense.

And Harden was the laziest off ball player I ever seen...but Luka has him beat by a mile...when he doesn't have the ball dude is more disinterested in what is going on than I am listening to my wife talk about what happened at her job. The basketball version of "oh wow honey that's crazy."

Hard no to this dude ever joining the Spurs. Dude is a cancer. Brunson got away from him and became a fringe mvp player. Kristaps got away from him and he two games from a ring. Carlisle got away from him and in two years got his team to the conference finals. Shit even Dennis Smith Jr is having a mini resurgence. Watch Hardaway Jr go somewhere else next year, contribute, and people be like "how come he couldn't do this in Dallas?"

You can't find a more "i got my numbers so I did my job" player in sports anywhere than Luka.

[poopbox]

The Celtics have, on paper, the perfect roster build for today's NBA: two big guards, two interchangeable forwards, two mobile, skilled bigs. All above average defenders, all capable shooters, all can put the ball in the floor, all can pass. Not a single liabiity on any side of the floor. It really can't get much better than that. That's why they have a chance to ring without a true #1 guy, tbh.

This is what the Spurs should aim at, although it is way harder to accomplish than it seems.

Spurs won't ever run the tab up and trade all their first rounders like Boston did to build this team TBH. The Holts don't have it in them.

To build a team like the Celtics you got to be willing to pay what the Celtics have in money and draft capital.

Do the Spurs have it in them to give a Jaylen Brown level player a 300 mil + contract? No doubt they going to cash Wemby out when the time comes, but would they also do it for whoever the second best player is?

They willing to give up a mostly unprotected future first to get a Derrick White type of player?

They willing to give a 33 year old veteran a 130 million dollar deal?

If they not willing to do these things, and I don't think they ever will be...then they probably not going to build anything like what Boston has.

[TD 21]

The Celtics have, on paper, the perfect roster build for today's NBA: two big guards, two interchangeable forwards, two mobile, skilled bigs. All above average defenders, all capable shooters, all can put the ball in the floor, all can pass. Not a single liabiity on any side of the floor. It really can't get much better than that. That's why they have a chance to ring without a true #1 guy, tbh.

This is what the Spurs should aim at, although it is way harder to accomplish than it seems.

The Spurs should aspire to it (everyone does; it's not like some teams are ignorant or oblivious to it), but not be consumed with doing so because it's almost impossible to pull off and will lead to foolish decisions like selecting Castle 4th.

The biggest mistake people make with every current champion is thinking however they were constructed is the way you have to be to win and ignoring the luck that went into it.

The Spurs don't need a "perfect" roster because they'll probably eventually have the best player in the league, so like the Nuggets last season, they'll be able to get away with things a team like the Celtics can't.

[DAF86]

Spurs won't ever run the tab up and trade all their first rounders like Boston did to build this team TBH. The Holts don't have it in them.

To build a team like the Celtics you got to be willing to pay what the Celtics have in money and draft capital.

Do the Spurs have it in them to give a Jaylen Brown level player a 300 mil + contract? No doubt they going to cash Wemby out when the time comes, but would they also do it for whoever the second best player is?

They willing to give up a mostly unprotected future first to get a Derrick White type of player?

They willing to give a 33 year old veteran a 130 million dollar deal?

If they not willing to do these things, and I don't think they ever will be...then they probably not going to build anything like what Boston has.

The Celtics actually got more first round picks than they gave out when building this roster, tbh. :lol

[poopbox]

The Celtics actually got more first round picks than they gave out when building this roster, tbh. :lol

I still don't fully understand how they ended up with two picks as well as Porzingis tbh :lol

[LeBowen]

I still don't fully understand how they ended up with two picks as well as Porzingis tbh :lol

Porzingis had a player option,Celtics didn't have cap space to get him in FA.
Opted in to the benefit of both teams and then signed an extension.

[DAF86]

I still don't fully understand how they ended up with two picks as well as Porzingis tbh :lol

Still, that shows you that it isn't about senselessly giving out first round pick, you have to be smart about it and jump at the right options. For example, giving back all the Atlanta picks for a guy that will get relentesly hunted on any playoffs series that matters isn't smart business.

[Pauleta14]

he has led a team to the nba finals. clearly he's a positive.

Have you watched his first 2 finas games?

