The Stage is Set Boston VS Dallas

     

    Concluding game 5 of the 2024 Western Conference final the Dallas Mavericks completed the gentleman sweep of the Minnesota Timberwolves with a final score of 124-103. Dallas advances to the NBA finals to face the Boston Celtics. 

    Boston had a 5 game series against the Miami Heat, a 5 game series against the Cleveland Cavaliers, followed by a 4 game sweep of the Indiana Pacers. The narrative surrounding Boston's Finals run is mediocre competition with injured stars. The Heat without Butler. The Cavs without Mitchell, and the Pacers without Haliburton. People will place this label on the finals run and in the same breath say the regular season doesn't matter. 

    The Boston Celtics were an absolute wagon during the regular season with a whopping 64-18 during the regular season, giving them the best record in the NBA the number 1 seed, homecourt through the whole playoffs and of course the weakest competition on the path to get there. The Miami Heat lost Jimmy Butler... they were playing playoff basketball down the entire last month of the regular season to MAKE the PLAY IN. The Heat squeeze in barely lose Butler and then face the number 1 seed. Cleveland had a middle of the pack record meaning they had to face the Magic who were a strong 7 game series for them and then they need to face the number 1 seed. The Pacers faced the Bucks who were favorites to make the Conference finals, the Knicks in a 7 game series and then the number 1 seed Celtics. Because these teams had to fight tooth and nail just to face the Celtics proves the point of the importance of the regular season. Seeding matters and homecourt matters the Celtics took care of business during the regular season they did their homework before the test and they dominated the Eastern Conference in these playoffs gearing them up for the finals test. Luka Doncic and the Dallas Mavericks.

    "This finals run comes down to the Celtics squashing demons from their past (Zack Vaccari5/25/24)" The Celtics took down the Miami Heat in the first round their biggest rival in the eastern conference. The Celtics go on to level and I mean steam roll Max Strus who had leveled up to take them down last year playing for Miami. Next Aaron Nesmith on the team that defeated them in the In-Season Tournament. Finally to make it full circle, The Boston Celtics play Kyrie Irving and the Dallas Mavericks in the 2024 NBA Finals. Irving was loved originally in Boston, he had issues off the  court and it affected his game. He lost loved ones and Ill be honest we should have had more patience as fans. But if you were there during the 2019 season with his free agency meeting during the all star game and lack of effort during the playoffs it was hard for the fans that wanted to have him as a Celtic for life. I remember I was in that crowd, where a lot of people were done with his nonsense in post game press conferences. I saw the talent on the court and wanted to keep him despite all of the drama. He would go on to leave in free agency to the Brookline Nets where his antics got out of control to the point where he got traded to Dallas. It will be interesting to see how the fans react to Irving being back in the building especially for a matchup on this level of stakes. At this point  with me in particular I* have moved on from Kyrie when we swept Brookline in the first round in 2021 I had my share. All I can say is defeating Kyrie Irving in the NBA Finals and hanging Banner 18 would be full circle for the franchise, the fanbase and the region as a whole.

    This matchup between Boston and Dallas, Kyrie and Luka are going to get theirs... they will combine for 60-70 in these games. The Boston Celtics need to clog passing lanes. Their defense is elite... its their advantage in the series. The Celtics have the defensive backcourt in the NBA. White and Holiday their entire job in this series is to slow down Irving and Doncic. Don't be surprised however if Mazzulla prefers the matchup of Tatum or Brown on Doncic based on their strength and size. The key for the Celtics defense to win this series is to clog passing lanes force turnovers and take the shooters out of the game. meaning the supporting cast around Irving and Doncic. If Lively, Gafford, Washington, and Exum are non contributors, the Celtics will overwhelm with their shooting prowess. Don't forget the possibility of Porzingis is high they have saved him and kept him healthy for this exact series. Boston Celtics and Dallas Mavericks tip off this Thursday night in TD Boston Garden at 8;30 pm. I've got Celtics in 5... who you got?