Four things to know about the Mavericks’ NBA Finals opponent, the Boston Celtics
The Dallas Mavericks are four games away from being crowned NBA champions for the first time since 2011. The only thing that stands is their way is a Boston Celtics team that has looked like the league’s best team all season.
With an impressive record and equally impressive roster, the Celtics will be a formidable foe for the Mavericks, who have been the most impressive team during the postseason considering their competition.
In terms of exposure, it’s a great matchup as this should be a highly rated NBA Finals, but it’s also fair to think this could be Dallas’ most tricky matchup of the postseason.
Here are four things to know about the Mavericks NBA Finals opponent, the Boston Celtics:
Dynamic wings
The Celtics are led by its fantastic forwards Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. In their seven seasons together the pairing have made the Celtics one of the top teams in the NBA with multiple trips to the Eastern Conference finals and this being their second trip to the finals in the last three seasons.
Tatum is a five-time NBA All-Star and has made All-NBA four times, including a first team selection this season after he averaged 26.9 points, 8.1 rebounds and a career-high 4.9 assists while leading Boston to 64 wins. At 6-foot-8, Tatum is everything you want in a superstar wing with his shooting and finishing ability plus he’s a more than capable defender and most notably gave Kevin Durant problems in the 2022 NBA Playoffs.
His co-star is Brown, who was voted MVP of Boston’s Eastern Conference finals victory over the Indiana Pacers. One of the highest paid players in the league, Brown is another two-way wing that has been named an All-Star three times and second team All-NBA in 2023. Brown can consistently score 25 on a given night and is capable of leading the Celtics if Tatum is having an off night. Tatum and Brown are a better version of Kawhi Leonard and Paul George, who the Mavericks faced in the first round.
This will be a huge challenge for Dallas wing defenders like Derrick Jones Jr. and Josh Green.
Battle against former teams
Both the Celtics and Mavericks have players that will be facing their former team on the biggest stage. As Kyrie Irving’s tenure in Boston was coming to an end, Kristaps Porzingis’ stint in Dallas was just beginning. Both players were brought with heavy expectations. Irving was supposed to be the veteran that helped young stars like Tatum and Brown take the next step in their developments and be the final piece Boston needed for a title run.
Porzingis was supposed to be the perfect running mate with Luka Doncic, but both stints were marred by injuries and inconsistencies. Porzingis struggled in the playoffs and had frustrations with his role in the Doncic-centered the offense eventually requesting a trade and landing in Washington. In Irving’s case Boston was more successful with him out of the lineup making the Eastern Conference finals after Irving suffered a season-ending injury.
The next season the Celtics were outclassed by the Milwaukee Bucks and Irving quickly departed to go to Brooklyn with Durant. Their times in Washington and Brooklyn weren’t much better, but now both players have been instrumental in their respective teams making it this far. However, it should be noted Porzingis has missed most of the playoffs, but is expected to return for the NBA Finals.
Both will be motivated by more than a ring in the finals.
Defensive stalwarts
There aren’t many teams in the NBA more equipped to slow down Doncic and Irving on paper than the Celtics. Now it doesn’t mean they will, but Dallas knows Boston has an array of defenders at its disposal. Brown and Tatum are good defenders, but the true keys will be Jrue Holiday and Derrick White.
White has made NBA All-Defense two straight seasons and Holiday has made all-defense six times in his career including first team in 2023. They’re both bigger guards at 6’4 that are also extremely intelligent basketball players. Holiday has won his fair share of high profile defensive assignments and also has a stature similar to OKC forward Lu Dort, who gave Doncic the most problems this postseason.
With Porzingis back, Boston’s defense should receive a boost in rim protection as well.
Fourth quarter advantage
The biggest question mark facing the Celtics is how they’ll perform in the final quarter. Fair or not, Boston has earned a reputation over the last few seasons for its offense grinding to a halt when it matters most as Tatum and Brown resort to hero ball too often. On the flip side, the fourth quarter has been a safe space for the Mavericks this postseason.
If the game is close in the final five minutes, then Boston should brace itself. Doncic and Irving have proven time and time again that they are arguably the best closers in the NBA. Irving’s insane dribble package and finishing at the rim makes him a problem once fatigue begins to set in.
Doncic is the ultimate three-level scorer and is just as dangerous from the 3-point line as he is right in front of the basket. The Celtics may be the favorites this season, but if there’s one reason to give Dallas the edge it’s because the Mavs have two of the game’s most clutch performers.