It's the weakest offseason I've seen in a while

Mavs beat injured Clippers, inexperienced Okc and idiotic Wolves who kept switching and help Luka's game

[BatManu20]

Porzingis' injury at the end of Game 2 looked significant. He could barely run and had to be pulled from the game. I know he said he's going to try to play through it, but if he's hobbled out there moving forward, this is a completely different series tbh. He's the difference in Boston winning or losing this series imo, especially with Tatum playing like dog-shit offensively. If he cant go, I think Dallas wins the next two at home to tie the series and then the momentum swings back in their favor.

[DAF86]

Have you watched his first 2 finas games?

It's the weakest offseason I've seen in a while

Mavs beat injured Clippers, inexperienced Okc and idiotic Wolves who kept switching and help Luka's game

That's a lot of excuses you are putting to defend your take, tbh.

The truth is that Doncic is 25 and has already won everything in Europe, and has already made the WCF twice and is currently on the NBA finals. He clearly influences his teams in a positive way.

[Obstructed_View]

he has led a team to the nba finals. clearly he's a positive.

And his defense against Minnesota was stunningly good at times. Luka is the best player in the world. If he stood on the sidelines on defense he might be a positive. :lol

[Pauleta14]

That's a lot of excuses you are putting to defend your take, tbh.

The truth is that Doncic is 25 and has already won everything in Europe, and has already made the WCF twice and is currently on the NBA finals. He clearly influences his teams in a positive way.

Not denying his talent. I'm talking about his style/type of game

How can any Spurs fan imagine him playing for Pop as many have been dreaming is just weird.

[Pauleta14]

So much of Luka's counting stats are wrapped up in his high usage rate that I legit don't know how "good" he is.

For every one of those game winners he makes over Gobert he misses 9 others...they just don't get talked about.

His inability to remotely guard anything other than a post up attempt kills the mavs on defense.

And Harden was the laziest off ball player I ever seen...but Luka has him beat by a mile...when he doesn't have the ball dude is more disinterested in what is going on than I am listening to my wife talk about what happened at her job. The basketball version of "oh wow honey that's crazy."

Hard no to this dude ever joining the Spurs. Dude is a cancer. Brunson got away from him and became a fringe mvp player. Kristaps got away from him and he two games from a ring. Carlisle got away from him and in two years got his team to the conference finals. Shit even Dennis Smith Jr is having a mini resurgence. Watch Hardaway Jr go somewhere else next year, contribute, and people be like "how come he couldn't do this in Dallas?"

You can't find a more "i got my numbers so I did my job" player in sports anywhere than Luka.

THANK YOU

(I started highlighting a few points on bold but then realised your whole post was perfect! :lol)

[TD 21]

And his defense against Minnesota was stunningly good at times. Luka is the best player in the world. If he stood on the sidelines on defense he might be a positive. :lol

:lmao Jokic inarguably is.

[DAF86]

Not denying his talent. I'm talking about his style/type of game

How can any Spurs fan imagine him playing for Pop as many have been dreaming is just weird.

Yeah, I also don't like players that hog the ball to that extent, but I'm objective enough to admit the results are there, so to say he doesn't impact his team positively is just a lie.

Pop would welcome Doncic with open arms. I mean he put up with mid trash like DeRozan and Aldridge without batting an eyelid.

[Pauleta14]

Yeah, I also don't like players that hog the ball to that extent, but I'm objective enough to admit the results are there, so to say he doesn't impact his team positively is just a lie.

Pop would welcome Doncic with open arms. I mean he put up with mid trash like DeRozan and Aldridge without batting an eyelid.

I don't think its a reliable style of play long term but Mavs trapped themselves with him, first by showcasing him as a rookie and making him a little prince that ended up being too comfortable and taking too many bad/lazy habbits. Then (now) by needing him to extend and accepting whatever the little prince wants.

Results the guy gets chubbiers and more static every season and forces is teammates to wait in the corner or for their turn to play.

He's uber talented individualy but cynical af like many athletes who grew up watching the likes of Lebron and Harden. He's too focused on his indiv stats and refuses all the (defensives) sacrifes (all he does on D is gamble a steal here and there)

As for Pop, you're pobably right, the issue would actually be the other way around. I can't imagine Luka wanting to be part of Spurs type of basketball tbh

[ambchang]

:lol same guys trashing doncic are the ones who wanted Trae. WTF?

[Obstructed_View]

:lmao Jokic inarguably is.

And back to my ignore list you go.

[poopbox]

Still, that shows you that it isn't about senselessly giving out first round pick, you have to be smart about it and jump at the right options. For example, giving back all the Atlanta picks for a guy that will get relentesly hunted on any playoffs series that matters isn't smart business.

