Boston Celtics vs Dallas Mavericks
For the second time in three years, the Celtics have Banner No. 18 within their reach. We all knew what happened the last time they were in the NBA Finals, and with that experience under their belts, they will look to get it done this time when they take on the Mavericks.
The Celtics have been scrutinised for their “cakewalk” path to the Finals, but it’s also a testament to the strength of their team and the brilliant coaching job of Joe Mazzulla.
In stark contrast, the Jason Kidd-led Mavericks faced a tougher road to get to this point, and they will look to cap it off by winning their second title in franchise history.
Moreover, the one narrative to look out for in this series is Kristaps Porzingis and Kyrie Irving looking to prove a point against their former teams, which may spell the difference between winning and losing.
Talking Points
Porzingis’ imminent return is huge for the Celtics
Even if the Celtics have breezed past their first three opponents in the playoffs, they won’t win Banner No. 18 without Kristaps Porzingis, their biggest trump card.
Porzingis hasn’t been on the court for the Celtics since he injured his calf against the Heat in Game 4 of the first round. He never stopped working his way back, although fans have been anxious about his status ever since.
After missing a month’s worth of action, the NBA 2024 news confirmed that the Latvian center is expected to play in Game 1 against the Mavericks, which has the Celtics fans feeling giddy about their title chances.
Kristaps Porzingis changes the Celtics’ dynamics on both ends of the floor. On defense, he is an elite rim protector, and on offense, he can stretch the floor with his outside shooting and can finish on the rim as well.
In his first year with Boston, Porzingis averages 20.1 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 1.9 blocks per game on 52/38/86 shooting splits during the regular season, making him a potent third or fourth option behind Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown.
Irving will have to exorcise his demons for the Mavericks
Expect TD Garden to boo and jeer Kyrie Irving because he left a bitter taste in the Celtics fans’ mouths with his sudden departure after the 2018-19 campaign. The last time he met the Celtics in the 2022 playoffs, his Nets were swept in the first round.
This time, things are different because he is playing with a more complete squad. With Luka Doncic as his co-star, he no longer has to be the alpha dog, and they have been clicking this postseason.
The 31-year-old combo guard is averaging 22.8 points, 3.9 rebounds, 5.2 assists, and 1.2 steals per game on 48.5-per cent shooting from the field this postseason.
Other than Kyrie Irving, the Mavericks will need timely performances from PJ Washington, Dereck Lively II, Daniel Gafford, and Derrick Jones Jr.
Out of the four, the biggest threat for Dallas is PJ Washington, with his ability to stretch the floor for Doncic and Irving. The 25-year-old swingman is averaging 13.6 points and 6.7 rebounds per game in the playoffs.
History
This marks the first time that the Celtics and the Mavericks will meet in an NBA Finals series. Boston last made it this far in 2022, losing to Golden State in six games, while Dallas’ previous Finals appearance was in 2011, when they defeated Miami in six games.
So, that means that the Celtics are 17-5 in the NBA Finals, while the Mavericks have a 1-1 record.
The Celtics are looking to win their record-breaking 18th NBA title in franchise history to break their deadlock with the Lakers, while the Mavericks are aiming for their second.
These two teams met twice in the regular season. The Celtics won both games in January and March with scores of 119-110 and 138-110.
What are the odds?
The NBA 2024 odds are in favour of the Celtics in Game 1, as they’re priced at 1.48 odds, while the Mavericks are not far behind as 2.92 underdogs.
Game 1 should be the first of many close games between these two sides, and the Asian Handicap Market has a favourable reading for the hosts, with bets like -7.00 at 2.05 and -7.50 at 2.14 on offer.
Furthermore, SBOTOP bettors can expect a fairly high-scoring game between the Celtics and the Mavericks because they have two of the best duos in the NBA right now, making bets like Over 215.00 at 2.01 and Over 214.50 at 1.93 viable.
Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
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