2023-24 Non Lakers NBA Finals: Discussion Thread
Who can stop the darkest timeline?
We are finally here after many ups and downs in the playoffs with all kinds of storylines.
With the Boston Celtics sweeping the Pacers and making it to the NBA Finals, most Lakers fans are wondering who can stop the Celtics from winning title 18.
There are many ways to go about this from a Lakers fan: motivation for the front office to do something right away and use all the assets to make a huge splash in free agency or to keep building continuity and making moves around the margins and making sure injuries don’t cause the team to be in a win or else at the end of the regular season.
Having said all that, this series is about the Boston Celtics and the Dallas Mavericks, what happens with the NBA Finals, and once again having a new champion, not to mention a different champion for the sixth year in a row. This type of anti-dynasty hasn’t really happened since the 1970s.
The Celtics were 2-0 versus the Mavericks in the regular season.
One game came in January before the Mavericks trade deadline deals and one game came after the deadline with the new moves. However, neither game featured the current Mavericks starting five.
Can Kyrie beat his Boston demons?
With the lasting memory of Kyrie Irving’s last interaction at TD Garden arena, of him stomping on the logo. Kyrie has an All-NBA Team co-star in Luka Doncic and a whole cast of supporting team members to help him make the most of his talents.
Kyrie is 3-6 against Boston since leaving the Celtics. Thankfully, Luka is averaging 29.9 points, 8.8 rebounds and 7.5 assists in 11 games in his career against the Celtics. Meanwhile, this playoff run, he has averaged 28.8 points, 9.6 rebounds and 8.8 assists.
On the other side of the ball, the Mavericks have the number one defensive rating from the Conference Finals, holding the Timberwolves to 112.1 points per game. Meanwhile, the Celtics were second with 114.8 points per game in their respective conference finals versus the Pacers. The Mavericks' defense has been anchored by Derrick Lively, Daniel Gafford and Maxi Kleber when they defend the rim.
Celtics offense will be key
The Celtics offense has outscored opposing teams by 9.9 points per game from three, 4.1 points in the restricted area, and 6.1 points at the free-throw line, all the best differentials in the playoffs. It should be noted that the Celtics have faced teams without their best players. There has been no Jimmy Butler, Donovan Mitchell or Tyrese Haliburton, while the Celtics have really only missed Kristaps Porzingis in the playoffs.
Jayson Tatum will also be key. He leads the playoffs in cumulative plus-minus, having outscored his foes by 141 points while on the floor.
Series
0-0 Game 1 is on 6-6- 2024 at 8:30 pm EST on ABC
My Prediction
Mavericks in 6.
When I am not posting ridiculous trades on here you can find me talking about Nintendo, LGBT content, music, and the Lakers on my Twitter. You can follow Alexis on Twitter at @BeautifulShy_RS.