True...but you also have to entertain giving up a mostly unprotected future 1st for a player like Derrick White, who might be viewed as the Celtics 3rd , 4th, or 5th best player. He really only starts now cause they trades Smart.

The Spurs have never shown themselves to be that kind of team.

[gilmor2002]

Porzingis' injury at the end of Game 2 looked significant. He could barely run and had to be pulled from the game. I know he said he's going to try to play through it, but if he's hobbled out there moving forward, this is a completely different series tbh. He's the difference in Boston winning or losing this series imo, especially with Tatum playing like dog-shit offensively. If he cant go, I think Dallas wins the next two at home to tie the series and then the momentum swings back in their favor.

You haven't been watching enough how celtics play; they blocked out Irving and Docic drives; with or without Porzingis.

[spursgu]

Porzingis' injury at the end of Game 2 looked significant. He could barely run and had to be pulled from the game. I know he said he's going to try to play through it, but if he's hobbled out there moving forward, this is a completely different series tbh. He's the difference in Boston winning or losing this series imo, especially with Tatum playing like dog-shit offensively. If he cant go, I think Dallas wins the next two at home to tie the series and then the momentum swings back in their favor.

Terrible take and I don’t know where to begin. Everyone has overrated the Mavericks because they beat a Kawhi less clippers team, one inexperienced team and one team they matched up well with. Boston doesn’t have these problems. Porzingis is not Kawhi. Quit being such a beta cuck.

[BatManu20]

Terrible take and I don’t know where to begin. Everyone has overrated the Mavericks because they beat a Kawhi less clippers team, one inexperienced team and one team they matched up well with. Boston doesn’t have these problems. Porzingis is not Kawhi. Quit being such a beta cuck.

Lol says the faggot who just wrote out an entire paragraph response to me :lol. It’s just basketball dumbass, don’t take it so seriously and let harmless posts like this trigger you so badly. And keep me out ya mentions from now on. Fuckin’ grays…

[BatManu20]

You haven't been watching enough how celtics play; they blocked out Irving and Docic drives; with or without Porzingis.

No doubt they’ve had success so far. But the series doesn’t start til someone loses at home. Mavs haven’t played great ball (especially Kyrie) either and were in the last game til the end. Assuming they’ll play better at home, it’s not at all far fetched to see them winning both games if Porzingis can’t go. That’s all I’m sayin’. Time will tell. I still got Boston winning the series. But Dallas should definitely play better at home and can make this a series.

[pookenstein]

No doubt they’ve had success so far. But the series doesn’t start til someone loses at home. Mavs haven’t played great ball (especially Kyrie) either and were in the last game til the end. Assuming they’ll play better at home, it’s not at all far fetched to see them winning both games if Porzingis can’t go. That’s all I’m sayin’. Time will tell. I still got Boston winning the series. But Dallas should definitely play better at home and can make this a series.

I know what you mean with this, but I always thought this is a liitle off. By that logic, the series doesn't start at all, if both teams win their home games. Or when does that logic end? After game four when both have won at home? Or if it's a win or go home game?

[JPB]

The Celtics have, on paper, the perfect roster build for today's NBA: two big guards, two interchangeable forwards, two mobile, skilled bigs. All above average defenders, all capable shooters, all can put the ball in the floor, all can pass. Not a single liabiity on any side of the floor. It really can't get much better than that. That's why they have a chance to ring without a true #1 guy, tbh.

This is what the Spurs should aim at, although it is way harder to accomplish than it seems.

Spurs do have a true #1 guy they should build around. Their model should and is gonna be different. and as mentioned above by other posters, Celts mostly lucked into Jrue and Porzingis, the later one "thanks" to his injury history. You can't really plan on getting potential superstar but injury prone players on the cheap or other teams making bad trades in your favor like with Jrue.

And you have to pay everyone at some point, so that's not really sustainable. Spurs plan should be to build a perennial contender around Wemby, with the supporting cast eventually changing over the years.

[timtonymanu]

Porzingis' injury at the end of Game 2 looked significant. He could barely run and had to be pulled from the game. I know he said he's going to try to play through it, but if he's hobbled out there moving forward, this is a completely different series tbh. He's the difference in Boston winning or losing this series imo, especially with Tatum playing like dog-shit offensively. If he cant go, I think Dallas wins the next two at home to tie the series and then the momentum swings back in their favor.

