The Celtics making the NBA Finals isn’t a shock to many, but their opponents are a bit of a
surprise. The Mavericks were the fifth seed and have had a 12-5 run in the postseason getting
to their first Finals since 2011. Boston is here for the second time in three years after running
through the Eastern Conference with a 12-2 mark, including a sweep of Indiana. While the
Celtics are the favorites, and have been since the start of the regular season, can the upstart
Mavs give them a serious run in the Finals? Let’s break things down.
Boston wins if….
The Celtics have been playing like a team on a mission. They’ve been able to come back from
big deficits, clutch shooting and getting production from their stars. Defensively, they have to
find a way to slow down Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving, two of the most potent shooters in the
NBA. But Boston also has two studs of its own in Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. Both
average at least 25 points per game and have made crucial, big-time shots during these
playoffs.
Dallas wins if…..
Luka and Kyrie aren’t the only ones relied on to score. Doncic and Irving will get theirs, as they
are two of the best offensive players in the league right now. They averaged almost 60 points
together during the Conference Finals. But here’s where the problem lies, they are the only two
Mavericks players averaging more than 14 points per game in the postseason. If P.J.
Washington can become a bigger factor in this series, Dallas has a shot. He was hot and cold
from three point land shooting 31% in the first round, 47% in the second and then 25% in the
conference finals.
From Beyond The Arc
The Celtics are lethal shooting threes. Boston led the NBA all season in 3-pointers taken and
scored, hitting them with the second best rate. In the postseason the C’s average almost 40
attempts a game, making nearly 15 a game. Here’s a fun fact, when Boston has hit at least 14
threes in a game, they’re a perfect 9-0.
The Mavs have been decent but not great shooting threes. They’ve been averaging 34
attempts and making just over 12 a game. And Dallas is 6-1 when draining 14 or more in a
game but have only attempted as many as 40 just once in the playoffs.
NBA Series Odds
Mavericks Series +197
Celtics Series -227
Regular Season Head-to-Head
Jan 22: Celtics 119 Dallas 110
Mar 1: Mavericks 110 Celtics 138
2024 NBA Finals Schedule
Game 1: Mavericks vs. Celtics, June 6
Game 2: Mavericks vs. Celtics, June 9
Game 3: Celtics vs. Mavericks, June 12
Game 4: Celtics vs. Mavericks, June 14
Game 5: Mavericks vs. Celtics, June 17*
Game 6: Celtics vs. Mavericks, June 20*
Game 7: Mavericks vs. Celtics, June 23*