Porzingis got that AtlSpur curse again. :pctoss

[SpursFan86]

Porzingis' injury at the end of Game 2 looked significant. He could barely run and had to be pulled from the game. I know he said he's going to try to play through it, but if he's hobbled out there moving forward, this is a completely different series tbh. He's the difference in Boston winning or losing this series imo, especially with Tatum playing like dog-shit offensively. If he cant go, I think Dallas wins the next two at home to tie the series and then the momentum swings back in their favor.

I don’t know man. People here will get up in arms about it but this Boston team might be the closest thing we’ve seen to the 2014 Spurs tbh. I’m not sure they have a single top 10 guy (Tatum probably sneaks in there but still), but they’re just so well-rounded and can win in a multitude of ways. Breath of fresh air compared to the super top heavy teams we usually see where there is clearly 1-2 guys that carry the load.

Trust me: I hate Boston as a sports city and would love for them to collapse and blow a 2-0 lead. I just really don’t see it happening, KP or not. Luka looks banged up and Kyrie is seriously struggling to score on guys like Jrue/Brown. With players as good as Luka/Kyrie I don’t doubt they can have a nuclear game even against this type of defense…maybe even two. But not 4 nuclear games out of the next 5.

I hope I’m wrong. Would love to see Luka win a chip and watch the Boston fanbase melt down after collapsing yet again :lol

[LeBowen]

I actually don't like the takes that they're similar to 2014 Spurs.
The only similarity is not having a clear first option.

Celtics are a well-oiled machine, they're winning games with a fairly simple playbooks.
Just doing those same few things over and over again.
It's enjoyable to watch them exploit every opponent's weakness, but there's no flair or basketball genius in it.
Just think of all the plays Tony, Manu and Boris were making in 2014. Plays noone sees coming.
Celtics don't do that.

Another thing is that their closeout minutes are always really questionable because they don't have an actual closer.
I don't dislike Tatum because of his low FG% in the finals, I dislike him because he constantly makes the worst possible decisions in the clutch.
If that push on Derrick's block was called, it's a three point game and who knows how it ends.

2014 Spurs were always confident in the clutch and almost always made the right play, with everyone being able to step up.

I don't like revisionist history, but much like Warriors were lucky to face Celtics instead of Bucks in 2022, this year Celtics got lucky to face Mavs that are the easiest.
Best team in the league this season, but I don't think comparisons with all-time great teams are warranted just yet.

[Pero]

LMAO some of the Mavs and Luka negative takes here are just ridiculous.

[timtonymanu]

I don’t know man. People here will get up in arms about it but this Boston team might be the closest thing we’ve seen to the 2014 Spurs tbh. I’m not sure they have a single top 10 guy (Tatum probably sneaks in there but still), but they’re just so well-rounded and can win in a multitude of ways. Breath of fresh air compared to the super top heavy teams we usually see where there is clearly 1-2 guys that carry the load.

Trust me: I hate Boston as a sports city and would love for them to collapse and blow a 2-0 lead. I just really don’t see it happening, KP or not. Luka looks banged up and Kyrie is seriously struggling to score on guys like Jrue/Brown. With players as good as Luka/Kyrie I don’t doubt they can have a nuclear game even against this type of defense…maybe even two. But not 4 nuclear games out of the next 5.

I hope I’m wrong. Would love to see Luka win a chip and watch the Boston fanbase melt down after collapsing yet again :lol

But what about if they win and Laker fans have to put up with the Celtics winning another title? that's the only reason I'm rooting for Boston, other than D White of course.

[timtonymanu]

2014 Spurs vs 2024 Celtics is an interesting comparison, but I see Spurs in 6.

They would have needed to start KP to guard Duncan/Diaw cause Duncan would have feasted on Horford, Diaw would destroy Tatum in the post. Kawhi/Danny guard Tatum/Brown.

White and Holiday would have been a bitch to handle for our backcourt but Manu, Splitter, Patty >>> their bench outside KP.

[MultiTroll]

2014 Spurs vs 2024 Celtics is an interesting comparison, but I see Spurs in 6.

They would have needed to start KP to guard Duncan/Diaw cause Duncan would have feasted on Horford, Diaw would destroy Tatum in the post. Kawhi/Danny guard Tatum/Brown.

White and Holiday would have been a bitch to handle for our backcourt but Manu, Splitter, Patty >>> their bench outside KP.
4-1 Spurs at least, probably 4-0.

These Celtics have no where near the BBIQ nor selflessness of that Timmy Dunkar lead team.